When you think about packing a gift or product, you think of the most appealing and best possible way to present, in most cases than not, opting for luxury gift boxes. A luxury gift box adds a touch of elegance to a package, making it look even more sophisticated than it already is.
They are called luxury boxes not because they are expensive, but due to the high quality materials used, the attention to detail employed in the process of designing the boxes, and the exquisite finishes applied.
Luxury boxes are made in different sizes, shapes, designs, and material types. In the following sections, we look at some of the most commonly used materials and techs in gift box manufacturing.
Luxury Gift Box Paper Types
People typically expect their gifts and luxury purchases to be packaged beautifully, in an exquisite and high-end manner. The paper type material used in the production of the gift box reflects the value and image that the gift item represents, for this reason, it is best to get the most suitable luxury gift box paper type. What are some of the paper types?
- Kraft Paper
Kraft paper is a type of cardboard (or paperboard) that is gotten from the chemical pulp that comes from the Kraft process. This paper type is the most commonly used material for luxury gift boxes, and they have a very versatile application.
One of the several reasons why Kraft paper gift boxes are preferred by many detailers and gifters for their packages is its great endurance capabilities. Kraft paper gift boxes are produced using Kraft paper, which is very thick and durable, making it possible to withstand impact and a wide range of harsh conditions such as high pressure and humidity.
Furthermore, Kraft paper is highly customizable, fitted to be used for different products like handcrafted, fragile, and luxury items. A Kraft paper gift box is specifically ideal for luxury items as it helps to prevent damage and ensures that the value of its content does not suffer degradation.
- C1S/C2S Art Paper
Art paper is a luxury gift box paper type that helps to improve the smoothness, whiteness, and gloss of the gift box paperboard. Art paper is ideal for offset printed paper boxes as it typically weighs between 70 to 250 g/m2.
The smoothness and excellent printing properties of art paper makes it very popular for use in the paper packaging industry. Art paper is classified into two common types, the C1S (single side coated) and C2S (double sided coated). Both art paper types are excellent for printing.
After printing on art paper, it is then wrapped around a much thicker duplex paperboard, giving the luxury gift box a more beautiful and fashionable look. Asides its luxury gift box application, art paper is also ideal for making paper bags for shopping and gifting.
- Textured Paper
Textured paper is usually recommended for luxury gift boxes as it makes the perceived value of a product seem even higher than if ordinarily is. This luxury gift box paper type has a smooth and silky surface that is designed to keep the natural features of a high quality art paper. Textured paper is characterized by its thickness, durability, and resistance to tear.
When foil stamped and embossed, textured paper does an even more superior job at adding value to products of every size. Some of the common benefits of using textured paper for luxury gift boxes include durability, resistance to tear, customizability, sophistication, smooth surface for high quality printing, etc.
- Black Paper
If you are trying to go all in for a very luxurious and bespoke branding, then black paper gift box type is what you need. This paper type helps create a luxurious look that is befitting of special or high end occasions, it particularly helps to make a bold statement.
The black paper luxury gift box is designed with sophistication and elegance as the ultimate goal, these two qualities being responsible for the adding of a touch of glamor and glitz to every gift. The matte black color specifically, gives packages a very powerful aura.
- Metallic Paper
This paper type is named so due to its metallic appearance on paper surface, it is not actually a metallic material. The metallic paper box is a specially printed box that is given a metallic finish and visual effects. These metallic effects are achieved either by using the metallic inks printing or the metallic laminating film.
Metallic cardstock is usually rendered in striking 3D images with a patented combination of film and laminate layers. It offers users sharp details, beautifully saturated colors, natural looking tones, and a unique pearlescent surface using ultra bright backgrounds.
- Ivory Paper Board
Unlike other paper types like Kraft paper and corrugated fiberboard which are produced with recycled materials, Ivory paper board, also commonly called the virgin board or virgin paper, is made from 100 original tree pulp. Ivory paper board is pure white, and offers a brighter look than even art paper.
