Printing paper is the most important factor for any printing job. It is that small piece of tree that makes or breaks your success. When you receive anyone’s business card or a brochure, pamphlet, leaflet and other informative pieces, you can almost instantly tell about the business, the product and the person by a simple feel of the paper.
There are hundreds of types of printing paper available. Since, they are so difficult to choose from each other and because many printers won’t tell you which one is the perfect fit, we bring to you a guide to know which paper suits best to your needs.
It’s your almost bible when it comes to choosing paper at your printer’s.
Following are the types of paper (based on their Grams per square meter) that you can choose from.
20-45 gsm: The thinnest of the printing paper available. They are as thin as Tissue papers/ paper napkins.
50-70 gsm: 50 GSM paper is thin paper that is used for Newspapers. 65-70 GSM weight paper is little thinner as compared to copier or printer paper.
70-100 gsm: This is the standard, average paper that is used as copier/ printer paper. This paper is most commonly used for flyer, invoices, letter heads, brochures, catalogs, envelopes etc. Some of the magazines like Outlook India use this paper as inside papers.
100-130 gsm: These are thicker than copier papers but thinner than greeting card paper. However, they are thicker than printer papers. 130 GSM are the thick papers that are used as inside pages of books, catalogs, brochures etc.
150-170 gsm: Average printing paper stock and weighs almost half of most of the business cards stock people exchange as average card paper used in business cards is 250 GSM to 350 GSM. Used mostly in Brochures, Leaflets, thick flyers, Point of sale handouts, promotional rack cards etc.
220-250 gsm: It is a stiffer card stock. This is best suited for brochures, catalogs, business cards, invitation cards and other professional communication print material. Use this card stock if your brochures have less number of inside pages.
300 gsm and more: Almost as thick as 4 photocopier sheets pasted together on top of each other. 300 gsm or more are ideal for business cards, brochures, catalogue covers, book covers, invitation cards, premium greeting cards, post cards, bookmarks, event ID cards etc.
Note: Imported specialty fine papers appear to be 30-40 GSM more than the actual GSM weight. They are stiffer, contain less water content and are more porous than regular paper stocks. They have different surface textures to an enhanced touch experience along with excellent vibrant print results.
Here are few things to keep in mind about printing paper when you go to your favorite printing store next time.
- Know what you want. Understanding the need and the type of paper is paramount before you park your car outside the printing shop. This way you will not only have clarity in your mind, but will also know what type of paper are you looking for. Studies have shown that at least 35% of people who visit the printing shops have little or no idea on the papers. Why get tricked, when we give you the ultimate guide?
- Understanding the qualities and use of each paper. In the guide above, you will see that some paper on cover require compulsory lamination. It is essential to understand the characteristics’ of paper before deciding on one. If you require additional help, feel free to ask us.
- Go green. Yes, we run a printing shop. But, we also care for the environment. At Inkprint.in, we offer you a wide range of environmental friendly recycled paper. We believe that if we don’t work today to save the planet, we will have no work to do tomorrow.