Choosing a Printing Paper

When you've been in business for a long time, youselect the type of paper grade to use depending on
know for certain that business marketing plays anthe print job and the capability of the paper to handle
important role to achieving success. Aside fromthe intensity of the printing required.
introducing your products and services to your target• Opacity of the paper. Opacity means the ability of
customers, you also encourage them to make athe paper to allow light to pass through. If you would
purchase. This makes producing marketing materialsnotice, a desktop paper would tend to show the print
such as brochure printing, posters, catalogs, and hangon both sides. This doesn't mean though that the paper
tags very essential.is too thin that's why the printing shows on both sides.
But as you create your materials have you ever reallyIt has more to do on the density of the material. If a
given enough thought in the paper you use? Most likelypaper is made of non-opaque material such as
not, until the time you need to create a really enticing,polyblend, the tendency for a print to be see-through is
reliable, and compelling printed material that your oldgreater than a material made of opaque material. So,
desktop printer can't produce.when choosing a paper for your poster or brochure,
There's no denying though of the service desktopmake sure to select a paper with high opacity. Tell
printing offers. Businesses can print their worksyour poster or brochure printer to use highly opaque
independently at the rate, quantity, and quality theypaper as it won't look good for business to have a
desire. However, desktop printing can never comparebrochure that has a fading design and message.
to the quality and reliability of professional printers.• Paper stock. When printing your marketing
From the color to the turnaround time, everything ismaterials, there are usually two kinds of paper that you
taken into consideration in professional printing houses.have to use: cover stock and text stock. The cover
But perhaps the biggest and often ignored element instock is use for materials that need heavy and reliable
printing that requires good consideration is the paperpaper such as brochures and business cards, while the
used. If you are in the process of printing brochures ortext stock is light weight paper that is mostly used for
catalogs today, here are things you need to mull overposters, flyers, and other direct mail materials. Just
in choosing the right printing paper:keep in mind that when choosing paper stock look for
• Paper's grade. There are several elements thatgood grade, weight, finish, and opacity.
make up a good paper grade such as the weight, use,• Finish. This refers to the surface of the paper. At
and appearance. A desktop grade paper is often onlybest, a glossy coating is appropriate for a slick and
good for reports and essays while an offset gradeprofessional look. A glossy coating is often considered
paper is fitted for commercial printing such as printingthe finish of a high grade paper that creates a smooth
labels, banners, CD & DVD covers, and brochures.finish on printed materials. However, you can still use
Commercial papers are usually designed for strengthvellum or parchment, but they are only good for
and reliability allowing the printer to print large numbershandwritten greeting cards but for a printed marketing
of pages at high speeds. They keep the ink fromcampaign.
seeping in so the resulting images and texts are crispThere are just some of the factors you need to
and clear.consider in choosing your material's paper. Carefully
There are actually several grades of paper availableconsider these factors as it can make or break your
today such as ledger and bond papers, and evenmaterial and strengthen or conceal your message.
papers made from cotton. A printer would usually