Clarity is one of the first things a buyer judges a softgel on. A clean, glass-clear shell reads as well-made and lets the fill show through; a cloudy or hazy shell does the opposite, even when the capsule is otherwise sound. For a plant-based shell that clarity is harder to reach than it is with gelatin, because starch films tend to turn cloudy as they set and age.
This clip shows a new high-transparency formula for the AMYLOM plant-based softgel shell — first as a fresh batch handled in bulk, then spread on the drying rack, where the clarity is easiest to see.
Why clarity is hard for a starch shell
The AMYLOM shell is built on hydroxypropyl starch rather than gelatin. Starch films have a natural tendency to recrystallize as they dry and age — the structure tightens and scatters light, which shows up as haze or cloudiness. Left unchecked, that is the main thing standing between a plant-based shell and the glass-clear look people expect from a softgel.
What the new formula changes
The new formula uses pregelatinized hydroxypropyl starch — a starch pre-cooked so it forms a smoother, more uniform film — together with a reworked thickener and plasticizer balance, the plasticizer being what keeps the shell flexible rather than brittle. The whole system is tuned to hold the film transparent as it sets and dries. The aim is a shell that stays clear out of the drying stage and keeps that clarity over time, rather than one that looks clear fresh and clouds later. The capsules in this batch come off the rack cleaner and more uniform than earlier starch shells.
Easier to run on the line
Clarity was not the only goal. The same formula was adjusted to behave more predictably through encapsulation and drying — a more forgiving gel that forms a clean seam and dries evenly, with less of the sticking and distortion that a fussier shell can cause. A shell that runs smoothly and dries consistently means fewer rejects and steadier batches, which matters as much to a contract project as the look of the finished capsule.
AMYLOM (Amylom Biotechnology) manufactures plant-based softgels with gelatin-free hydroxypropyl starch shells, for supplements, gel candy, and specialty formats. See our softgel capabilities or talk to our team about a plant-based softgel project.
