PrintNinja - online printing made easy for creators

Our customer service team has helped deliver more than seven million pieces to happy customers around the world. Lean more about that team and quote your printing project today!

Packaging Finishes & Thickness

This article will introduce you to our game packaging finishes and thickness options.

Finishes are applied on top of your printed packaging for added protection and aesthetic appeal. Choosing a tuck box finish is two-fold: you will need to pick a type (e.g. varnish or lamination) and a style (e.g. gloss or matte). For two-piece boxes, lamination is the default option due to the thick material. You only need to choose a style for your two-piece box.

Packaging Finish Types and Styles

Packaging Finish Types

The finish type (varnish or lamination) plays a protective role for the ink and prevents scratches.

Varnish is the most common finish type used for playing cards and tuck boxes. This liquid finish is applied by the offset printing press and is available in gloss and matte styles. Lamination is the most protective finish, and makes your packaging water resistant. Lamination is available in gloss, matte and as an anti-scratch matte lamination (discussed below).

Please Note
Water resistant is not water proof.

Packaging Finish Styles

The finish style (gloss or matte) adds an artistic appeal to your project.

Gloss adds a reflective shine to your box, while matte adds a duller shine and smoother touch.

Matte (Anti-Scratch)

Anti-scratch matte lamination is highly recommended if you’ve selected a matte style, and your artwork has a substantial area covered by a dark color. Matte is more prone to showing scratches on dark ink, so we recommend adding anti-scratch matte-lamination or choosing gloss.

Matte (Soft-Touch)

This finish is essentially the same as Anti-Scratch Matte Lamination with an added tactile feature. As the name indicates, the feeling of the lamination is “soft” or “buttery” compared to regular lamination.

Box Thickness

Our boxes are made out of high density paperboard, the industry standard. The thicker your box, the more durable it is, but besides that choosing a thickness is your creative choice. Most games you see on the shelf of your game shop use 2mm thickness.

Freshly updated customer reviews from TrustPilot