Front-side lamination is usually used on smooth papers like glossy art paper or white cardboard. It is generally not used on special textured papers where you want to feel the paper’s own surface.
The plastic film protects the print, but it also covers the paper’s natural texture. So, front-side film is for protecting the surface when you don’t need to highlight the paper’s texture or feel.
1. Make the printed surface stronger (hard to scratch or bend, can handle pulling, and resists water). Examples include: scratch-resistant Lamination, glossy Lamination, matt Lamination, etc.
2. Make the printed surface stronger while also adding special effects. Examples include: holography, lamination, soft-touch Lamination, etc.
Back-side lamination is used to make the paper stronger
Generally, the paper weight for lamination should be no less than 120 gsm.
Laminated Finishing for Packaging
Lamination is crucial for producing high-quality printed packaging boxes, where a clear plastic film is heat-sealed onto the paper surface . This plastic layer protects the box from scratches, keeping colors bright and preventing ink from rubbing off. If you see a thin plastic film on paper that you can peel off, it usually means the paper has been laminated.
Glossy lamination gives your packaging a bright shine that makes colors look richer. It’s ideal for catching the eye of products like Electronic product packaging boxes, snack boxes, and kids’ toy packaging. The gloss level of gloss lamination typically measures around 85 GU (Gloss Units)
Matte lamination provides a soft-touch, non-reflective finish that delivers a classy and premium look. With its low gloss level of around 25 GU (Gloss Units), it adds elegance to products like cosmetics, paper boxes, presentation boxes, and candle packaging boxes.
There are also special films for unique needs, like Soft-touch lamination, which adds textures like velvet and works beautifully with foil stamping or embossing. With a higher haze level and a more matte effect, it is suited for packaging like perfume boxes and lipstick boxes.
Anti-scratch film provides an exceptionally durable surface with strong protection against scratches and marks. This is beneficial for black-printed gift boxes, as black surfaces tend to show dirt and scratches more easily. It is used in rigid boxes, such as collapsible magnetic boxes.
