Insights

Practical perspectives aimed at helping CPG businesses navigate the branding and packaging landscape

HBX Branding: Printing Embellishments
Production

10 Printing Enhancements to Elevate Your Packaging

Special printing techniques and finishes can elevate packaging by helping brands stand out on retail shelves. Whether through tactile or visual enhancements, these features add perceived value and often provide functional benefits as well. Below are a few examples to consider.‍

1. Spot UV Gloss‍

It adds a glossy, reflective finish that enhances the vibrancy of colors and images. However, it can be susceptible to glare and fingerprints, making it less ideal for certain applications.

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2. Spot UV Matte‍

It provides a non-reflective finish that reduces glare, fingerprints, and smudges that convey a more premium look and feel.

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3. Soft-touch Coating‍

It provides the same matte visual effect and durability but with a smooth, velvety texture that elevates the tactile experience, enhancing the package’s premium appeal and value.

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4. Glitter Coating‍

Coming in a wide assortment of colors, glitter coatings are made when large glitter particles (microns) are added into UV gloss coating creating an eye-catching appearance.

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5. Pearlescent Coating‍

This coating creates a shimmering pearl-like appearance that adds a touch of luxury and sophistication. Depending on the variation, it can be a subtle shimmer or have a more pronounced iridescent effect.

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6. Stipple Varnish‍

This raised textured varnish gives your package a rough, uneven stippled pattern that enhances grip and tactile engagement.

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7. Holographic Foil‍

Holographic or rainbow foils add a dynamic element to a design, allowing the colors to shift and change when viewed from different angles.

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8. Hot and Cold Foil‍

Hot Foil Stamping is a refined technique where a thin metallic foil is transferred onto the surface of packaging using heat and pressure, while Cold Foil Stamping delivers similar metallic effects without the need for heat. It involves applying a metallic foil to the packaging material using a special adhesive that is cured with UV light. These methods produce a reflective finish that shimmers when it catches the light and is available in various metallic hues.

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9. Embossing‍

Embossing is when a particular area is raised on the packaging surface by two metal dies pushing the material out. It adds a premium tactile element that enhances both visually and physically.

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10. Debossing‍

The opposite of embossing, this technique is indented into the packaging surface by pushing a metal die into the material. You can combine this with foil stamping for a luxurious appearance.

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Stephanie Doyle

Director of Design Implementation

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