Using a Pearl Coatings to Enhance Design

Written by Michael DiFranco, VP of Marketing at JohnsByrne

A strand of pearls signals luxury, class, and taste. Take a cue from the fashion industry in your packaging design with a pearlescent coating to give your packaging, mailer, or other printed material the appeal associated with luxury and exclusivity. Pearl coatings mimic the reflective qualities of pearls, with fine refractive grains lending the project a subtle shimmer or sparkle, more refined than a glitter effect.
Pearl coatings are often associated with health and beauty products, but the reality is these coatings can add class and exclusivity to the appearance of packaging materials for a variety of industries, including those related to seasonal décor, specialty foods like chocolate, car industry collateral, sporting goods, and countless other products and activities.

Pearlescent Coating: Achieving Different Looks
Pearl coating is one of many on-press effects that can be applied in different ways to achieve a wider gamut of looks and degrees of intensity. Depending on its application, the final look can be completely different. Here are different ways to apply pearlescent coatings that produce unique effects on print and packaging.

Overall vs Spot:
Depending on the artwork, copy, and branding, there is the the option of laying pearl coating down ‘overall’ on a sheet giving a uniform ‘overall’ shimmer effect and creates a luminescent backdrop for the branding and specific design elements. A ‘spot coat,’ on the other hand, lays down the coating in very specific areas while leaving other areas without pearl for dramatic contrast. This is an ideal way to bring attention to specific elements of the print or packaging design. These two options give two very different looks depending on the desired reaction.

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