Choosing your paper: coated, uncoated and weights
What paper type and weight change, and which to pick for each use.
Translation under review.
Two choices decide how a printed piece looks: the paper surface and its weight. Here is how to decide.
Coated or uncoated
Coated paper has a smoothed surface that keeps ink on top. Colours are crisp and photographs detailed. It comes in matt and gloss. It is the paper for flyers, cards and booklets.
Uncoated paper absorbs ink. Colours are softer, and you can write on it with a pen or stamp it. It is the paper for letters, notepads and cards you write on.
Weight
Paper weight is the weight of one square metre, in grams (gsm). The higher it is, the stiffer the paper.
- 80 to 90 gsm: office paper, letterhead, notepads.
- 115 to 135 gsm: flyers handed out in volume, inner booklet pages.
- 170 gsm: sturdier flyers, small posters.
- 250 to 300 gsm: covers, invitations, menus.
- 350 gsm: business cards.
Lamination
A very thin plastic film applied to coated paper. It protects against scuffing and changes the feel: matt, gloss or soft touch. It cannot be applied to uncoated paper.
In practice
On each product page, change the paper and the weight: the price updates at once and you see what each choice costs.