Ivory paper board is a popular choice to create packaging boxes for small devices, cosmetics, and perfumes, to name only a few. It is a translucent paper that is easy to print and engrave on. Ivory paper board has a thickness range between 0.27 and 0.55 millimeters, and its GSM ranging from 210 to 400g.
- Leatherette Paper
Leatherette paper is not actually made from leather, as the name suggests, it is only a faux leather special wrapping paper that has the features typical of leather, such as wear resistance and very soft texture. Leatherette paper is easy to print and emboss designs on, it comes in different types of colors and textures.
The smoothness, elegance, and leather like texture of leatherette paper makes it an ideal choice for the packaging of most high-end items. Other features of the leatherette paper include durability and ease of customization. The flexibility of leatherette paper makes it the perfect material to create luxury boxes with, since it can be molded and shaped with ease to fit your desired shape of gift box.
Gift Box Lamination
Most gift boxes often require lamination, this comes up as a form of final finishing touch to it, especially if the gift box has been printed on. Also called coating, lamination of gift boxes helps to protect the print design of the box from dirt, scratches, fingerprints, etc.
Based on the requirements of the different luxury gift box paper types, such as art paper, leatherette paper, metallic paper, texture paper, and the other kinds of materials, lamination often comes more necessary in the production of some gift boxes than others. What does lamination really entail and why is it a very important process in gift box manufacturing? We will explain further.
What is Lamination
Lamination is used to provide the ultimate protection for the ink on printed materials and also to enhance its appearance. The process of lamination involves applying a very thin plastic film, such as polypropylene, on a printed material. Lamination helps, to an incredible extent, in minimizing the appearance of cracks and creases on your gift box, especially in much thicker ones.
The materials used to create lamination are water resistant, hence, keeping your luxury gift boxes completely free of moisture and providing a higher level of protection. The most widely used lamination styles being Matte and Glossy.
Matte lamination, also called matte coating, is mostly used on rigid boxes, making them look even better. This type of lamination gives the printed material a feel of high quality and luxury. The matte lamination finishing provides a greatly increased lifespan of the print material, and protects the gift box from damages caused by water.
The other common type of lamination, Glossy, is also used with litho offset printing. This type of lamination helps to give print designs a glossy effect, and protects your gift box from water, scratches, and distortions.
Function of Lamination
Lamination has several functions, which also double as its advantages, that is, reasons why gift box lamination is highly recommended. Some of these functions include:
- Improved Appearance: one thing lamination does is to improve the look of your gift box by enhancing the printed piece’s ink colors. Lamination gives a higher impression of great quality as it adds strength and stiffness to the gift box.
- Extra Protection: lamination adds more protective measures to your gift box, safeguarding it against stains, spills, smudges, tears and wrinkles, fingerprints, grease, first, abrasions, moisture, oil, etc.
- Increased Life span: another important function of lamination is to offer longevity of print materials. This function makes it the most cost effective approach at protecting a gift box.
How to do Embossment on Gift Boxes
Embossing on gift boxes is the process of making raised designs on the surface of the gift box, this allows for a better texture and the introduction of dimension to the packaging. This technique is mostly used to give gift boxes a certain kind of premium and sophisticated aesthetics, setting it apart from other kinds of luxury gift boxes.
Embossing introduces tactile and visual elements to the design of the gift box, thereby elevating the brand’s image and making a package stand out. Embossment provides a plethora of options for gifters and entrepreneurs alike, due to its versatility.
If you are looking to add a feel of luxury and uniqueness to an item, consider getting a high quality gift box with embossment and neat finishing from a proven gift box manufacturer. Let’s go through a quick summary of how embossment on gift boxes can be done.
Things You Will Need
- Embossing folder
- Die cutting and embossing machine
- Shimmer Ink Pads
- Multipurpose card
- Blending Tool
- Collall tacky glue
- Collall all-purpose glue
- Foam Pads (2mm and 3mm depth)
- Sentiment Stamp
How to Emboss
There is no one clear cut method to emboss a gift box, this is because different approaches can be used for embossing on gift boxes. However, there are some simple methods by which you can achieve this, we will be looking at one of them.
