A smooth matte film, not fabric.
Soft touch is a thin, uniform laminate bonded over a printed sheet. The drag is tactile, but the surface stays visually smooth: never fuzzy, flocked or textile-like.
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See what soft-touch laminate does with your own brief.
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How it is made
The printed sheet is covered with a consistent matte film under heat and pressure, then trimmed. It deepens dark ink slightly, suppresses glare and protects the surface from handling. The film can show fingerprints and edge wear, especially over large dark solids. Foil and spot UV go on after lamination with film-rated settings; letterpress does not, because the film blocks ink and resists the impression.
Soft touch describes friction, not visible pile. The surface is smooth, with no velvet fibres, suede grain or cloth texture.
What the screen cannot show
A screen can show the low-glare surface but not the drag under a fingertip. The sample pack is the only honest way to judge the feel and fingerprinting.
Hold the finish in your hand: order the sample kit →What it runs on
| Substrate | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Coated silk & matte stock | Excellent | The intended base: a smooth printed sheet receives an even, uniform matte film. |
| Matte-laminated stock | Excellent | Soft touch replaces the standard matte film when tactile drag is wanted. |
| Soft-touch laminated stock | Excellent | The material family is the finished construction. |
| Thick board, duplex & triplex | Good, tested | Laminate the face plies before bonding and trim only after the board has cured. |
Minimums and specs
- Surface
- Smooth uniform matte film
- Visual texture
- None
- Applied
- After print
- Overprint finishes
- Film-rated foil / spot UV
Choose the process by the outcome
- Raw paper tooth
- Uncoated stock without laminate.
- Low glare without tactile drag
- Standard matte laminate.
- Gloss contrast
- Spot UV over soft touch.
Pairs well with
Spot UV, and clear foil on uncoated stock
Spot UV is a clear varnish cured over selected artwork. It needs a sealed surface; on raw cotton or uncoated paper it soaks in and the contrast dies.
Foil stamping
A heated die transfers a metallic film onto the stock under pressure. Not printed, not simulated: a layer of metal with an impression around it.
Common questions
- Is soft touch a velvet coating?
- No. It is a smooth matte laminate film; the tactile drag should not appear as visible fabric texture.
- Can foil go over soft touch?
- Yes with a film-rated foil and tested heat and dwell.
- Does soft touch hide fingerprints?
- Not always. Large dark fields can show handling marks, so the sample and proof matter.