Paper choice is maybe the single most important decision you'll make when it comes to creating a great printed piece. It can have as much impact on the final product as ink and the design. It affects how, when, and where the printed piece can be used. It can also have a significant effect on price at higher quantities.The primary features that you need to know about when ordering standard printing papers are weight, finish and shininess.

In most cases, weight corresponds to thickness and stiffness. The higher the weight the thicker and stiffer the paper. Text stocks are regular paper and cover stocks are like thin cardboard.

Papers are either coated or uncoated. Uncoated paper is non-reflective like printer paper. Coated papers have dull/matte or gloss finishes. Dull/matte stocks are smoother and more refined than uncoated, but not shiny like gloss papers. The coated papers produce sharper and more vibrant printing.

 

If your print job is pretty standard and has no special effects or options, our standard paper stocks will more than meet your needs.

However, if you want to stand out, just use something different, have special requirements or will be mailing your piece, please read on and learn the fundamentals of choosing the right paper stock, and let us work with you find the best paper for your project.

 

Uncoated Paper
Uncoated paper has a non-glare surface and is absorbent. It has nothing covering the natural fibers and easily soaks up ink. Uncoated paper can be textured, for example, a linen finish, but it can also be very smooth, like printer or copy paper. Uncoated paper is the easiest to write on. Uncoated paper is generally used for things like:

• stationery and envelopes
• response cards
• newsletters
• maps

Coated Paper

Coated paper has been covered with a hardened clay material so that it will better display text and images with sharper detail and denser color. The coating can be a non-shiny matte, dull, gloss and cast coated (a mirror-finish high gloss), spanning the range from non to super glossy. Paper can be coated on one or both sides. Paper coated on one side is often used for business cards and postcards. Coated paper is more difficult to write on, especially with pencils or ballpoint pens. Coated paper is great for:

• brochures
• catalogs
• postcards
• packaging

UV Coating

UV coating uses ultraviolet light to quickly dry the coating, hardening it to a brilliant shine. UV coating blows all other coatings away when it comes to gloss, but is so hard it may crack when folded. UV coating is not a good idea for a piece that will be folded, scored, foil stamped or embossed. It can be applied in small areas, termed spot UV, creating brilliant highlights on your piece. The high gloss has the effect of making colors appear even more vibrant and kinetic. If you want very high-gloss pieces with colors that explode off the page, UV coating is for you

What kinds of paper are the most durable?
Generally speaking, the thicker the paper the more durable it is, but this can change quickly depending on how it is coated. Thick, heavy uncoated paper will turn into sludge if you drop it in water. Thin paper covered in a UV coating will brush the water right off. If you want the most durable paper of all, use the plastic-based SmartFlex. It feels like paper, acts like paper, and prints like paper but it is water resistant and tear-proof.

• Aqueous coating provides a high-gloss or matte look and offers top-notch protection.
• UV coating and Soft-Touch coating can dramatically change the look and tactile feel of a printed piece.
• Varnish can be used to protect a piece or be used to highlight specific details.

Paper Thickness & Weight

You have to think about the thickness and weight of paper at the same time. Both measure how thick, sturdy and rugged the paper is. A higher weight, thicker paper will stand up to a beating better than a lower weight or thinner paper.

Cover and Text Stock
When you're talking about weight and thickness of paper, you can understand the difference with the terms cover and text stock. Cover stock is thicker paper that is often used as covers for books. We aren't talking hardcover books - but more like paperback or softcover books, greeting cards, and the like. Text stock is the paper you're used to seeing in desktop printers. Thinner, looser and more flexible, it is used as the paper inside a book. Cover stock and text stock really have nothing to do with books although they use those terms. Cover stock is great for postcards, bookmarks, hang-tags, and anything that needs stiff, heavy paper. Text stock can be made into brochures, flyers, mailers and notepads.

What is Paper Thickness?
Paper thickness is usually mentioned when talking about cover stock, and it's simply a measurement of how many hundredths of an inch thick a single sheet of the paper is. The thickness of a paper is expressed by points, where a point is equal to one thousandth or .001 inches. Paper that is 10pt is 0.01 inches thick, 20pt is 0.02 inches thick, etc.
Business cards are great examples of different paper thicknesses. Most business cards are printed on 12 or 14pt cover stock, while extra thick cards are printed on 18pt or 24pt (or thicker) stock.
Other products usually printed on thick papers include hang tags, door hangers, bookmarks, packaging, and table tents.

What is the difference between lb. and pt.?
Before we delve into our paper recommendations, it is important we distinguish the difference between lb. and pt., measurements used in the printing industry.

There are two ways we can measure paper.

First is the basis weight, which is the designated fixed weight of paper in that paper’s basic sheet size. The basic sheet size is not the same for all types of paper. Because of this, smaller sized but thicker paper can have a basis weight that is the same with a larger but thinner paper. Basis weight is measured in pounds (lb or #).

The second measurement is caliper, which refers to the thickness of a single sheet of paper expressed in thousandth of an inch. For example, a paper measuring .010 inch would be given a 10 pt. measurement. A micrometer is used to measure paper and should typically have a variance of +/- 5% within a sheet. Caliper is measured in points (pt).

What is 14 pt. cardstock?
Cardstock, also known as cover stock, is a type of paper that is more rigid and durable than ordinary printing paper but more flexible than a paperboard. The paper is .014 inch thick.

When should I use 14 pt. cardstock?
Since 14 pt. cardstock is thick and sturdy and tends to look more expensive, consider using it for projects where durability and appearance are important. Cardstock is perfect for business cards and postcards. 14 pt. cardstock is also suitable for pieces that should be able to stand up on their own, like table tents or rack cards, and we use it for presentation folders (both coated and uncoated).

What is 80 lb. bookweight or text paper?
Bookweight or text weight paper is a thin and bendable paper that is still thicker than standard copy paper. Most ordinary copy paper y is 20 lb. bond or 50 lb. text paper. For most brochures and standard fliers I recommend 80 lb text/bookweight coated paper. Its thickness and coating allow it to perform well on the press for color and detail. Keep in mind that it is floppier than the cardstock and does not stand on its own.

When should I use Bookweight Paper?
Bookweight/text paper is flexible and ideal for vivid image projects that need folding, stacking or transporting like booklets, brochures, flyers, menus, posters and sell sheets.

When it comes to printing, we know a little. :)
And if paper choices sound confusing, let us simplify it for you. Inspired 2 Design has over 30 years experience in the field. So, the next time you're given a printed item that's not up to snuff, or that you love the texture of, let us know. WE CAN help you make a better impression!