- Create an embossed design: you will use the embossing folder and die cutting machine to create your desired design on a piece of card.
- Add ink: now, use the blending tool to add shimmer to the embossed design.
- Attach design to the gift box: attach the design embossed on the piece of card to the gift box, you can use your foam pads to get this done.
- Add Sentiment: use shimmer ink to stamp a sentiment on the piece of card, then attach the sentiment panel to the gift box with foam pads.
- Fold the box: lastly, secure the box using red liner tape, and fold the box base together with the lid.
How to do Debossment on Gift Boxes
While embossment raises the design from the surface of the gift box, debossmemt does the contrary, it engraves the images on the material surface and gives it a sunken design. When you touch it, the debossment on gift boxes feels like channels or divots. Debossment gives gift boxes a greater amount of detail and precision, making its surface easily identifiable.
The process for making debossment on gift boxes involves pressing a design into the surface of the material, this would result in a depressed imprint. This technique is suitable for adding 3D textures on the surface of gift boxes, and can be used on a variety of luxury box paper types.
Theoretically, the process of debossment is relatively simple, but it still requires a considerable amount of precision, care, and skill to accomplish. Below is a brief summary of what the process entails:
- Die Creation: create a die to be used with the debossing stamp
- Material Placement: application should be on materials like paper, leather, or fabric.
- Press and Heat: use heat and pressure application to press the die on the material, this gives it the debossed design.
- Cool it: Allow the material to cool down once debossment is complete.
Box Inserts Types & Materials
Box inserts are a necessity when items and contents of a gift box are needed to stay fixed in a particular position, or as a form of extra protection. Box inserts are essentially an important component of luxury gift boxes.
Picking the most suitable insert for your gift box depends on a number of factors, some of which includes the size of the product, its weight, the level of protection required to transport and store it safely. These factors will also determine the kind of materials that is used to produce the box inserts.
Each box insert type and material has its own unique features and advantages, let’s take a look at some of them.
- Cardboard
Cardboard is used widely to create inserts for perfumes, razors, calculators, etc. They are a great option to help organize the contents of a gift box, and are particularly useful for items with different components that need to be stored separately.
Cardboard inserts are generally cheaper because of the low costs of production. This type of inserts are an eco-friendly choice as cardboard is recyclable and biodegradable.
- Foam
Foam inserts offer extra protection for delicate items like jewelry, glass, digital devices, etc. One of the best features of foam inserts is that they are incredibly lightweight, which helps to save shipping costs and make the gift box easier to move.
Foam inserts are fully customizable, and can be applied to use for items of all shapes and sizes. They also offer protection from tears, scratch, water, and dust.
- Tissue Paper
Tissue paper inserts are a great choice of material for gift box inserts because of their outstanding branding and customization options. Tissue paper material can be easily made to fit all kinds of shapes, designs, and sizes.
Some of the other endearing features of tissue paper inserts include their durability and recyclability.
- Pulp
Pulp inserts, also known as molded pulp or paper pulp inserts, are produced from 100% biodegradable natural fibers, made up of wood pulp, bamboo pulp, and bagasse. Its biodegradability makes it a favorite by many businesses involved in packaging, as a means to fulfill a social responsibility.
Pulp inserts offer excellent shock absorption, are durable, and the design allows for extra safety measures during shipping. This type of insert is also highly cost effective. One disadvantage however is that, over time, they tend to change color and the pulp material weakens.
Key Takeaway
Luxury gift boxes play a very important role in the presentation of items, it could make all the difference between a regular product and a high-end one. Luxury gift boxes mean more than just packaging, they are a representation of your brand and person. With them, you can give recipients or customers unforgettable unboxing experiences. All of these however, depend largely on the materials and tech employed in the gift box manufacturing.
