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Packaging isn’t finished until it has an ultraviolet (UV) coating. While it’s easy to think of UV coating as a finishing touch, the truth is that this design element should be a part of the conversation from the start. Is your brand embarking on a packaging design project? These are the fast facts on UV coating.

What Is UV Coating for Packaging?

UV coating is a popular finish for packaging that offers both protection and aesthetic appeal. It is used to create a premium look across nearly all product categories. Professional application of UV coating entails applying a clear liquid to a paper substrate before activating a curing process using UV light. The application of UV coating is a quick-drying process.

Brands that choose to use UV coating have many different options for application strategy. Typically, the coating is applied to packaging in its entirety using a technique called “flooding.” However, it’s possible to use a technique called UV “spot coating” that only covers specific areas of a package.

Brands can also customize UV coating by choosing different “sheen” levels. High-gloss UV coating is popularly used because it creates the strongest visual impact. However, subtle UV coatings are also available for brands that don’t need a high-shine, high-polish finish on packaging.

Exploring Different Options for UV Coating

There are many different options on the table for UV coating. The first choice to make is which finish style your brand prefers. The two options are gloss and satin. Providing high shine with superior rub resistance, gloss UV coating creates a high-profile texture that really grabs attention. Satin offers low light reflectivity to create a “flatter” look. While satin can certainly be used alone, it is more commonly used in patches to create contrast against gloss UV coating. Satin offers similar levels of scuff resistance and rub protection to gloss. The food industry often uses stain UV coating due to the fact that market research shows that matte packaging actually increases perceptions of food naturalness.

UV coating also provides options for specialty finishes that are less popular than gloss and satin. The first specialty option is something called pearlescent UV coating. Pearlescent UV coating gives off a pearlescent glow that shows off metal flecks. Orange peel UV coating is an option with a raised, textured finish that creates a highly tactile experience for customers. Finally, soft-touch coating is a UV coating technique that actually leaves your packaging surface with a velvet-like texture.

What Are the Benefits of UV Coating?

UV coating comes with a laundry list of benefits for making packaging beautiful and durable. It’s important to have a clear picture of UV coating benefits when doing comparisons of UV coating against other coating options. Here’s a rundown of the sleek, slick benefits of using UV coating on your packaging:

• Color Enhancement: UV coating makes darker, richer colors appear even more vivid. In fact, many brands love the “wet look” that UV coating can create. UV coating is a top choice for making colors “pop” to make products stand out on the shelves. This is the option if your brand wants gloss.
• Better Clarity: UV coating increases readability. Images, logos, text, and graphics all become highly visible, vivid, and recognizable when bathed in UV coating.
• Scuff Protection: UV coating isn’t just about “looks.” This finishing touch adds incredible durability to packaging. The thick layer of coating protects against scuffs that can occur during handling and shipping.
• Quick Drying: Unlike some coatings, UV coating dries instantly after application. This cuts down on production time to help brands enjoy faster turnarounds.
• Environmental Friendly: Yes, UV coating can be recycled! This is actually a big concern for brands focused on sustainability because some coating types cannot be recycled along with the rest of the packaging. UV coating is a top choice when sourcing eco-friendly packaging options due to the fact that it’s not hazardous for the environment. That’s important to know in a time when brands are increasingly making packaging decisions based on the growing desire among customers to make sustainable purchases.
• Affordability: UV coating is considered one of the most cost-effective options for sealing product packaging.

Are there any downsides to UV coating? Brands generally find this to be the best option for adding beauty and protection to packaging surfaces. However, it’s important to know about the potential drawbacks of UV coating before making a decision. First, it’s important to know that UV coating isn’t as rugged as an option like laminate coating. This is significant if you’re attempting to use writing on packaging for personalization. The slickness of UV coating causes most inks to simply rub away after application.

Similarly, using metallic ink of any kind with UV coating is likely to result in a failure. Metallic inks can actually destroy the surface of packaging with UV coating. UV coating is also incompatible with thinner papers. A thinner packaging paper is likely to curl under the weight of UV liquid.

The Quality Factor: Why Having a Plan for UV Coating Is Important

It’s obvious why UV coating is such a popular option among brands seeking to make their products stand out on shelves. However, getting the full benefit of UV coating all comes down to properly executing UV coating application. Poor UV coating application can actually detract from a brand’s reputation.

Working with a qualified packaging supplier is critical when integrating UV coating into a packaging plan. An experienced packaging supplier will understand the intricacies involved with impeccable application. Additionally, a qualified supplier will also have the state-of-the-art equipment necessary to expertly implement different UV coating techniques. The most important thing of all is that a qualified supplier will understand that your brand’s reputation is at stake. Here’s a look at some quality considerations to have in mind when sourcing a supplier capable of offering UV coating:

• UV coating must be able to stand up against frequent handling and friction. Special testing can be used to ensure that your coating is resistant to scuffing and rubbing off. Generally, a UV coating sample should be able to withstand at least 300 rubs without visible impact.
• UV coating should be able to display high-gloss characteristics without obscuring design details. Excessively glossy finishes can actually be counterproductive because they can make reading packaging text more difficult. It’s important that clarity is not lost when high-level shine is applied.
• UV coating should be applied smoothly and evenly. UV coating that is properly applied clings to a packaging exterior like skin instead of appearing like a “wrapping.”
• UV coating should have an overall appearance of quality. Improper coating techniques can leave a finished product with defects.

How do brands ensure that they can enjoy flawless UV coating? The first step is working with a company that has experience with applying UV coatings. It’s important to ask for examples of past work. In addition, brands should be provided with samples of packaging designs with UV coating before the final production run. This will give brand managers opportunities to see how plans for UV coating translate in the real world based on the type of UV coating chosen.

The benefit of working with a reputable packaging supplier is that packaging experts are able to inform brands about best practices for applying UV coating. This includes practical guidance on how to choose the right inks for printing graphics and texts. For instance, it’s known that UV coatings tend to be incompatible with silicones, paraffin waxes, and alkaline pigments.

What’s the Difference Between UV Coating and Aqueous Coating?

Some brands ultimately find that aqueous coating is a better fit than UV coating. Aqueous is a clear, water-based coating that offers protection for printed pieces. Like UV coating, aqueous coating is available in both satin and high-gloss finishes. However, it’s not considered as lustrous as UV coating. Unlike UV coating, aqueous coating is typically only applied as a “flood” coating. While both UV coating and aqueous coating are recyclable, aqueous coating is considered to be slightly more of an eco-friendly option than UV coating.

Aqueous coating generally lacks the uniqueness that’s available with UV coating. It doesn’t quite deliver the “wow factor” that many brands are looking for with coating. However, there are certain situations where aqueous may win out over UV coating even though UV coating is generally considered the “preferred choice” in the packaging industry.

Is it time to discover how UV coating can bring the shine to your packaging plans? Book a custom packaging quote with Mid-Atlantic Packaging today. We’re a premier supplier of packaging with custom UV coating applications for satin, gloss, flood finishes, and spot finishes.