Best papers to print on

To make a successful print job of your creative, it is essential that you print on the best suited paper for the project.  Understanding various paper stock and their uses will go a long way to executing a successful campaign.  The right paper stock for printing lends itself to a sub-discipline called sensory marketing, understanding how the senses influence perception which in turn influences buying decisions.  

When choosing the correct paper for your campaign, there are a few things you should take into consideration:

• Brightness – refers to the amount of blue light reflected in given paper stock.  As brightness increases so does faithful colour reproduction, ink brightness and contrast between printed and non-printed areas.
• Whiteness – refers to how entire spectrum of light is absorbed or reflected by given a paper stock.
• Opacity – refers to the amount of light that can be transmitted through given paper stock. High opacity lets through little light, while low opacity lets through more light.
• Weight and Thickness – the more prestigous the piece, the thicker the paper.  This does not mean that brochures should be like cardboard but adding thickness to your paper can lend credibility and esteem.
• Surface – refers to smoothness of paper stock.  Smooth papers absorb inks better than unsmooth papers.
• Paper coating – finished printed products can be enhanced by coatings such as:
  • Gloss – Gives paper a polished sheen and produces vibrant, crisp images.
  • Matte – Offers a softer, glare-free sheen that is perfect for type-heavy pieces.
  • Velvet – A soft, luxurious coating that feels amazing in the hands
  • Linen – Lends the look of woven linen to paper for an elegant finish
  • Dull or silk – A non-gloss surface that offers superior readability

Selecting the best paper stock for printing feature:

• High opacity, which allows for heavier ink coverage
• High brightness, which makes inks more vivid
• High thickness, which offers stability
• Smooth surface, which quickly absorbs inks and minimizes ink blots and other imperfections

There are different types of papers and grades that are best suited for various finished products, some examples are:

• Uncoated offset paper is good for books and manuals, as well as uncoated business cards you can write on
• Opaque papers are good for marketing tools: business card printing, flyer printing and brochure printing
• Bond or writing papers are good for corporate identity pieces, such as corporate letterhead printing
• Text and cover paper stocks are excellent choices for both corporate identity and premium marketing materials
• Parchment is a good choice for certificates
• Index paper is typically used for index cards
• Safety paper is used for coupons and checks
• Vellum Bristol is often used for door hanger printing
• Pressure sensitive paper stocks make good labels

Not all papers are suited for certain projects, one paper stock may be perfect for a catalogue print but not suitable for a greeting card. Paper stocks with a gloss finish is perfectly suited for grabbing attention as the gloss finishes enhance the printed product where matt stocks are suited to lending a subtle appeal suggesting elegance and exclusivity.   Understanding various papers and their finishes will be able to assist you in creating a design that pops and creates a great customer experience.

Resources:

https://www.psprint.com/resources/best-paper-types-printing/

https://www.printingforless.com/How-to-Choose-the-Best-Paper-Stock-For-Printing.html