Choosing the right paper is for the final effect of the printing product as important as the content preparation and graphic design. Each paper has its own specific appearance, surface and other properties, which impress the reader before they read the first words or process the first impressions from the pictures. Besides the fact that the paper makes an impression on the reader, it also has a pragmatic level. It affects the possibility of using printing methods, the overall printing result as well as the price of the distribution.
As it has already been mentioned, the choice of the right paper is a complex process, in which several aspects need to be considered.
What is your final product? A book, a poster, a flyer, a business card, etc.?
At this stage of choosing the right paper, the surface modification and grammage need are decisive factors. For each type of printing products, paper with different properties is used. For book printing, voluminous paper is used. The paper has sufficient thickness, it feels good to touch and is suitable for comfortable turning the pages. The weight of the book is lower which enables simpler manipulation. With books containing a lot of pages, it is ideal to use paper in natural shades which makes the eyes less tired. For posters, magazines or flyers, either coated or uncoated paper can be used, depending on the type of graphic design. Uncoated paper is suitable for simple graphics, whereas coated paper is used when quality of images and photos is important. For business cards any type of paper with sufficient thickness can be used. Uncoated paper or paper with matte film is the best choice for forms, crosswords or other printed materials which we can write on with a pen.
The type of distribution of the printed material plays a significant role when choosing the right grammage for the particular printing project. Products with high grammage have better stiffness and look smart. However, the postage price will be higher.
Paper from the right raw material
If you want to show your positive attitude to the environment, there are two options for you. The first one is to use recycled paper which can compete in whiteness and quality with paper made of virgin pulp. The second choice are papers made of raw material from certified sustainable sources.
Not each paper is made from wood. There are papers made of fabric, synthetic fibres or even from plastic. Each raw material gives paper specific properties.
Durability of paper
This aspect does not need to be considered with printed products for short-term use. However, when the product is for long-term use, it is recommended to use certified paper. A special category is comprised of products for intensive and long-term manipulation, such as maps. It is recommended to use synthetic tear-resistant and weather-resistant paper.
Are you planning to use special finishing and printing techniques?
If you want to make a product which is a result of special techniques, you should consult your supplier about the choice of the paper. Not each paper suitable for offset printing is also the right choice for digital printing. In general, special graphic papers and papers with higher grammage are more suitable for stamping and special printing techniques.
Material for packaging and boxes
The most used material for packaging is cardboard. This material consists of multiple layers. Composition of the layers defines physical properties of individual cardboard. A decisive parameter for cardboard is stiffness, which depends on the core of the cardboard. For example, cardboard GC which is made of mechanically processed pulp has higher stiffness than cardboard GD which is made of recycled fibre. Surface treatment of the cardboard depends on its purpose. The surface can be coated on one side, on both sides or uncoated.
Cardboards GC and SBS are used for luxurious packaging. They have best stiffness and high-quality surface with coating suitable for the most demanding finishing techniques. If the main purpose of the packaging is to protect the product, the best choice is recycled cardboard GD2.
If you are not sure which paper is the best choice for your project, consult our experienced consultants.
