How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Print Job

Your primary design is ready. You are itching to get your brochure/leaflet/business card out and let the fun begin. But, is it that simple, don’t you think you should consider the type of paper you are choosing for print?

Indeed, the quality of the paper will have a profound impact on the final product. In case you are not sure how to choose the best paper for the print job, here's a list of priorities you should keep in mind while choosing your paper.

How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Print Job?

1. Weight of the Paper

Let’s start with the weight of the paper. As it goes without saying, the heavier the paper is the better for your print material. And when we talk about print material, the thickness of each sheet also falls under the weight.

The GSM (grams per square meter) is the unit for measuring this weight. Hefty and thick paper lasts long, so even if the same card is passed on to 10 different people, it will still be in perfect shape.

There are pros and cons of going with a heavier paper as compared to the standard ones. For example, thick paper is quite expensive and can cause jams in the printer.

On the other hand, standard paper is cheap and easier to turn into paper. But then again, this paper can cinch up and curl when displayed on a wall. Also, it’s not great at absorbing ink. A dampen page results in a mediocre print result.

Let’s make it simple for you. If you are looking for paper for typical office printing tasks, go with light paper. And if you are printing a greeting card, business card, invitation card, or anything personal, go with the best quality.

In case you have a printer at home, make sure it can handle the weight you are feeding it. Not all printers are suitable for this job; if the paper is too thick your printer will head-scrape against the page while it’s printing.

2. Color & Brightness

Are you bored of excessive white? we, too. Let’s think out of the box. There are papers available in blue-white, balanced white, naturally soft, white, and in plenty of other colors.

Blue whites are for people who prefer high brightness, while the warmer whites are for those who are content with lower brightness. In general, the former is more comfortable for reading.

Brighter sheets use fillers and chemicals, such as optical brighteners and fluorescent dyes, that’s why they are quite expensive. These chemicals affect the stability of the paper, but for the sake of brightness, people are willing to take this risk.

And then comes the color bit. The color of the paper has an impact on the readability of the text. Imagine blue text on Yellow paper, or black text on a purple background.

If you are not sure about this aspect, discuss with the printing service you have chosen to print your material.

3. Paper Point Size

Paper point size is a unit to measure the smallest ink droplet your paper can print. This is particularly important on heavier paper as they have a smoother finish and look woven. In print, the optimal point size for body text is 10–12 points.

However, if you are looking for something small, you can go with anything in between 10.5 to 11.5.

4. Paper Finish

And then comes the finish. Two common finishes are glossy finish and semi-gloss finish. The former features a reflective coating that includes a satin finish, soft gloss, and gloss. These create deep vibrant colors and high contrast sharpness.

We recommend this type of finish for albums and display away from windows. But keep in mind that glossy coating is prone to catch dush and show fingerprints, so you must take care of them.

Let’s talk about the semi-gloss finishes, they incorporate some gloss but are lesser than the glossy ones. Luster, satin, and pearl are the common types of this, these are quite popular among photographers as they offer versatility and decent D-max capabilities.

Matte paper is also a good choice. It does not have a glossy coat and lacks a smooth and shiny coating. It’s ideal for getting rich and deep dark tones, black and white photographers prefer it.

5. The Printing Process

Imagine sprinkling nuts over the pudding, wouldn’t it enhance the taste of it? In pretty much the same way, you can add some sweeteners to your printing process. Techniques like embossing, foil stamping, and letterpress can take the quality of your print to the next level.

Choose a Capable Printing Press Company in Dubai or Pay the Price!

The quality of any product depends on the qualification and credibility of the manufacturer. If the manufacturer is quality-conscious, he will always resort to the best production practices and use high-quality materials.

The same goes for the print press companies in Dubai. To get the job done in a neat and professional manner, you must collaborate with an eligible printing service. Or else, neither your print material will be of the finest quality nor will you be able to impress your audience.