Stuck On Paper? Help & Advice On Which Paper Stock Is Right For You

"150gms Gloss Art Paper Stock" So what does GMS mean? GSM means ‘Grams every Square Meter’, It’s an estimation of paper quality which takes into account printers to be much more exact than they could be with wooly terms like ‘thick’, “thin” and ‘kinda in the center’.

In this post, we will discuss the possiblities of all our stocks and what is best for your printing requirements. Use this guide to help you on your next print venture.

80gms - 120gms

This is our lowest paper thickness used for all Stationery, low cost Flyers and low cost Brochures. The lower the gms, the cheaper we can offer.

120gsm paper is a better quality option offering less transparency through the sheet.

These stocks are available in different finishes, but most popularly used in Bond for the stationery.

130gms

Affordable, high quality, but the cheaper option for your Leaflets, Posters and Brochures. Popular when planning to order very high volume, saving a lot on costs.

Available in both Gloss and Matt for either occassion.

150gms - 170gms

Still affordable, but even higher quality and a more professional feel - these stocks will make a greater impression on your future clientele. Used for Booklets, Flyers, Calenders, and Posters. The heavier the weight, the more "upmarket" the feel.

Available in both Gloss and Matt for either purpose.

250gms

The card after paper.

Usually used for Booklet Covers, Flyers, Invitations, Postcards, Bookmarks, Table Talkers, Swing Tags etc. Robust enough to give some body and stiffness when used in a promotional print, but not quite heavy enough to be used on its own for stand up cards.

Available in all Bond, Gloss and Matt for any event.

300gms - 350gms

This is our sturdy card used for cards of all sorts. Many purposes include Booklet Covers, Flyers, Invitations, Postcards, Bookmarks, Table Talkers, Swing Tags, Greetings Cards, Presentation Folders, Business Cards, Table Menus etc.

Available in Bond, Ivory, Textured, Gloss or Matt for any occassion.

400gms

Also used for many products and more such as Booklet Covers, Flyers, Invitations, Postcards, Bookmarks, Table Talkers, Swing Tags, Greetings Cards, Presentation Folders, Business Cards, Table Menus etc. At eColourPrint, unless special request, we only tend to use 400gms for our Business Cards.

Available in all Bond, Ivory, Textured, Gloss or Matt for any occassion.

Coated or Uncoated?

Coated Paper

This has a smooth finish because it has a coating on the stock and is available in gloss or matt. It is used many products including leaflets, glossy brochures etc and referred to as ‘art’ paper.

Uncoated Paper

Because it doesn’t have a coating it is less smooth. This high quality uncoated paper is used for business stationery mostly as it has the advantage of being writable.

Stock Finishes

Matt Finish

Matt paper is the most popular type of home or office paper. It is used for a wide range of printing from brochures and flyers to menus. It is easy to write on and does not reflect light.

Gloss Finish

Top choice, Gloss paper is often used for colour printing and is a good choice for photo printing. It is smooth to touch and shiny. However due to the reflective nature of the paper, it can show fingerprints more easily than matt paper. It is commonly used for posters, brochures and flyers.

Bond Finish

A bond finish stock is usually chose for the advantage of easy writing on.

Final Finish, Lamination

Matt Lamination

Matt lamination helps improve durability and enhance the look of your product. This lamination gives you the smooth finish that can make your product look much more high end. It is currently available for Business Cards, Menus, Table Talkers, Postcards, Posters and many other laminated products.

Gloss Lamination

This lamination gives you the shiney, gleaming finish, making your product stand out. Any lamination also makes the product longer lasting and more durable. Making the product now clean and re usable. Similarly to matt lamination, gloss lamination is available for Business Cards, Menus, Table Talkers, Postcards, Posters and many other optionally laminated products.

Encapsulated Lamination

Ecapsulated Lamination is the only one that is sealed on the edges, giving you that extra durability and strength that some products require. Available on many products at request, including Table Menus and Posters. 

Any queries about our paper choices, please email info@ecolourprint.co.uk