It’s A Photo (Gloss) Finish! – Unless You Prefer Matt That Is…

We offer a choice between matt labels and gloss labels - here's a short guide to all things matt and gloss.

What’s the difference?
The “finish” of a material refers to the qualities and properties of that material’s surface, including its appearance and texture.

Matt materials have a dull, non-shiny finish because they have surfaces that tend to diffuse light – as light reflects off a matt surface it spreads out over a wide area. By contrast, gloss finishes tend to have a smoother surface that reflects light much more efficiently, which creates a bright and shiny finish.

Why choose one over the other?
Generally, people choose one finish over the other as a matter of personal preference; usually it’s because the finish matches the surface they are labelling (a matt label for a matt surface & a gloss label for a gloss surface), because the finish is different to the surface they are labelling so the label stands out better (a matt label on a gloss surface & a gloss label on a matt surface), or because they want a particular appearance for their labels (some prefer the subtle look of a matt label while others want the decorative shine of a gloss label).

Which products have a matt finish and which products have a gloss finish?

Visit our All Label Materials list to see all of the materials we supply, along with the kind of finish they have, and to buy!