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Soft-touch lamination, also called velvet laminate, is a thin matt film bonded over the print that gives a soft, velvety feel instead of a smooth one. Like other laminates, it helps protect the print from scuffs and finger marks. We offer it on our business cards, on both sides of the card. On our standard 400gsm silk card, 250 double-sided soft-touch cards cost £30, with VAT included and free delivery to UK mainland addresses.
What soft-touch lamination is
Lamination is a clear film applied to a printed sheet after printing. A soft-touch film has a matt, low-sheen surface with a velvety texture, so the card feels different the moment someone picks it up. It is sold under several names, including soft-touch, velvet laminate and suede laminate; they describe the same kind of finish. Our glossary entry on soft-touch lamination gives the short definition.
Which of our products have it
Today, soft-touch lamination is an option on our business cards only, applied to both sides of the card so the front and back match. Our leaflets, folded leaflets, booklets and other paper products are supplied without a laminate.
| Product | Soft-touch option | Card or paper |
|---|---|---|
| Business cards | Yes, both sides | 400gsm silk card as standard; also other silk and gloss weights |
| Leaflets and folded leaflets | No | The paper's own gloss or silk surface |
| Letterheads and compliment slips | No | 120gsm uncoated, made to be written on |
Soft-touch, matt laminate or no finish
On our standard 400gsm silk business card, these three finishes use the same card and the same artwork. Gloss laminate and gloss varnish are also available.
| No finish | Matt laminate | Soft-touch laminate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | Silk card, gentle sheen | Clear matt film | Matt film with a velvety texture |
| Feel | Smooth card | Smooth | Soft, velvety |
| Scuff resistance | The card on its own | Better than no finish | Better than no finish |
| Writing on it | Easiest | Harder | Harder |
| 250 double-sided cards | £23 | £25 | £30 |
Prices are live, include VAT at 20% and include delivery to UK mainland addresses. Our matt vs gloss lamination guide covers the matt option in more detail, and our guide to how much business cards cost shows every quantity.
When soft-touch is a good choice
Soft-touch is about how the card feels in the hand. It suits:
- brands where the feel of the card matters, such as beauty, wellbeing, hospitality and boutique retail;
- designers, architects and other creative businesses;
- cards handed out at launches and events, where people take a lot of cards and you want yours to stand out;
- dark, rich designs and simple layouts.
Choose no finish instead if you or your customers write on the cards, for example appointment or loyalty cards, because a laminated surface does not take a pen as easily as plain silk card.
Designing for soft-touch
- Colour: like any matt film, soft-touch takes a little shine off colours, so very bright tones can look slightly calmer than on unlaminated silk card.
- Dark backgrounds: use rich black (C63 M52 Y51 K100) for large black areas, and keep small text in 100% black only.
- Set-up: the film goes on after printing, so the artwork is the same as any of our cards: 91 x 61mm with 3mm bleed, text 5mm inside the trim, the front on page 1 and the back on page 2. Our free business card template has the lines marked.
- Proof: the on-screen proof shows your layout, trim and safe area, not the feel of the finish.
Our business card design tips cover what to put on the card and how to lay it out.
Prices, VAT and delivery
Soft-touch business cards start at 100 per design. Some live prices for double-sided soft-touch cards:
| Quantity | Price, VAT included |
|---|---|
| 100 | £25 |
| 250 | £30 |
| 500 | £41 |
| 1,000 | £58 |
Business cards are standard-rated for VAT, so the prices include VAT at 20%; see our VAT on printing page. They are dispatched 6 to 10 working days after you approve your proof, and delivery is free to UK mainland addresses.
Questions
What is soft-touch lamination? Soft-touch lamination is a thin matt film bonded over the print that has a soft, velvety feel. It is also called velvet laminate. It gives a low-sheen look and helps protect the print from scuffs and finger marks.
Is soft-touch the same as velvet laminate? Yes. Soft-touch and velvet laminate are two names for the same kind of finish; suede laminate is another. On our business cards it covers both sides of the card.
What is the difference between soft-touch and matt lamination? Both are low-sheen films that resist scuffs. Matt laminate feels smooth; soft-touch feels velvety. On our business cards both cover both sides, and the price table above shows the difference in cost.
Which products can I get with soft-touch lamination? At the moment, our business cards: single or double-sided, with soft-touch on both sides, from 100 cards. Our standard card is 85 x 55mm on 400gsm silk, and soft-touch is also available on other sizes and on gloss and multilayer cards. Our other products are supplied without a laminate.
Can you write on soft-touch business cards? It is harder than on plain card. A laminated surface does not take a pen as easily as uncoated or plain silk card, so choose no finish if you write appointment times or notes on your cards.
Do I need to change my artwork for soft-touch? No. The film goes on after printing, so set the card up at 91 x 61mm with 3mm bleed and text 5mm inside the trim, exactly as for our other cards. Expect very bright colours to look a little calmer under the matt film.
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