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If the other options seem more appealing to your printing project needs, please visit our UV coating or varnish articles to learn more. If not, then let’s continue our journey into aqueous coatings!

AQ coatings are also resistant to fingerprints and other impurities during handling, and it is also possible to enhance surface durability with a combination of different coat layers. However, the product type will largely determine the suitability of AQ coating for your packaging.

And while each company has its own set of needs, to get you started, let’s look at one of the most popular coatings available: Aqueous (AQ) coating. But before we delve deeper into this excellent finishing method, you might wonder why you should apply a print coating to your project.

However, sometimes your printed piece might be hindered by a print coating. Greeting cards, for example, do not need a coat, as applying one would make writing on the card challenging, defeating the intended purpose of your greeting cards! Still, if you wish to add a print coating to these items, you must specify with your service provider the areas where a coat should not be applied to avoid this problem.

As mentioned previously, aqueous coatings are available in matte, satin or gloss finishes, but other unique coating types are also available to fit your printing needs! Let’s have a look.

Regardless of which coating you’re considering, in most cases, it will help protect and enhance your final product. If you intend to mail your piece, a print coating is necessary. And if you predict many hands will handle your print like a business card or brochure, a print coating is highly recommended for its added protection.

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Nevertheless, AQ coating is still the most popular choice for print finish options thanks to its reliable and brilliant results.

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Gloss: A gloss aqueous coating is ideal if you’re looking for a less showy and more muted finish. As mentioned above, UV coating or film laminates are better options if you are looking for a flashier shine.

Satin: With an appearance between gloss and matte, a satin aqueous coating offers medium shine and excellent scuff resistance.

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Soft Touch: Soft touch aqueous coating creates a velvety texture with a soft appearance compared to a glossy finish. Similar to matte coating, it gives a subtle finish with little to no shine.

Put simply, special machines apply the aqueous coating immediately before printing ink on the sheets. Special care is taken to ensure no wrap, wrinkles, or curls occur on the paper during this process and after the application of the coating, the sheet passes through a heated air system for quick drying.

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Cosmetic products and perfumes, for instance, contain chemicals that may make AQ coating challenging to maintain on the exterior or interior of the packaging due to the risk of leaking, so always consider the product and your needs when deciding on the best print coating for you.

In addition to this versatility, AQ coating is known for being environmentally friendly with its non-toxic, water-based solvent that makes it perfect for applications such as:

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We’ve briefly mentioned the benefits AQ coating has over the other popular finishing methods, but let’s look at the four main benefits in more detail to understand why so many companies choose this option.

Shanon Dunlap is PakFactory's Director of Digital & Content Marketing. She writes about all things related to design, business and technology and how it serves value to customers, business owners, packaging designers and industry experts.

Creating a lasting impression on your target market involves having attractive product packaging with a distinct “wow” factor. In that regard, the print coating is one of the most critical packaging elements you need to be aware of if you want your packaging to look its best despite multiple individuals touching and handling your products.

Whether used for packaging boxes, calendars, manuals, or other applications, the coating impacts the final look and appeal of the product.

Unlike UV coating and varnish, AQ coating is water-based and is known as the “default” coating for printing and packaging. It features fast-drying capabilities when used during the printing process, which makes it possible to achieve different appearances, allowing various application methods.

To help you better determine this, we have included some key differences and features between the popular options of AQ coating, UV and varnish.

Although AQ coating provides several benefits, the chances of chemical burning with aqueous coating and UV coating are higher than other finishes such as varnish.