The Kraft of Printed Tissue Paper

The Kraft of Printed Tissue Paper

Tissue paper is an essential part of luxury packaging. This lightweight material can add significant value to your packaging at a relatively low cost. Not only does it help protect your products across a wide range of industries, but it also creates a premium unboxing experience for your customers. Printed tissue paper combines both aesthetics and functionality, making it an important part of modern branded packaging.

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Learn More About the Material

At Bagkraft, we offer a range of high-quality printed tissue papers, including:

  • 17gsm Luxury White Crisp MF Tissue Paper
  • 20gsm MG Tissue Paper
  • 30gsm White MF Tissue Paper
  • 30gsm Black Dyed Tissue Paper

Our most popular option by far is the 17gsm Luxury White Crisp MF Tissue Paper. While lighter weight may sound like lower quality, this is not the case. In fact, the 17gsm MF tissue paper offers a more premium feel and appearance than the heavier 20gsm MG tissue paper.

Understanding MF vs MG Tissue Paper

When choosing the right tissue paper for packaging or printing, the finish can make a big difference. Two of the most common options are MF (Machine Finished) and MG (Machine Glazed) tissue paper, each offering a distinct look and feel.

 

Machine Finished (MF) Tissue Paper

MF tissue paper has a smooth, consistent surface on both sides. This uniform finish creates a crisp texture and a refined, premium feel. Because of its elegant appearance, MF tissue is a popular choice for retail packaging, gift wrapping, and luxury branding where presentation matters most.

Machine Glazed (MG) Tissue Paper

MG tissue paper has two different finishes. One side has a glossy, polished appearance, while the reverse side remains matte and slightly textured. This contrast is created during the drying process and gives MG tissue a more varied visual effect. It is often chosen when a subtle sheen or contrast is desired.

Both types offer unique benefits, and the right choice depends on the look, feel, and brand experience you want to create.

FSC® Certified Printed Tissue Paper

All of our tissue paper is FSC® certified, giving you confidence that the materials used in your packaging come from responsibly managed and sustainable sources.

As an FSC® certified company, we go through a rigorous auditing process across our supply chain to ensure we maintain these standards. We can also include the FSC logo on your printed tissue paper if required. Simply speak to our sales team and we can either supply the approved FSC logo or add it directly to your artwork.

Learn More About FSC® and BagKraft x Sustainability

Tissue Paper Printing

Tissue paper printing requires specialised printing presses and significant experience because of the delicate and lightweight nature of the material. Not all printing methods work well on tissue paper, so choosing the right process is essential.

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tissue-paper-printing-flexo

Lithographic Printing

Lithographic printing is our most popular process due to its exceptional print quality, colour accuracy, and fast production speed. It is ideal for short, medium, and long print runs.

We use this method for 1–2 colour Pantone printing, intricate spot colour designs, and all full-colour CMYK printing. It is the best option when sharp detail and premium presentation are required.

Benefits - Highest quality, Pantone printing, CMYK printing, suitable for short, medium, and long runs, economical for short and medium runs

Flexographic Printing

Flexographic printing is one of the most widely used methods for tissue paper. It uses flexible printing plates and fast-drying water-based inks, making it ideal for high-volume production.

This process is efficient, cost-effective, and best suited for simple one or two-colour designs, particularly for medium to long print runs.

Benefits - High quality, Pantone printing only, economical for medium to long runs

Foil Blocking

Foil blocking is the most premium printing option we offer for tissue paper and is perfect for luxury packaging and high-end brands.

This process creates metallic and decorative finishes that deliver maximum visual impact. However, it is more expensive due to slower production speeds, the cost of metallic foils, and the setup of custom foiling dies. Pricing is usually artwork-dependent, so we cannot offer instant online pricing for foil blocked tissue paper.

If you are looking for the highest quality finish for luxury packaging, foil blocking is an excellent choice.

Benefits - Most premium option for luxury brands, very high quality, metallic printing, suitable for short and medium runs

Full Colour CMYK Printing

For full-colour CMYK artwork, lithographic printing is again the preferred option. It offers sharper detail, better colour accuracy, and more cost-effective setup for detailed artwork compared to flexographic printing.

We always select the most suitable printing process based on your design, material choice, and order quantity.

Challenges in Tissue Paper Printing

At Bagkraft, we specialise in tissue paper printing. Due to how thin and delicate the paper is, it is not a substrate that many commercial printers can handle successfully.

Printing on tissue paper comes with several technical challenges:

  • Fragility – the paper can tear easily during high-speed printing
  • Ink absorption – too much ink can cause smudging or weaken the paper
  • Alignment issues – maintaining accurate colour registration can be difficult

Overcoming these challenges requires precise calibration, the correct materials, and experienced print operators.

Design Considerations

Designing for tissue paper is different from designing for thicker materials due to its lightweight and delicate nature.

Step and Repeat Designs

Simple designs are often the most effective. The most common choice is a step and repeat pattern, where a logo or design is repeated across the full sheet. This creates a consistent, elegant appearance and works particularly well for branded retail packaging.

Positional Print

Positional printing is used when a design needs to appear in an exact location on the sheet rather than repeated across the full area. Examples include maps, illustrations, or centred artwork.

For this type of design, we recommend lithographic printing because it offers much greater positional accuracy than flexographic printing.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Options

As sustainability becomes increasingly important, many businesses are choosing eco-friendly tissue paper printing options. These include:

  • Recycled or FSC-certified paper
  • Soy-based or water-based inks
  • Minimalist designs that reduce ink usage

These choices help reduce environmental impact while also appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right tissue paper printing method can make a significant difference to both product presentation and brand perception. Whether you need simple step-and-repeat logo printing, full-colour tissue paper, or premium foil blocked finishes, selecting the correct print process ensures the best balance of quality, cost, and efficiency.

From lithographic and flexographic printing to high-end foil blocking, each option offers unique benefits depending on your design, order quantity, and packaging goals. Understanding these differences helps businesses create packaging that not only protects products but also enhances the customer experience.

If you are looking to order printed tissue paper, please visit the following pages:

White Tissue Paper - Printed 1 or 2 Colours
Coloured Tissue Paper - Printed 1 Colour - 100% Coverage
Tissue Paper Printed Full Colour (CMYK)
Black Dyed Tissue Paper

 

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