Your packaging helps your customers form a brand's perception. That’s why it needs to be pristine, appealing, and presentable. You can achieve all this with the help of a varnish coating. Varnish is highly popular in the printing and packaging industry. It allows your packaging boxes to look refined and polished. Varnish also helps you deliver a high-end packaging experience to your customers. Being a packaging expert, I can say with absolute certainty that your packaging remains incomplete without varnish. Read this article to learn about various, its various types and their extremely useful benefits.
What is Varnish and Why Is It Important?
Are you worried about scuffs and smudges on your product’s packaging? Your worries end here! With the help of custom varnishes, you can pack your products in neat packaging boxes. Varnish is a transparent coating and is used to offer an extra layer of security to custom packaging boxes. It also enhances the look of your packaging. It makes your boxes look pristine and professional. Moreover, varnish has a liquid-coated texture. This coating doesn’t allow any dirt or external component to affect the integrity of your packaging.
Explore Different Types of Varnishes!
Let’s look at some of the most common type of varnishes:
Gloss Varnish
If you want your products to grab your customers’ attention from afar, then gloss varnish is exactly what you need. It offers gloss finishing, which is ideal for creating a shiny texture on your boxes.
Benefits of Gloss Varnish:
Most times, the varnish is required in a specific part of your design. One of the biggest benefits of this varnish is that it can be applied selectively to the boxes. Gloss varnish gives your packaging boxes longevity. Gloss varnish is also necessary if you want your design to appear vivid and bright. This varnish can be used for both plastic and paperboard.
Matte Varnish
Matte varnish offers depth to your design. It adds a very subtle look to your packaging boxes. With the help of matte varnish, you can offer a very somber appearance to your boxes. It is well-suited for designs that require a non-reflective look. This varnish is popularly used for food packaging, cosmetic packaging, and premium product packaging.
Benefits of Matte Varnish:
This type of varnish is perfect for packaging boxes that require more visibility. You can place boxes with matte varnish in the areas with less light. But it will still make your packaging noticeable. If you want to add bold and contrasting elements to your design, then we would recommend matte varnish.
Learn more about which lamination is best for packaging in our dedicated blog matte vs gloss lamination
Soft-Touch Varnish
Soft touch or velvet varnish is used for packaging that requires premium finishing. This varnish is most suitable for luxurious products. It offers a very premium look to your packaging. Moreover, this varnish adds a tactile feel to your packaging. This allows you to engage your customers with your products. This varnish works well for perfume boxes, rigid boxes, and watch boxes. In short, soft-touch varnish is perfect for every high-end product.
Benefits of Soft-touch Varnish!
This varnish can be applied in unique colors. It is perfect to elevate the aesthetics of your boxes. Moreover, it can also be used for metal, plastic, and paperboard. The usage of this varnish makes it highly functional. This varnish will make your customers’ shopping experience delightful and unforgettable. This varnish is not only appealing, but it also increases the shelf life of your products.
The Application Process of Varnish in Packaging!
Now, let’s understand how this varnish works. Here’s a breakdown of these steps:
- The step begins after the box is designed. Once the design ink dries out, the varnish coating is applied to the box. The tools that are used in this process can be either a varnish press or a varnish machine. Both of these tools are highly effective.
- The next step needs the varnish to be applied all over the box. It is spread with the help of a roller. The application process also depends on the type of material and the type of varnish.
- After its spread, it is time to dry out the varnish. It can be easily dried out with the help of heat. Most drying-out processes also involve the use of UV light. Once the varnish dries out, it looks like part of the box. It merges well and gives the desired packaging effect.
Advantages of Varnish!
Let’s look at some advantages that varnish offers for your custom packaging boxes:
Long Shelf Life for Your Products:
Varnish offers a pristine look to your packaging. It is perfect to make your boxes look clean and appealing. Varnish keeps your packaging safe from external contamination. This, as a result, offers durability to your packaging. This durability factor contributes to offering a long shelf life to your products.
Protection from Moisture:
Your packaging is subjected to rough handling while in transit. You can protect your boxes from various kinds of scratches and external particles by using varnishes. By applying varnish, you can deliver your personalized boxes to clients without endangering them.
Highly Flexible and Cost-effective:
Varnishes are highly cost-effective. This means that you don’t have to spend a fortune to add them to your boxes. Moreover, varnish can be used on a variety of packaging materials.
Disadvantages of Varnishes!
Here are some common disadvantages of varnishes:
Long Drying Time:
Varnish requires a lot more time than lamination. This drying-out time can result in delayed production, which ultimately leads to late deliveries.
Discolouration Over Time:
Not using quality and UV varnish can cause yellowing of the varnish. These factors will not only affect the appearance of the packaging. But it will also impact your brand’s reputation.
Application Difficulties:
Even a tiny fraction of application mistakes will create great imperfections in the varnish. It needs a very precise and consistent application. Because once a mistake has been made, you can’t undo it. As there are no ways to fix varnish mistakes. Therefore, the application challenge is one significant disadvantage of varnish in packaging.
How to Choose the Right Varnish?
To choose the right varnish, you need to start by choosing the kind of varnish your box requires. Choosing eco-friendly varnishes will play in your favor. That’s why, look for the varnishes that fall under the FDA compliance. It is very important to consider the wastage of your packaging and its components. Choosing eco-friendly packaging will help you minimise packaging waste.
What Mistakes Do You Need to Avoid?
Here are some common mistakes that you need to avoid to get an accurate varnish on your packaging.
- Do not choose messy packaging designs. It doesn’t only make your packaging look confusing. But it also steals the focus from important product details.
- Before applying the varnish, make sure your packaging’s surface is clean and smooth. Because only a clean surface will allow accurate application of the varnish.
- Always choose a varnish that sits right with your design and material. Match the compatibility of your varnish with your packaging type.
- Make sure that the first coat of varnish has completely dried out. And once it’s dry, then move towards the second coat. This helps you avoid all kinds of application imperfections.
Summing It Up!
Varnish for your custom packaging can prove to be of great help for your brand. It will help you turn your products into high-end items. Contact us now to learn about the right type of varnish for your custom packaging boxes.
