How to Determine the Right Paper for Commercial Printing

In today’s era of broadcast radio, digital TV, and the Internet, printed marketing materials are still considered to be effective forms of advertising. Marketing through brochures, flyers, business cards, and catalogs are still most effective, not to mention the cheapest, forms of advertising. It is especially accessible to start up and small businesses. Because of this, it is fair to say that local commercial printing presses are still in demand. In Dallas, you are sure to find a good local commercial printer, if you know how to look for one. Many Dallas local commercial printing companies can provide you with top notch print quality and excellent service. They can also help you regarding your options on the best materials to use, particularly, the type of paper. rnThe type of paper you choose depends on your project so it should have the right brightness, weight, and coating. Knowing these three characteristics will help you decide what kind of paper to use. To guide you in your decision, here’s an overview of these three important paper attributes: BrightnessrnIn commercial printing, brightness pertains to the amount of light that reflects off of the paper. How does it affect the printing process? The paper’s brightness generally has an effect on the vibrancy of the colors. Take note that brightness is different from whiteness. Whiteness has something to do with the paper’s shade (cream, beige or gray) and does not have anything to do with the brightness. If you want the colors to look dynamic and seem to jump out of the paper, you need to choose the appropriate brightness. Brightness is measured using a scale that ranges from 0-100 (100 being the brightest). WeightrnThe weight of the paper is a good gauge of how thick or how firm the paper is. Local commercial printers weigh paper based on how much of 500 sheets, or one ream of paper, weigh in pounds. The weight is usually stated using the "#" symbol so, if you encounter "20#" for instance, it means "20 pounds per 500 sheets." If you are printing, say, brochures, it is important that you choose the paper stock that is thick enough to produce a professional quality output. A weight of 32# is an excellent choice for 2-sided brochure printing. CoatingrnCoating refers to a film that is applied on the paper to enhance or diminish how light reflects off the sheet. Coating is commonly applied either on both sides of the paper or on just one side. Glossy paper is one type of coated paper. It is ideal for photographs or marketing materials with graphics that you want to stand out. On the other hand, matte coating does the reverse – it makes the image look duller and less striking. Any Dallas local commercial printing company can help you understand the right paper to use for your projects. And now that you know a bit more about a paper’s brightness, weight and coating, you will not appear so clueless when you make your order.