The Surfaces of Blown Plastic

The surface of a blown plastic bottle can be shiny or opaque, smooth or rough, simple or elaborate, and for each of these options we have a nearly infinite gradation. 

Mostly the bottles have simple surfaces, without any particular textures, but sometimes precisely to distinguish themselves, to facilitate gripping, to stiffen their structure or for all three reasons together they are covered with more or less deep grooves, grooves and more or less dense, extended and accentuated textures. In this case the project will have to define the space to be dedicated to labels and prints.

Blown plastic bottles generally have semi-opaque surfaces except for clear, usually shiny ones. In fact, the degree of transparency significantly affects the quality of plastic surfaces. Semi-opaque and semi-transparent surfaces typically involve velvety tactile sensations.

On the smooth-rough side it is possible to act with soft-touch additives, with shiny or opaque varnishes, designing more or less accentuated knurls or irregularities.

When designing a blown plastic bottle we should reflect on the infinite possibilities that such a versatile material offers.