How to Leverage Spot Finishes for Unique Mylar Bags
When it comes to custom Mylar bag materials, pairing base finishes with spot finishes is a great way to make your packaging stand out and elevate the perceived product value.
Spot finishes highlight specific areas of the bag with a distinct texture or finish, creating visual contrast and a tactile experience for the customer. We have broken down some of the most popular finish types with some suggestions on how to strategically apply them.
Base Finishes
When making the right decisions for your Mylar bag project, choosing the base finish and proper sizing are equally important.
The base Mylar bag finish is a way to keep your packaging consistent with your brand and message. The base finish paired with the bag design creates the customer’s first impression.
Therefore, picking the proper base finish before implementing spot finishes could be paramount to your brand’s success.
Gloss Finish
Gloss-finish Mylar bags make up most on the market across all popular Mylar bag sectors. The shiny finish creates an eye-catching look that pops at customers.
Gloss bags are typically easier to produce than other options. As a result, they continually be a cost-effective Mylar packaging option.
Matte Finish
Matte finishes are a very popular option for custom Mylar bags. They offer a sleek and sophisticated look and feel. By muting the bag’s finish with a matte coating, these bags separate themselves from the commonly used gloss finish.
Metallic Finish
Metallic base finishes continue to grow as a popular luxury option. The process involves adding a thin layer of aluminum to the traditional PET layer to create a metallic-looking finish.
Taking these bags a step further, options like holographic metals can be used to create an even more unique and flashy look.
Soft Touch Matte
Soft touch takes a standard matte finish further by providing a more muted sheen and offering a unique feel when touched. Many customers describe the touch sensation as subtle velvety.
This option is ideal for clients concerned with the look and actual feel of the mylar bag.
Matte Metallic
As brands look to continuously differentiate themselves, finish types like Matte Metallic have become more popular. These are a great way to utilize the luxury feel of metal and add a slightly muted look for a soft sheen. Matte metallic Mylar bags provide a one-of-a-kind elegant look and feel.
Gloss Metallic
Gloss Metallic finishes are a less mainstream look and are more common for brands trying to create a flashy look and feel. This combination creates an ultra-shiny appearance. Paired with metallic finishes (i.e. holographic), this finish combo will stand out.
Spot Finishes
Using spot finishes on custom Mylar bags is the ultimate way to set your brand apart. Spot finishes are a chance to add a personal touch or create a unique packaging experience for the end consumer.
Utilizing spot finishes within design elements can help achieve a unique layered look. More specifically, they’re ideal for making elements like logos and important text stand out from the rest of the bag.
Spot finishes are your opportunity to create contrast within your design. Furthermore, to make the right elements pop or mute areas you would like more subdued.
Some spot finishes can even be paired together to create the ultimate special effect on your Mylar bag.
Spot UV
Spot UV (or Spot Gloss) is a gloss UV coating applied to a specific area of your Mylar bag. This spot finish is used against a matte base finish to highlight specific elements or a unique pattern on your bag design and make it pop.
Spot Matte
This is the opposite of a Spot UV (gloss) finish and in conjunction with a bag that utilizes a gloss or metallic base finish. Integrating a Spot Matte layer, you mute the sheen of specific areas of the bag to make portions of the base finish appear more prominently.
Like Spot UV this is often utilized to create unique patterns for a one-of-a-kind design.
Spot Foil
In essence, this would be used to add a metallic spot finish over your base finish. Spot Foiling (or foil stamping) is typically for very specific elements within the bag to make it stand out. For example, displaying a logo and/or tagline in foil to contrast with the base layer.
This spot finish works best on a matte base layer but also works with gloss.
Embossing
This type of spot finish would inherently involve printing the same spot finish as the base layer on top of each other to create a raised look and feel. For example, you can print your logo in gloss on top of the gloss base finish to make your logo slightly elevated from the base layer.
Alternately embossing can be combined with another type of spot finish to maintain its raised feel. It can also add the contrast of a varying finish against the base finish.
Final Word
You can combine gloss and matte finishes on Mylar bags or stick with one. Companies can create visually striking packaging that aligns with brand identity. By choosing the right base finish and adding spot finishes, brands can:
- Enhance visual appeal and texture
- Highlight key elements
- Make products stand out
This layered approach boosts shelf presence, reinforces brand recognition, and creates a memorable customer experience.
Not sure what the best option is for your brand? Custom 420 is here to help. We invite you to reach out through our contact form to learn more.