1. What is Soft Touch Finish?
Soft touch finish refers to a specialized coating or film lamination applied to flexible packaging that creates a velvety, silky, or rubbery texture on the surface. Unlike traditional glossy or standard matte finishes, soft touch engages the consumer's sense of touch, creating a multisensory experience that subconsciously communicates quality and premium value .
This finish is characterized by:
* Low gloss / matte appearance – typically 1-5 gloss units at 60°
* Smooth, velvety hand feel – often compared to suede, silk, or soft rubber
* Fingerprint resistance – helps maintain clean appearance during handling
* Premium aesthetic – enhances color depth and perceived value
According to neuromarketing studies, consumers consistently prefer products with soft touch finishes, often without being able to articulate exactly why-the tactile experience creates a positive subconscious association with the brand .
2. Why Soft Touch? The Brand Value Proposition
Benefit Category Specific Advantage
Sensory differentiation Stands out on crowded retail shelves; consumers "discover" the product through touch
Premium positioning Communicates luxury, quality, and attention to detail
Brand loyalty Creates memorable unboxing experience, encouraging repeat purchase
Perceived value Enables premium pricing; justifies higher price points
Anti-fingerprint Keeps packaging looking clean throughout shelf life and home use
Slip resistance Improved grip and stack stability for larger pouches
Key applications where soft touch delivers maximum impact:
* Premium pet food (as noted in your previous discussions)
* Luxury cosmetics and skincare
* Premium spirits and wine
* High-end electronics accessories
* Gourmet coffee and chocolate
* Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical (premium positioning)
3. How It's Achieved: Two Primary Technologies
There are two fundamentally different approaches to achieving soft touch on flexible packaging:
Route 1: Soft Touch Coatings (Liquid Applied)
How it works: A liquid coating (water-based, solvent-based, or UV-curable) is applied to the film surface via gravure, flexo, or roller coating, then cured.
Recent innovations:
* UFlex FLEXCOAT Soft Touch Coating (launched PLASTINDIA 2026) – 100% water-based, low-VOC, sustainable, with excellent scratch resistance and anti-blocking properties
* Stahl Sensora® portfolio – water-based and energy-curable haptic coatings offering multiple tactile profiles: soft-touch, rubbery, velvety, silky, smooth-touch, sand-touch
* Altrix PUD WPU-4021 – waterborne aliphatic polyurethane dispersion providing matte velvety finish on paper, film, and plastics
Advantages:
* Can be applied inline during printing process
* Wide range of tactile effects possible
* Lower cost for short to medium runs
* Good for spot coating applications
Considerations:
* Requires curing/drying time
* Coating thickness must be precisely controlled
* May have lower abrasion resistance than film lamination
Route 2: Soft Touch Lamination Films
How it works: A pre-manufactured soft touch film (e.g., soft touch PET or OPP) is laminated to the printed substrate using adhesive or thermal lamination.
Key products:
* Toray Lumirror STM (Soft Touch Matte) – inline-coated PET film with excellent abrasion resistance, high COF for stack stability, superior print adhesion
* Derprosa DL Soft Touch® (Taghleef Industries) – the original soft touch laminating film, invented and patented in 2009; now offers anti-fingerprint properties and versions with 50% PCR content
* Nobelus Karess soft-touch finish – available in PET (for stand-up pouches) and OPP (for sachets/stick packs)
* KDX ReadyLam BOPET Silky – thermal laminating film with silky matte finish
Advantages:
* Superior durability and abrasion resistance
* Consistent finish across entire run
* No drying/curing required after lamination
* Better protection for printed graphics
Considerations:
* Higher material cost
* Requires lamination step (additional process)
* Less suitable for spot applications
Comparison Table:
Dimension Soft Touch Coating Soft Touch Lamination Film
Tactile intensity Medium to High High (velvety/silky)
Abrasion resistance Medium High
Fingerprint resistance Good Excellent
Cost (per m²) Lower Higher
Process complexity Inline coating Requires separate lamination
Best for Short runs, spot coating Long runs, full-surface finish
Sustainability Water-based options available PCR content options available
4. Key Performance Considerations
When specifying soft touch for flexible packaging, evaluate these critical factors:
Factor What to Check Why It Matters
Abrasion/scratch resistance Taber abrasion test, rub testing Soft touch finishes can be vulnerable to damage during transport and retail handling
COF (Coefficient of Friction) ASTM D1894 High, stable COF prevents pouches from sliding during stacking
Heat seal compatibility Seal strength testing Coating must not interfere with seal integrity
Print adhesion Cross-hatch tape test Ensure inks and coatings bond properly to soft touch surface
Food contact compliance FDA, EU, Swiss Ordinance Critical for direct food contact applications
Anti-blocking Blocking resistance test Prevents stacked pouches from sticking together
5. Recommendations for Your Pet Food Packaging Application
Based on your earlier discussions about pet food flexible packaging, soft touch finish is particularly well-suited for premium dry food stand-up pouches . Considerations:
Factor Recommendation
Target segment Super-premium or functional pet food (grain-free, high-protein, vet-prescribed)
Substrate compatibility PET structure with soft touch coating or lamination
Durability requirement High (pet food undergoes significant handling) → Recommend lamination film route
Print strategy Print on reverse side of clear film, then laminate with soft touch-graphics remain protected
Cost position Premium price point with larger MOQ due to the base waste level of 20kg adhesive ink
Summary
Aspect Key Takeaway
What it is Velvety/silky surface texture on packaging film
Why use it Premium brand positioning, sensory differentiation, consumer preference
How to achieve Coating (liquid applied) or lamination film (pre-made)
Key suppliers Toray, Taghleef (Derprosa), Nobelus, Stahl, UFlex
Critical specs Abrasion resistance, COF, food contact compliance
Cost impact Moderate premium; varies by method and volume
Best for Premium pet food, cosmetics, spirits, gourmet food
For your pet food packaging line, soft touch finish can be an effective brand differentiator that justifies premium pricing while creating memorable consumer experience.