Choosing the right paper for your print project makes a huge difference. You need to think about how you want your artwork to look and have an idea of the way the finished item will look and feel like.
Choosing paper stock is one of the most important elements of your projects process. It can influence many aspects of the finished product. Including reproduction quality and durability etc. If you choose incorrectly then you can spoil the look and feel of the whole project.
The main things to be considered are its usage. What will you be using the printed item for? If it is going to be mailed, then paper weight is a consideration. If the item is aimed at a certain audience such as hard of sight, then you need a matt or silk finish not a matt one. Will the item be used outdoors? Will it need to be waterproof? If there will be a perforation or tear out section you will need thin, stiff paper. Is the audience environmentally focused? If so then your paper should be recycled content.
The appearance of the paper is also important as it affects the look, feel and printability. There are uncoated and coated paper that come in a variety of weights, sheet sizes, colours etc. Most should be available from a reputable printing company.
Coated paper has been coated with a substance that allows text and images to have a denser richer colour and sharper details shown. According to Jamie from Leeds Printing Company “The more numerous layers of coating the better quality of paper type. The coating provides either gloss, matt or silk finish.” These would be mainly used for brochures, flyers, catalogues, magazines, postcards, etc.
Uncoated papers are produced using rollers during the paper making process to provide a smooth and polished finish, increasing the paper density and reducing thickness. Because these papers have no coating they are easily adsorbent and will soak up ink easily. They can be used for items you write on such as envelopes, flyers, newsletters, letterheads, etc.
Paper with a gloss finish coating produces an image that appears to sit directly on the paper and looks bright, shiny and vibrant. It also has a quicker drying time than that of other types of printed paper. This is usually a cheaper option compared to matt or silk paper as a sealer varnish is not required to be applied.
Uncoated super calendared paper is similar to that of normal uncoated paper. It can be more expensive than using coated materials though. Images appear to lie more on the surface of the paper rather than in. It can take longer to dry so not ideal for urgent jobs and commonly used for corporate reports and high end product catalogues.
Matt or silk papers are coated paper with a porous coating, so the ink is absorbed into the paper. The finish is an image that lies on the paper but with a flat, non-reflective finish. This paper is ideal for product catalogues, brochures, leaflets etc. When printing on matt or silk it is advised that the are coated with a sealer varnish. Therefore, the images and content will not rub off or mark when they are used during the finishing process.
