Different Paper Stocks

Different Paper Stocks

Choosing a paper stock is important for your print design. Most people ask whether they should use coated or uncoated paper stock. That depends on the type of finish that you’re looking for. They’re both great options but it’s about figuring out what style works best for your brand.

So let’s go over some of the differences between coated and uncoated paper stock, and you can decide what you’d like to do.

What Is Coated Paper Stock?

Coated stock is normally very smooth with a shine. Sometimes the shine is high and sometimes low, but no matter what coated paper stock is going to make the colours look brighter.

While the uncoated stock has its own set of advantages, one of the ways that it falls in comparison to coated stock is that it’s more susceptible to wear and tear. Coated stock makes the paper waterproof, and resistant to wear and tear, keeping the professional look for longer.

The ink stays on top of the paper when it is coated. This is great for brands who are looking for clear and crisp images. The more ink that is soaked into the paper, the less clear the images that you’re printing will be.

The most common coated options are gloss and silk. Coated options are often used for brochures, and other image-oriented print designs because of the sharpness of the images.

One negative about coated stock is that it is hard to write on. The gloss or silk finish makes it hard to write any notes on the paper. Just keep that in mind if you’re going to use the coated paper stock.

What Is Uncoated Paper Stock?

Uncoated stock can be a great option as well. It offers a more rustic, and vintage style then coated paper stock. It absorbs more ink making it not as smooth as the coated options, but it also makes it easier to write on if you need to keep a few notes. This is why an uncoated paper stock is great for appointment cards.

The colours are going to look different on uncoated stock, then they would with coated. They’re likely going to show up darker and as mentioned before, the images won’t be as clear because there’s more ink that seeps into the page.

For thicker print designs people often used uncoated print stock. The images aren’t quite as clear but the uncoated stock gives it a distinct look that many different companies enjoy.

How To Choose Between Coated And Uncoated Stock?

That all depends on your brand and what you’re looking to accomplish with your print designs. Uncoated stock is great for bookmarks, college booklets, and menus. While artists and designers are likely to use coated options because of the sharp images.