All About Soft Touch Coating: Guide + Its Comparison With Soft Touch Lamination

soft touch coating

Velvet texture on packaging boxes is admired and considered a rich practice. Soft touch coating is used on the product boxes to give the printed packaging a luxurious feel. 

Like soft-touch coating, soft-touch lamination is also used to achieve soft and velvet touch. But, soft touch coating is a quick, cost-effective, and reliable option for small and medium businesses. 

Want to know more about soft-touch coating? Let us proceed!

What Is Soft-Touch Coating?

The soft-touch coating, when applied after printing, creates a luxurious tactile feel to the packaging. It quickly dries out and instantly gives a soft and velvety texture. This coating is one of the finest options to increase the box appeal but endure fingerprints and scuffs. 

Moreover, your product looks pristine and valuable in the soft touch-coated packaging. Without compromising on the quality, this coating enhances the print designs and preserves the integrity. It is the most economical yet premium packaging solution that adds a high-end effect on the packaging at a fraction of the other expensive finishing methods. 

Soft Touch Coating Explained in Details

soft touch coating explained in details

Soft Touch coating gives your printed materials a luxurious, smooth texture, boosting their appeal to touch and sight. This type of finish gives a gentle, understated feel, especially improving darker color schemes. It is recommended to use it on high-gloss paper to preserve image clarity and avoid flattening. 

Soft Touch lamination is quicker, less heavy, and more cost-effective than matte film lamination, drying rapidly and staying free from yellowing. Known for liquid velvet and gentle touch names, this environmentally friendly and opulent option enhances the customer experience and makes it perfect for business cards, brochures, and postcards.

What Does Soft-Touch Feel Like on Packaging?

what does soft touch feel like on packaging

Envision the feel of soft-touch coating as smooth and buttery, reminiscent of velvet. The packaging gets a sophisticated elegance with the matte texture without any sheen with the right use of soft-touch coating. 

This coating has a huge demand in the industry due to its tactile appeal, and distinctive outlook, and gives a premium feel to the product packaging. From regular products to high-end products, soft-touch packaging changes the way customers interact with your brand by engaging customers with memorable unboxing experiences. 

What Is the Difference Between Coating & Lamination?

what is the difference between coating & lamination

The distinction between coating and lamination lies primarily in their application and finish. The coating is a liquid applied during the printing process and cured with UV light that provides a quick and efficient finish that works well on paperboard and is cost-effective. 

However, lamination involves applying a film in a separate finishing step that provides extra protection and durability expensively but for a longer processing time. Lamination is ideal for e-commerce and products needing extra sturdiness, while the coating is better suited for retail packaging that requires a rapid turnaround.

Read Also: A Detailed Insight into Aqueous Coating

The Advantages of Soft-Touch Coating

advantages of soft touch coating

A soft-touch coating provides an elegant appearance and texture at a lower price than lamination. It improves the tactile feel of your packaging and maintains the brightness and clarity of your graphics. 

This coating is a practical option for achieving a premium look because it does not dull colors or disrupt design elements. Whereas, coating and lamination both provide advantages like fingerprint and scuff protection. The soft-touch coating is more cost-effective and perfect for producing a sophisticated and luxurious presentation that improves the unboxing process.

How to Remove Soft-Touch Coating

remove soft touch coating

You've enjoyed using the soft-touch coating, but now you may be ready to remove it. Taking off soft-touch coating can be somewhat challenging, whether it's for repurposing or recycling. 

Begin by softly rubbing the area using isopropyl alcohol or a mild solvent, but ensure to first test it in a small, hidden spot. When the coating begins to come loose, you can remove it gently by wiping it. There it is! Your packaging has returned to its original non-soft-touch condition.

What Types of Products/Industries Use This Soft-Touch Feel?

what types of products industries use this soft touch feel

The soft-touch coating is not only used for luxury cosmetics (which I highly appreciate it). To add sophistication to the packaging of fashion, jewelry, and high-end gadgets, it plays the most essential role. 

Soft-touch lamination helps to enhance the feeling of luxury when introducing a new product whether it's high-end lipstick or a cutting-edge gadget. However, it is not exclusive to the privileged. You can utilize it for almost any item to provide a distinct tactile sensation that differentiates you from competitors.

How To Decide Which Is The Perfect Choice For You?

There is no right or wrong answer in this situation, but the choice is all yours depending on your requirements. If you require speedy and affordable completion, choose soft-touch coating due to its affordability and aesthetical appeal. 

However, soft-touch lamination is the perfect choice for heavier items that require extra protection. It provides extra weight and sturdiness to your packaging. Moreover, it is also ideal for online businesses and products requiring greater resilience.

Conclusion

Soft touch coating is an advanced, quick, affordable, and cost-effective solution as compared to soft touch lamination. Its uses are enormous and its benefits are many. We, at Your Box Packaging, create custom boxes and customize them with soft touch coating to produce a brilliant effect. Get custom product boxes now and customize them around the lamination choice of your own. 

Ready to think outside the box? Let's get started!

When you place a full production order with us, we'll waive your sample and prototyping expenses. Additionally, you'll benefit from our dedicated 360° packaging service, which addresses any packaging challenges you might encounter, allowing you to concentrate on what truly matters.

Get Quote