Glossy Type & Matt Type – Knowledge On Film Faced Plywood

This article explains the differences on Glossy type film faced plywood (FFP) and Matt type film faced plywood.

Actually, glossy type and matt type don’t refer to the quality of film. Glossy finish is created by the glossy steel pressing plate equipped on pressing machines; Matt finish is created by the matt steel pressing plate equipped on pressing machines.

Glossy finish and matt finish are created by film covering machines equipped in plywood factories. Actually in the world, as for film faced plywood, there is no glossy film and matt film, there is only glossy finish and matt finish.

For example:
a. if a brown film (Chinese film or Dynea film) is pressed under the glossy steel pressing plate equipped on pressing machines, the film (whether Chinese film or Dynea film) will become glossy and bright.
b. if a brown film (Chinese film or Dynea film) is pressed under the matt steel pressing plate equipped on pressing machines, the film (whether Chinese film or Dynea film) will become matt finish.

Glossy finish doesn’t mean its quality is inferior to matt finish. Dynea film ( one of the best film ) not only can be matt type, but also can be glossy type (very bright) . Chinese film can be matt finish , too, if pressed under matt steel pressing plate . It’s wrong understanding that Chinese film can be glossy finish only !

Answers to common questions:

Q1. Is the quality of glossy FFP lower than the quality of matt FFP.
A: No (see above explanation).

Q2: Why do customers think the quality of matt FFP is better ?
A: Because matt FFP looks better. But actually in the same factory, the quality of Matt FFP is the same to the quality of glossy FFP .

Q3: Why can only a few factories produce Matt film faced plywood ?
A: Because usually the steel pressing plates equipped on film covering (pressing) machines are glossy type. The matt steel pressing plates are expensive . Only a few factories want to pay for another set of matt steel pressing plates .