Process & troubleshooting
Why laminated board whitens at the fold, and what to change
Whitening is a film failure, not an ink failure. Understanding whether it is cracking, stress whitening or delamination points to the fix.
6 min read · 5 Aug 2026
Three different failures
Cracking shows as a sharp line where the film has split. Stress whitening shows as a milky band without a split. Delamination shows the film lifting away from the board. Each has a different cause.
Creasing before lamination
Creasing the board before lamination, then folding after, distributes the film strain across a wider radius. Where the process allows it, this is the most reliable improvement.
Film and board matching
Thick film on thin board whitens first. A high-flex PET grade or a thinner BOPP gauge reduces the strain at the fold line.
Before you commit a roll
Trial on your own board at production speed. Send the substrate, ink coverage and machine model and we will confirm a starting grade and temperature.
Ask about this applicationRelated grades
Film referenced in this note
More notes
Selection guides
BOPP vs PET lamination film: how to choose by substrate and fold
The two base films look similar on a sample table and behave differently on press. A practical comparison of stiffness, elongation, heat response and cost per sheet.
Selection guides
Gloss or matt: what the surface does to print, light and handling
Gloss raises colour saturation and reflection; matt lowers both. The choice changes how a carton reads on shelf and how it ages in the hand.
Application notes
Soft touch film on premium packaging: process notes that decide the result
Velvet surfaces are judged by hand, so small process errors show. Temperature, nip pressure and post-press decoration each change the final feel.
Enquiry
Tell us what you laminate.
Board weight, ink coverage, film gauge and machine model are enough to start. We reply with a grade suggestion and a starting temperature for your trial.
- +86 159 5920 0670
- Company
- Xiamen Zchain Industry Co., Ltd.
- Location
- Xiamen, Fujian, China
Distributors and OEM label projects: mention your market and annual volume and we will route the enquiry accordingly.
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