Are you working on a brochure, pamphlet or other print piece but have no clue about the right paper selection? If you’re trying to decide between coated and uncoated paper, things can get a bit tricky if you don’t know what each kind of paper offers. Knowing the particular traits of coated and uncoated paper is a crucial starting point for your project, here’s what you should know.
Coated paper is produced during manufacturing with an extra layer, which causes the paper to be less porous. It has clay or polymer coating applied to either one or both sides of the paper, making it reflective. When used in printing, coated paper presents sharper and brighter images or designs because it absorbs less ink. Coated paper is resistant to dirt, moisture, and wear and tear, and this helps to keep your printed piece appearing crisp and professional for a longer period than uncoated paper. Note that it’s more difficult to use a pen or pencil to write on coated paper. Because coated paper absorbs less ink, it’s ideal for finishing techniques such as flood or spot varnish.
There are different types of coated paper:
Uncoated paper absorbs ink because the surface is made to be more porous and no clay coating was added during manufacturing. The surface has a more natural and rough texture because wood fibers are more exposed, and thus it doesn’t have as smooth a surface as coated paper. The textured feel adds character to the paper, and it looks more “traditional” than modern, coated paper. Color may appear darker on uncoated paper than on coated, and images are less sharp. More ink is absorbed by uncoated paper, which may cause images to appear fuzzy, and the edges of images may appear less defined.
Consider some of these benefits offered by uncoated paper:
Think of uncoated paper as the everyday paper meant for general office and home usage. Uncoated paper is great for real estate brochures, restaurant menus, forms and worksheets, business stationery (calling cards, invoices, letterhead and envelopes, etc.), and booklets that need a classic or elegant touch.
Deciding between coated vs. uncoated paper may boil down to your print objective. Each offers different benefits and is better suited for particular print jobs. Knowing the traits of each paper can help you to make the best selection for your print job. Ironmark’s print experts can also weigh in if you need them - just get in touch today, and we’ll make sure you get the right material for your next print project.