Lamination in Printing: Gloss, Matte and Soft-Touch

Lamination bonds a thin, clear plastic film over the whole surface of a printed piece, protecting it from moisture, finger oils, scuffing and tearing while changing how it looks and feels. We laminate in-house on our Matrix laminator, in gloss or matte.

Unlike spot UV, which coats only chosen areas for contrast, lamination covers everything, its job is protection first, finish second, and it noticeably stiffens the sheet.

Gloss or matte, and where soft-touch fits

Gloss lamination deepens colour and adds shine, and its wipeable surface suits pieces handled often or with wet hands. Matte lamination mutes reflections and gives a calmer, premium look, and it is the surface that makes spot UV accents pop by contrast. Soft-touch is a matte laminate with a velvety feel; it is the base of our spot UV business cards. Matte shows scuffs less; gloss shows fingerprints more.

When not to laminate

Skip lamination on anything that must be written on, appointment cards, forms, mailing pieces that take a pen, since ink sits on the film and smears. It also adds thickness and stiffness, which suits a menu but works against a piece that should fold flat or feel light in the hand, one reason mailers are usually left unlaminated.

Which one for your job?

Laminate pieces that get handled hard: bookmarks, business cards, postcards and reference cards used daily. Choose gloss for wipeability and colour punch, matte for the premium feel. Skip it for writable and foldable pieces. Online, lamination is offered on business cards, bookmarks and 4 x 6 postcards; if you are unsure, tell us how the piece will be used, the use decides the finish.

Common questions

Is lamination the same as spot UV?

No. Lamination covers the entire surface with a protective film; spot UV coats only selected areas for visual contrast, usually on top of a matte lamination. One protects, the other accents, and they are often used together.

Does lamination make a piece waterproof?

Water-resistant, not waterproof. The faces shed spills and wiping, but the paper core can still absorb moisture through cut edges under prolonged exposure. For pieces that live outdoors permanently, a synthetic stock is the better answer.

What is soft-touch lamination?

A matte laminate with a velvety, almost rubbery feel. It reads as premium in the hand and resists fingerprints. Our spot UV business cards use a 1.3 mil soft-touch laminate under the spot gloss; on our other products, the lamination options are gloss and matte.

Products where this term matters

See also in the dictionary: Spot UV, Paper weight and finishes, Matte vs gloss · full dictionary