Matt vs gloss lamination: which should you choose?
Last updated 2026-08-22
In short
Matt lamination gives a flat, modern finish that hides fingerprints and is easy to write on; gloss lamination makes photographic colour more vivid and resists scuffs better. Soft-touch is a matt variant with a velvet feel, used on premium cards and packaging at a small extra cost.
Matt
Best for text-heavy work, corporate stationery and anything that will be written on. It slightly mutes colour, so deep blacks benefit from a rich black build.
Gloss
Best for photography, food packaging and retail print where colour needs to pop. Shows fingerprints on dark backgrounds.
Soft touch and combinations
Soft-touch plus spot UV is the strongest premium combination: velvet background with a raised gloss logo. It costs about 15–25% more than plain matt.
Frequently asked questions
Which lamination shows fingerprints least?
Matt. Gloss on dark solid colours shows fingerprints most.
Can you write on laminated cards?
On matt yes, with a ballpoint or permanent pen. On gloss, ink smears.