Because of the internet, the human community has rapidly evolved throughout the years. Just a decade ago, you could only send plain text messages. Now? You can mail a wide variety of things to your loved ones—Emojis, GIFs, and, of course, stickers. According to DataReportal, more than 1 billion people use Facebook Messenger, making it one of the world’s most active social media platforms. Here, people send more stickers, gifs, and emojis than you can count.
With digital stickers exploding in popularity, so are physical stickers. While it’s fun to send funny faces to your friends, nothing beats the charm of showing off your interest to the world. Because of this interest, many businesses create their very own stickers to give out to their customers. But did you know? You can get multiple materials and finishes when you print custom stickers. To help you learn more about finishes specifically, we are going to discuss it in this guide. Today, we’ll look at the most popular sticker finishes: Matte and Glossy.
Let’s find out what makes each one different from the other.
Basic Differences
The most apparent difference between a matte and glossy finish is how the sticker’s surface looks.
First, we’ll be taking a look at the matte finishing. The trait that defines its finish is its low-shine appearance, giving it a muted look. Because of this, colors tend to look a bit darker than they are. Designs also benefit from this specific finish as it provides them with a unique look not found in normal-looking stickers.
As for gloss, it has an unmistakable trait: its sheen. This shiny finish is great at making both designs and colors look bright and pretty. If you want people to notice products on a shelf, then this is the finish to go for. You can also see this kind of finish in multiple car models, a testament to how popular a glossy product is.
Next, we’re going to take a look at how they differentiate in terms of color.
Color Scheme
As the name suggests, the glossy finish allows for more light to come through and get reflected. This makes the sticker’s colors look more vibrant and pronounced. Because of this, each color is enriched and stands out. Glossy is best used if you’ve got a bold design in mind, something that will pop together with vibrant colors. So, if you want to catch people’s attention, then go with something like glossy bumper stickers.
As for matte, the material absorbs light, reducing the sheen of the sticker. The muted colors often help make the designs look sleek and classy. Matte stickers are best utilized when you are going for a more sophisticated look for your designs. For recommendations, black would be perfect with matte, as the finish brings out its best quality.
Overall Popularity
In terms of popularity, both of these finishes have got it in spades. It’s hard to measure which is more popular because each order is unique and different. Ultimately, it comes down to what looks the best with what design. Some design ideas clash with either finish. While designing a sticker, we recommend you print out a few proofs to see how it’ll look in matte or glossy. You can save yourself a lot of trouble this way, giving you the option to bring out the best in your creations.
The Common Uses
Because each finish changes the appearance of the stickers, they have different uses and applications.
We’ll talk about matte first. It is commonly used to create a sleek, classy, and professional design. Thus, these are often used for packaging, product labels, marketing/promotional materials, etc.
For application, it is best placed on non-reflective objects and surfaces that experience frequent handling due to their ability to resist fingerprints, scratches, and smudges. Aside from packaging, matte is also perfect as wall decals or any other place where you’d rather have a minimalistic style.
As for glossy stickers, they are there to make an immediate and lasting impact. The vibrant nature of this finish makes it ideal for catching people’s attention, so it is also perfect for marketing and packaging purposes. If you are advertising for the first time, this is the finish you want to use. Stickers with bold and intricate designs will stand out even more if you use glossy.
Final Thoughts
As both matte and glossy finishes have unique characteristics, it is up to you to use them and bring out their potential. Which is better will depend on how you intend to use them and your overall preferences.
To summarize things, a matte finish is what you should go with if you want to look sleek and classy. Glossy is perfect if you have designs that you want to stand out and draw attention to.
Finally, finishes should always compliment the design and intent. Think of it as the cherry on top of your ice cream sundae.
