In today’s competitive market, packaging is not just about protecting a product; it’s a vital part of brand identity.
The finish of packaging plays a crucial role in how consumers perceive the quality and value of a product.
Among the various finishing techniques available, soft touch coating and soft touch lamination have emerged as popular options, especially for luxury packaging.
Both offer a tactile experience that enhances the perceived value of the packaging while providing durability and resistance to wear and tear.
In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the differences, benefits, and ideal applications of these two finishing options.
What is Soft Touch Coating?
Soft touch coating is a specialized finish that is applied directly during the printing process.
This coating is designed to maintain the color quality of the artwork while providing a soft, velvety feel on the surface of the packaging.
Achieved by curing a UV light-sensitive coating on the surface of printed materials, soft touch coating delivers a premium, matte finish without altering the underlying design’s vibrancy.
One of the main advantages of soft touch coating is its cost-effectiveness.
Because it is applied during the printing process, there’s no need for additional steps or materials, making it a faster and more affordable option than other finishes.
It also resists fingerprints, smudges, and scuff marks, which helps maintain the pristine appearance of packaging for longer periods.
Key Features of Soft Touch Coating:
- Fast-drying and cost-effective: Applied during the printing process, making it time-efficient and affordable.
- Preserves color quality: Maintains the vibrancy of printed artwork without dulling the colors.
- Fingerprints and scuff resistance: Helps keep the packaging looking clean and professional.
- Versatility: Can be applied to various types of packaging, including paperboard folding cartons, rigid boxes, and even paper bags.
This finish is often used extensively to create luxury packaging and marketing collateral, such as:
- Product fact sheets
- Brochures
- Book covers
- Paper boxes
- Corrugated boxes
- Paper bags
What is Soft Touch Lamination?
Soft touch lamination, in contrast, involves the bonding of a soft-touch plastic film (usually BOPP – bi-oriented polypropylene) to the surface of the printed material.
This lamination process creates a smooth, velvety texture while providing additional durability and protection to the packaging.
Unlike soft touch coating, lamination offers a moisture barrier, making it resistant to water damage and more suitable for products that will be exposed to humid environments or shipping conditions.
While soft touch lamination is generally more expensive than soft touch coating due to the extra step involved in the application process, it does offer several benefits, especially in terms of durability.
The lamination process also results in a more muted appearance of the artwork, which can add a sophisticated, high-end look to the packaging—especially for darker tones and luxury products.
Key Features of Soft Touch Lamination:
- Durability: Offers increased strength and protection, making it ideal for e-commerce packaging.
- Moisture barrier: Protects against water damage and environmental factors.
- Muted tone: While it softens the color vibrancy, this can add to the sophistication of packaging designs, particularly for high-end products.
- Protection against scuffs and scratches: Ideal for packaging that needs to withstand the rigors of transportation or handling.
Soft Touch Coating vs. Soft Touch Lamination: What’s the Difference?
Both soft touch coating and lamination provide a similar velvety texture, but the process and benefits differ significantly.
- Soft Touch Coating is more cost-effective and time-efficient. Since it’s applied during the printing process, it doesn’t require an additional finishing step. This makes it a great option for retail-ready packaging, where visual appeal and tactile experience are essential, but the budget is often a consideration.
- Soft Touch Lamination involves an extra step where a protective film is bonded to the printed material. Though more expensive, this additional process provides superior durability, making it ideal for products that will be shipped or stored for extended periods. It also creates a subtle, sophisticated effect, making it particularly suitable for luxury brands.
Benefits of Soft Touch Coating
Soft touch coating is a favored finishing option for many brands due to its elegant matte appearance and luxurious tactile feel. Here are the key benefits:
- Premium Matte Finish: Soft touch coating provides a high-end, matte effect that adds to the elegance and sophistication of packaging.
- Enhanced Customer Engagement: The tactile nature of soft touch coating invites consumers to touch and interact with the packaging, creating a positive and memorable experience.
- Resistance to Fingerprints: Unlike other matte finishes, soft touch coatings resist fingerprints and smudges, keeping packaging clean and professional-looking.
- Long-Term Storage Benefits: Soft touch coatings are yellow-resistant, making them ideal for packaging that needs to be stored for extended periods without losing their original quality.
Benefits of Soft Touch Lamination
Soft touch lamination offers several distinct advantages that make it a premium choice for high-end packaging.
- Durability: Soft touch lamination provides exceptional protection against physical wear, moisture, and environmental factors, ensuring the packaging stays intact during shipping and handling.
- Professional Look: The smooth, matte finish, combined with the sophisticated, muted tones, helps convey a sense of luxury and high quality. This makes it perfect for premium brands and products.
- Increased Lifespan: The protective laminate ensures that packaging materials remain in top condition, making it ideal for marketing materials, brochures, and product packaging that need to last.
- Resistance to Scratches and Scuffs: In high-traffic areas or environments where the packaging might be handled frequently, the lamination provides a durable barrier that helps maintain a clean, pristine surface.
Soft Touch Corrugated Packaging Boxes: A Superior Option
Soft touch coatings and laminates can also be applied to corrugated packaging boxes, enhancing their appeal and functionality. Soft touch corrugated packaging offers the following advantages:
- Additional Protection: The extra layer of coating or lamination protects the boxes from wear and tear, preventing corners from curling or edges from fraying over time.
- Fingerprint and Scratch Resistance: The velvety finish resists smudges, scratches, and scuff marks, keeping packaging looking new even after handling.
- Premium Feel: Soft touch corrugated boxes stand out due to their smooth, tactile finish, providing a high-end experience that aligns with the premium nature of the product inside.
- Improved Grip: The soft texture of the finish not only adds to the tactile appeal but also improves grip during handling, reducing the risk of slippage.
Other Print Finishing Options
While soft touch coating and lamination are popular choices for luxury packaging, there are several other print finishing techniques that can further enhance the appearance of your packaging:
- Spot UV: A high-gloss finish applied to specific areas of the packaging, creating a striking contrast with the matte background.
- Embossing: Raised designs that add texture and dimension to packaging, making logos or branding stand out.
- Window Patching: Involves the application of a transparent material to allow a view of the product inside the packaging, adding a unique design element.
- Foil Stamping: The application of metallic foil to packaging, which can add a touch of glamour and luxury.
Conclusion
Both soft touch coating and soft touch lamination offer unique benefits that can elevate your packaging to new levels of sophistication and durability.
Whether you’re looking for a cost-effective, quick solution with a luxurious finish or need additional protection for products that will face rough handling, these finishes provide excellent options.
For packaging that resonates with quality and brand image, consider the appropriate finish based on your budget, product needs, and desired visual impact.
By choosing the right processing technology, you can create packaging that protects your product and increases its marketability and consumer appeal.
Contact our experts today to customize your packaging with a soft-touch coating.
