Today, the effects of matte and glossy printing are widely utilized in the packaging of food and commercial products such as nuts and dried fruits, pastries and chocolates, coffee and tea, cosmetic and hygiene products, pet food, and even electronic components and mobile accessories. For many years, matte and glossy printing has been applied to box and cardboard packaging using offset printing techniques with spot UV. However, in the realm of flexible packaging, matte and glossy printing using gravure and flexo printing techniques has a shorter history. It can be said that this printing model (matte and glossy) is one of the newest printing techniques in the flexible packaging industry.
The combination of matte and glossy printed surfaces is one of the capabilities employed in the printing and packaging industry to enhance the graphic appeal of product packaging. One of the oldest methods for improving the visual impact in packaging printing has been the use of contrasting colors, or in other words, colors with maximum contrast. The matte and glossy technique has evolved from this approach. The matte effect is used on part of the printed surface to make the remaining glossy section stand out more prominently, resulting in a more attractive and visually appealing appearance. Conversely, it is also possible to print a portion of the matte surface in a glossy finish.
Ultimately, the importance of this topic lies in the capabilities of the printing machine used for matte and glossy operations. This is because printing occurs on one side of the film, while the glossing process takes place on the other side. Therefore, not only must the selected packaging film be operable on both sides, but the ability to reverse the film during printing is also a necessary condition for this operation.
In conclusion, the choice of color in packaging design and the decision regarding which areas of the packaging should be made matte to enhance the visual appeal of the product is an art and skill of the graphic design unit in the printing house. For achieving matte and glossy effects on packaging films, gravure and flexo printing machines can offer this option, and the process is typically carried out after laminating through a separate matte or glossy unit. Generally, the matte and glossy printing technique is applied to products that are relatively expensive and valuable, where the packaging overhead costs are less than 5%. If the overhead costs exceed 5%, the orderer of the matte and glossy packaging must be assured of the added value effect of this combination to ensure that the product packaging remains cost-effective and economical.
