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Coatings · Protection you can feel

Lamination that protects your print.

We bond a thin, clear film over your printed box. It guards against scuffs, tears and moisture, and gives the box its finish: calm matte, bright gloss, or velvety soft-touch.

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Protection you can feel

Lamination

A thin film over your print - matte, gloss or soft-touch - that protects the box and changes how it looks and feels.

Soft-touch lilac gift box holding a silk scarf and perfume beside a glossy red polka dot box on a bed
Matte black rigid box lid with a gold foil flower mark and a thin gold foil border
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Matte lamination

A smooth, glare-free finish that looks modern and understated.

Matte lamination takes the shine off the print and gives a soft, even look that reads as quietly premium. It makes dark colours look rich and deep, and it is the best base for foil and spot UV, which stand out sharply against it.

It hides small marks well, but very dark matte boxes can show fingerprints - soft-touch handles that better.

  • Glare-free and modern
  • Rich, deep dark colours
  • The best base for foil and spot UV
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Gloss lamination

A shiny, reflective finish that makes colours brighter and more vivid.

Gloss lamination makes printed colours pop: reds look redder, photos look sharper, and the box catches the light on a shelf. It is also easy to wipe clean.

It suits bold, colourful and photographic designs. The shine can show glare under strong lights, so very fine text is easier to read on matte.

  • Brighter, more vivid colour
  • Catches the light on a shelf
  • Easy to wipe clean
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Soft-touch lamination

A velvety film that customers notice the moment they pick the box up.

Soft-touch lamination feels smooth and velvety, almost like suede, and looks like a deep matte. It is the finish that makes people run a thumb across the lid, which is why luxury, beauty and tech brands use it so often.

It resists fingerprints better than plain matte and pairs beautifully with foil and spot UV. It costs a little more than matte or gloss.

  • Velvety, premium feel
  • Resists fingerprints
  • Perfect under foil and spot UV

Lamination, in detail

What is lamination on packaging?

A thin plastic film bonded over the printed board, which protects the print and sets its finish.

The film is applied after printing and before the box is cut and folded, so it covers every printed panel. It adds strength at the folds, stops ink rubbing off, and keeps moisture from marking the board.

Lamination or varnish?

Lamination protects more and feels more premium; varnish is lighter, lower in cost and easier to recycle.

Choose lamination for boxes that are handled a lot, kept, or need to look perfect for a long time - gift boxes and premium retail. Choose varnish when protection matters less than cost, or when easy recycling is a priority, because a film makes board harder to recycle.

  • Lamination: tougher, more premium
  • Varnish: lighter, lower cost
  • Varnish recycles more easily

Matte or soft-touch?

They look alike; the difference is the feel - soft-touch is velvety, matte is simply smooth.

If the box will be held and kept - a gift, a beauty set, a tech accessory - soft-touch is worth the small extra cost. For a calm, modern look at a lower price, matte does the job.

Can I add foil or spot UV on top?

Yes - and they look their best on a matte or soft-touch laminate.

The calm background makes metallic foil and glossy spot UV stand out far more than they would on gloss. We mark every finish on your digital proof so you can see how they sit together.

With every order

  • Matte, gloss or soft-touch
  • Applied before cutting, over every panel
  • Advice on finish and board
  • Digital proof before production

Popular for

  • Rigid gift boxes
  • Premium retail cartons
  • Boxes that are handled a lot
  • Dark, solid colours

How to order

Request a quote for your box and tell us in your message which lamination you would like - matte, gloss or soft-touch.

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Goes with

More coatings

VarnishA clear liquid coating - matte, gloss or semi-gloss - that finishes and protects the print at a lower cost than lamination.