How Do I Choose the Right Finish for My Custom Printed Boxes?

If you've spent hours perfecting your logo, colours, and packaging design but haven't thought about the finish yet, don't worry, you've got plenty of company.

In fact, most of our customers don't come to us asking for a matte finish or a gloss coating. They come to us because they need custom packaging that looks incredible and represents their brand. Choosing the right finish usually isn't on their radar until we bring it up.

And that's exactly how it should be.

The finish shouldn't be your starting point.

One of the biggest misconceptions about custom packaging is that choosing a finish is like picking a paint colour. Matte or gloss? Done.

Not quite.

The truth is, we rarely recommend a finish until we've seen your artwork. Your box finish isn't a standalone decision, it's one piece of the overall design.

The artwork, the colours, the type of paperboard, your branding, and even how the box will be used all play a role in determining what will work best.

Think of it this way: you wouldn't build a roof, before putting up walls.

Your paperboard matters more than you might think.

One of the first things we look at is what your box is being printed on.

For example, if you've chosen kraft paperboard, chances are you're going for a natural, rustic, handcrafted aesthetic. In that case, recommending a high-gloss finish would usually work against the look you're trying to achieve.

Instead, we often let the natural character of the kraft stock shine through.

It's one of those little production details that can make a surprisingly big difference.

Dark artwork? We have one recommendation we make all the time.

If there's one piece of advice we find ourselves repeating, it's this:

If your box has a dark, full-flood design, strongly consider a glossy finish.

Here's why.

We once worked with a bakery that wanted a beautiful dark box with a matte finish. It would have looked elegant, but there was a catch.

Because the design used heavy, dark ink coverage, a matte finish increased the risk of the ink rubbing or transferring during handling.

Instead, we recommended a glossy finish to better protect the printed surface.

Our job isn't simply to produce the packaging you ask for, it's to help you avoid problems before they happen. Sometimes that means that the best recommendation isn't the one you expected.

Why we wait until we see your artwork

Some people are surprised when we don't immediately answer the question, "Should I choose matte or gloss?"

It's because we'd rather give you the right answer than a quick answer.

Once we have your artwork, we can evaluate things like:

• How much ink coverage there is.

• Whether your design uses light or dark colours.

• The type of paperboard you've selected.

• The overall feel your brand is trying to create.

• Whether there are any durability concerns we should account for.

  
  

Only then do we start making finish recommendations.

It's a little like asking an interior designer which paint finish you should choose before they've seen the room. Context matters.

Our advice? Don't choose the finish in isolation.

A great box isn't created by checking boxes on a specification sheet.

It's created by making sure every decision, from the paperboard to the artwork to the finish, works together.

That's why our clients rely on us as a packaging broker. We don't just source custom printed boxes, we help guide the decisions that make those boxes look better, perform better, and represent your brand the way you intended.

So if you're wondering whether your project should be matte, gloss, or something else entirely, don't stress.

Send us your artwork.

We'll help you choose the finish that makes your packaging look its absolute best! Click here to book a free consultation.