Everything You Need to Know About Aqueous Coating

Aqueous coating is gaining popularity and emerging in many industries for printing and packaging as every brand wants their product to stand out in the market. This coating is considered as a perfect solution for high-quality and long-lasting prints. 

It works amazingly to offer your product a glowy or shiny look to make your product noticeable on the shelves. You can go for lamination or coating that draws eyes and adds value to your package. 

Read this blog for more information about aqueous coating.

What is Aqueous Coating?

For a perfect and long-lasting print utilizing the different coating methods, aqueous coating is one of them. It is known as the default coating for printing when you want to give an air of luxury to a package. Aqueous Coating is a clear or nontoxic water-based varnish added during the printing process on printed objects. 

Having a feature of fast drying which allows it to achieve different appearances like satin, gloss, or matte. Often used in offset printing, so it is common to create a unique brand look to keep your product secure. 

When your product is on shelves, it can easily get fingerprint smudges as many people touch it. Ensuring that your product doesn’t get smudges is crucial to protect it from fingerprints and scuffs. Aqueous coating resists fingerprints, dries quickly, and is environmentally friendly when applied to printed material. This adds shine and a creative touch to make your packaging design stand out.  

Keep in mind that it is a water-based coating but it is not waterproof!

Purpose of Aqueous Coating

Aqueous coating adheres well to glossy paper and is used to highlight the areas with gloss varnish.  It is important to know which packaging requires which kind of coating and what its purpose is. Adding AQ coating to the surface makes it an excellent barrier against dirt and product presentation. 

Here are a few reasons why you must not forget the aqueous coating role:  

1. Boost Product Aesthetic 

It improves the packaging aesthetic and boosts the brand image while protecting. A glossy and polished finish enhances visual appeal and makes color more vibrant and brighter. A Better aesthetic for your product is always on top when it comes to luxury packaging or adding coating.  

2. Provide Durability

Op for hassle-free solutions, an AQ coating technique is very simple and durable. As it preserves the packages shine over time. This coating layer increases the durability of the printed material and makes it more resistant to fingerprint and tear while handling. 

3. Increase Brand Visibility

Elevate your brand visibility through this coating and create unique effects on printed material. With an aqueous coating applied your product packaging becomes more effective and helps to increase brand recognition among competitors.    

Types of Aqueous (AQ) Coating

There are several types of aqueous coating solutions available in the market. Learning about different aqueous coating techniques can help you gain more customer attention. Below are a few distinct AQ coatings types, so you can choose better that fits your needs: 

1. Gloss AQ Coating

Different tones of coating on packaging create a distinct impression when exposed to light. If you want a shimmery, vibrant, and glowing effect and create a luxury sense for your customers. Gloss AQ coatings are an excellent way to highlight your product on shelves. 

2. Satin AQ Coating

Provide a subtle sheen to your product packaging when you want to strike a balance between gloss or matte look. You can get a versatile appearance while being fingerprint-resistant and make a practical choice for a high-touch product. 

3. Matte AQ Coating

Give your product packaging a high-end sophisticated and nonreflective look. It offers the perfect fusion of style and natural aesthetic. These packages can absorb light rather than reflect and provide a smooth presentation.    

AQ Coating or Lamination: Which One is Better?

If your project wants durability and texture on printed material, different types of lamination or AQ coating both can serve better finishes. One of the main differences between lamination and coating is the process and material. It is important to know what both entail before deciding which one is better. 

Lamination has its place on packaging to add a waterproof sheen or texture and is best for grocery, cosmetics, jewelry, and high-end products. This is an ideal finish for your product to increase their visibility but it can be costly compared to coatings. You can choose it for a luxury product appearance to achieve an elegant look. The best time to use lamination is when you want to expose your item directly to light and add glare to make a lasting impression. 

Aqueous Coating is a reliable and cost-effective solution for multitudes of finishes. It is a faster process than lamination and offers a reliable texture. If you want an eco-friendly packaging solution for finishes with a glowing effect instead of plastic costing is the ideal way. 

The coating has more benefits over lamination:

• It can be applied to the cut sheet. 
• It improves barrier porters over lamination. 
• It has biodegradable material such as water-based liquid. 
• It cures instantaneously unlike lamination to improve turnaround time

Depending on your package look requirement and needs you can choose aqueous coating over lamination or vice versa. Both are great options for protecting and enhancing the product's appearance. 

Conclusion 

The above discussion shows that Aqueous coating is the most popular choice for print finishes due to its brilliant results and fingerprint-resistant properties. When you are looking for an elegant product look, keep in mind the requirements that suit your product needs. 

You can get a chance for luxury custom packaging with aqueous coating to leave a lasting impression on customers. 

Still looking for a coating option for packaging? Contact us and get expert advice that is tailored to your product needs. or if you are dealing with any confusion regarding coating, reach out to us without hesitation.