When you make a hang tag for your product, you might get confused at the final step of the process as to which finishing you should choose: whether you should go with the matte one or the gloss one. There is no universal rule as to which one will be better among them. You should choose the one that you like or the one that suits your products. In this blog, you will learn about these two finishing techniques and which one you should choose depending on your product type.
Difference between matte and gloss finish
Before we go into the details of the two finishing techniques, let us look into the major difference so that we can understand the basics:
| Feature | Matte finish | Gloss finish |
| Appearance | Non-reflective and glare-free | Shiny and reflective tags, mirror-like |
| Color impact | Soft and muted | Vibrant and sharp |
| Text readability | Very good | Can reflect under heavy lights |
| Fingerprint resistance | High | Low |
| Tactile feel | Velvet and natural texture | Smooth and plastic-like |
| Best used for | Luxury, organic products | Kid’s products |
Matte finish
This finish has light-absorbing properties. It does not reflect light. Dealers use aqueous matte coating or apply matte lamination film. The hang tags that have a matte finish look luxurious and are mostly used for packaging that you want to give an organic and natural look. They have text printed in high quality, and it can be read from any angle.
Pros and cons of matte finish
The following are the pros and cons of using a matte finish:
Pros
When you use matte finishing, you get the following advantages:
- Easy readability
As it does not reflect light, it is easy to read for the customers even in highly lit retail shops and outlets.
- Luxury look
The texture has a high-end luxury feel.
- No fingerprints
This surface doesn’t get fingerprints and develops a clean look during customer handling of the products.
- Writable area
You can write on these tags using a pen or markers.
- Premium font
The delicate font style also gets printed without any image distortion.
Cons
The following are the disadvantages of a matte finish:
- Scratches
This is more susceptible to scratches, due to which it is less long-lasting.
- Dull colors
A few colors might appear dull during printing because of matte coating.
- Less protection against moisture
They provide less protection as compared to the gloss finish.
Gloss finish
This is a very reflective layer that gives a shiny look to the printing. This uses high-gloss UV coating or liquid-gloss laminate film over the printed paper. This coating makes the colors appear deeper and more vibrant. The products are more eye-catching and appealing on the shelves. The spot uv tags, when coated with a gloss finish, become less prone to hanghole tears.
Pros and cons of gloss finish
Everything has both advantages and disadvantages. The same goes for gloss finishes as well. The positive and negative impacts of a gloss finish are as follows:
Pros
The following are the advantages of using gloss finishes:
- Vibrant color
The gloss finish makes the color look bright and vibrant as compared to when it appears uncoated.
- Liquid resistance
This nonporous layer is more resistant to moisture, oils, and stains.
- Structural durability
The shiny and glossy layers have more resistance and thus prevent the hang holes from tearing.
- Visually appealing
As already told, the shiny layers make the product highly catchy and are recommended for kids’ items and related products.
- Maintains color tone
This glossy layer, apart from making the product tags appealing, protects the color of the products and does not let it get dull.
Cons
The following are a few disadvantages of using a gloss finish:
- High glare
As these have a reflective surface, it might be difficult to read the text from some angles in well-lit stores.
- Unwritable surface
The glossy surfaces are not easy to write on; the ink from the regular markers or pens gets smudged easily.
- Smudging
These surfaces don’t have high resistance against fingerprint stains; hence, fingerprint marks are left on them after frequent customer handling.
Which one to choose for hang tags depending on the products
Many people think that you can choose many finishes that you like based on your own perspectives and choices. Though it is right, you are free to choose any type of finish for your product, but you can explore which type of finish suits different products. Here are a few tips on when to choose which finishing option:
When to choose matte finish
Here are the products for which you can choose matte finish:”
- Custom apparel tags can be used in a matte finish for luxury and high-end apparel and designer products.
- A brown matte finish can be used for handmade candles, soap, and other products, as it gives an organic feel.
- Antique and prestigious jewelry items have custom jewelry tags that have a matte finish to give that royal feel.
- Products where you have to list ingredients and more text.
- Limited edition products’ or occasion-based products’ packaging is often coated with this type of finish.
When to select gloss finish
These eye-catching finishes are preferred for the following types of products’ packaging:
- Kids-related products’ packaging where you have to make the color look more vibrant.
- Birthday or gift items that have to be made bright and attractive.
- Sport-based products’ packaging or their tags can be coated in these durable finishes.
- An image-focused design of your packaging has more pictures than this; the finishing technique should be preferred.
- When you want your product to gain more consumers’ attention in the retail stores.
Which finish gives a more professional look
There is no such finish that we can say gives a more professional look. Hence, there is no such rule about a more professional finish. It depends on the industry of custom tags and the product, which finishing options to select.
Conclusion
Your product finish should reflect your unique identity and also maintain the image of your brand. The finish that you should choose depends on the type of products, as we have already discussed.
A matte finish is recommend for luxury and organic products’ packaging, while a gloss finish is ideal for children or those products that have to be make attractive.
One thing that you should look at is the environment in which your product has to be present. If it is in direct sunlight or a well-lit shop, then a matte finish is recommend. But if it’s a kids’ item, then you should go for a gloss one. So, before selecting the finish between gloss and matte, analyze your product type, the target audience, and the environment in which it has to be present.