When it comes to paper choice, it can be tricky to select the right type of paper for your precise needs. Not only do you have a wide range of different family papers but also you have to choose your paperweight. Moreover, for most people who are totally outside the printing industry and would like to print their 1st project, it can be really hard to make a good decision.
That’s why we will give you some basic advice, based on the kind of document you would like to print-hoping it will make your choice a lot easier!
Flyers
Flyers are the first thing we think about when talking about printing advertisement. It can be helpful for all sort of small businesses such as restaurants, clothes shops, hostels. And big businesses as well: pharmacy industry, car industry, banks etc.
A flyer is meant to quickly catch the attention of the people you will give it to. The most eye-catching and common paper in the printing industry is glossy coated paper. Thanks to its chemical treatment, it has the particularity to be very shiny and give sharp/highly visible colours. Coated paper enables you to print highly detailed artworks with high precision.
When it comes to the weight of the paper you will choose, the highest weight you will choose, the higher will be the chances for people to take a look at your flyer and get interested in it. Please note that higher weight means a higher quality of the paper but also higher costs of production. So it also depends on the budget you want to dedicate to your printing project.
To sum up:
· Paper Weight: 60-100 LB.
· Type of paper: Glossy Coated.
Brochures
Brochures are very similar to flyers. It can be seen as a few flyers combined in one. So basically you will have the same use for it but the quantity of information displayed will be more important.
It is a good way to introduce the services of your business/ brand or to create the menu of your restaurant, for example.
For brochures, we advise coated matte paper as well as coated shiny paper. It could also be an uncoated paper if you want to include a part where you or your client would write information: e-mail address, phone number etc.
One small tip concerning the weight of your brochure: if you want to go for a more than 100lb paper like 10 pt cardstock, your printing house will have to add a creasing process in order not to damage the printed sheets. So it will have an impact on the cost of your prints.
To sum up:
· Paper Weight: 60 lb text to 10 pt Cardstock.
· Type of paper: Uncoated, Matte Coated or Glossy Coated.
Booklets
Booklets are by far the most evolved and highest quality printed product available if it comes to printed advertising. The possibilities are very wide: number of pages, type of binding, paper finish etc.
For magazines and catalogues of products that you plan to deliver directly to the client via posting, it is better to try and minimise the number of pages and go for a low eight paper. This way, your distribution costs will be much lower. Low paperweight is about 60lb.
Concerning the paper type, it is up to your appreciation. There are no particular rules, but it is a good idea to select an original type of paper to give your booklets a high-quality look and feel. Do not forget that the prints that your client will get into their hand are a direct reflection of your brand’s identity.
To sum up:
· Paper Weight: 60lb to 100lb text for interiors. 100 lb text to 14 pt cardstock for cover.
· Type of paper: Uncoated, Matte Coated or Glossy Coated.
Business Cards
Visit cards are the basics to get started with, in print advertising. It will give your clients all the information about how to contact you but also leave them a physical recall about your company.
Mainly they will be printed on very high weight paper 10 pt cardstock or 14 pt cardstock. Here again, try to select an untypical paper so that your visit card will stand out from the classical cards that your clients may get every day.
Adding a finishing, like UV varnish or glossy/matte lamination, is also a really good idea to get an exclusive product that your clients will want to keep and remember about.
To sum up:
· Paper Weight: 10 pt cardstock to 14 pt cardstock
· Type of paper: Matte Coated
Magazines
Magazines also have their codes and general rules if it comes to paper choice.
Most magazines are printed on coated gloss paper or uncoated paper. Uncoated paper is mainly adapted for daily publications, whereas coated glossy paper is more used for weekly or monthly publications.
As most of those publications have to be sent in a lot of different distribution points, the goal will be there again to try and minimise the shipping costs. So you will select a paper with low to medium weight.
To sum up:
· Paper Weight: 60lb to 80lb text for interiors. 100 lb text to 10 pt cardstock for cover.
· Type of paper: Uncoated or Glossy Coated