Soft-Touch Cardstock
What Is Soft-Touch Cardstock
Soft touch cardstock is a premium colored paperboard with a factory-applied, soft-touch topcoat that creates a velvety, low-sheen surface. It feels warm and “peach-skin” to the touch, diffuses glare, and elevates brand perception. It is ideal for high-end folding cartons, sleeves, and gift packaging. Our standard weights are 130 gsm and 290 gsm, engineered for UV offset printing and luxury finishing.
Soft-Touch Cardstock Weight and Thickness
For structural planning and typical applications:
- 130 gsm — caliper approx. 0.14 mm, one side with soft touch, premium wrapping on rigid box, gift box etc.
- 290 gsm — caliper approx. 0.32 mm, both sides with soft touch, Premium folding cartons and sleeves; specialty inserts; belly bands for luxury sets
In-stock colors: Black, Warm Gray, White, Brown, Navy, Red.
Need a different color? Please contact our export team for custom options (MOQs and lead times may apply).
Handling note: Because the surface is ultra-matte and tactile, handle with care during kitting and fulfillment to minimize edge rub or scuffing, especially on dark colors.
The Advantages of Soft-Touch Paper
Soft-touch boards combine tactile luxury with design control. The matte surface minimizes reflections while providing rich color and superb contrast for foils and spot gloss accents. Compared with standard matte boards, they feel noticeably smoother and more premium without a plasticky shine.
Why Choose Soft-Touch
Choose soft touch when you want a sophisticated, anti-glare look with a signature handfeel:
- Luxury shelf appeal for cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, electronics accessories, and jewelry
- High contrast with hot foil and spot gloss UV for premium effects
Printing & Finishing Options
To achieve accurate color and durable results on soft touch, we print on UV offset presses and add targeted white underprints where needed:
- UV offset CMYK on soft touch: We use UV-curable inks for fast curing and strong adhesion on the low-energy topcoat.
- On dark colors (Black, Navy, Brown, Red): Apply an opaque white underprint beneath CMYK or spot inks to maintain saturation and neutrality. Photographic or pastel content often benefits from two hits of white in critical areas. Even with two white passes, full-color photos will not match printing on white cardstock.
- Metallic ink: UV-curable metallics deliver a subtle, satin shimmer on the ultra-matte surface. Best for larger solids and shapes; avoid very fine text or lines below about 0.3 mm. For extra pop, add spot gloss UV over the metallic. Compared with hot foil, metallic ink is less mirror-like but generally more economical on longer runs, requires no tooling, and can register tightly with CMYK artwork.
- Spot colors & Pantone: Available. Use a white underprint wherever brand color accuracy is critical on dark stocks.
- Foil stamping & emboss/deboss: Excellent contrast against the ultra-matte surface. Keep minimum foil line weight at ≥ 0.3 mm; avoid small serif text below 7 pt.
- Spot UV (screen): High-gloss highlights add dramatic pop on the matte surface.
- Die cutting & creasing: Use steel-rule dies for clean edges. Pre-scoring is required on fold lines to prevent micro-cracking, especially on darker colors.
Production, Handling and Shipping Guidelines
- Handling: Dark colors can show edge rub; request unit wrapping or poly sleeves for retail‑ready surfaces.
- Color behavior: The same CMYK build renders slightly different across colors. White underprints improve consistency; for critical hues, request on‑stock drawdowns or a UV press proof.
- The soft‑touch surface would have fingerprints after touching, but dark colors can show edge rub if mishandled. Request shrink‑wrap or protective sleeves per unit for retail‑ready surfaces.
Best Use Scenarios
Soft‑touch stocks are a smart upgrade wherever tactile luxury and refined matte presentation matter:
- Folding cartons and sleeves for cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, jewelry, and electronics accessories
- Presentation sleeves, belly bands, and premium inserts for gift sets
- Limited‑edition packaging and influencer kits needing a soft, anti‑glare finish
FAQs
Can I print full color artwork on Black or Navy stock?
Yes—use an opaque white underprint beneath CMYK/spot inks. For photos or pastel tones, we often apply two hits of white for neutrality and brightness.
Can I combine foil and spot UV on soft-touch?
Absolutely—the contrast against the matte surface is striking. Keep fine foil strokes ≥ 0.3 mm and avoid very small serif type.
Is this material OK for direct food contact?
No. Use a certified food‑safe inner liner or primary pack.
Do you offer other thicknesses or colors?
290 gsm in the listed colors is our standard. If your project requires different weights or shades, contact us.
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