Choosing paper: gsm, silk, matt and uncoated
Weight, finish and coating change how a printed piece feels in the hand and how the ink sits on it. A plain-English guide to picking the right stock.
The stock does as much for a printed piece as the design on it. Here is what the terms mean and how to choose.
gsm — the weight
Grams per square metre is how paper weight is measured. Rough guide: 130–170gsm is a good flyer, 250–350gsm feels like a quality leaflet or a menu, and 350–400gsm is business-card territory. Higher gsm feels more substantial and costs a little more.
Silk, gloss and matt — the finish
Gloss is shiny and makes photographs pop, but it can throw glare and is harder to read under lights. Silk sits in the middle — a slight sheen, easy to read, our most popular choice for flyers and leaflets. Matt is flat and modern, elegant for text-heavy pieces.
Coated vs uncoated
Coated stocks hold ink on the surface, so colours stay crisp and bright — right for anything photographic. Uncoated stocks absorb a little ink and feel natural and tactile; they also take a pen, which is why letterheads and forms are uncoated.
Lamination
A laminate is a thin film bonded over the print. Matt laminate is soft and scuff-resistant; gloss laminate is durable and vivid; soft-touch feels like velvet. On business cards and covers it protects the piece and lifts how it feels.
Still unsure? Come into any shop and handle the samples. Ten seconds with the actual stock decides it faster than any description.
Not sure what yours needs?
Bring it to any counter. Two minutes with a craftsperson beats any amount of reading — including us telling you it is not worth the money.