How Good Are You In Choosing The Right Paper?
by Maricon Williams

Paper is complicated. It comes in different textures, colors, sizes, themes, and thickness. It offers a dizzying collection that the moment you’re through poring over the samples, you might be in need of a medicine to relieve the wooziness.

Scary, intimidating, distressing - that’s how others perceive paper selection. It’s a ‘make it or break it’ stage that can spell triumph and failure. Thus, it should be done meticulously and wisely. There’s no use crying over a spilled milk and do the printing process all over again just because you do not know what the right paper for your job is. Truly, paper selection is a vital part of the printing essentials. Papers are complicated nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that paper selection will be as complicated as it is. When you have chosen the right paper at the very onset, you surely will be free from potential waste of time and resources.

So what do you think is the right paper? The right paper need not be pompous and expensive. It only needs to be candid and shall blend well with other print essentials.

Here are some of the pointers that you should consider when tasked to choose the right paper:

Availability of the paper. Always bear in mind that there are hard-to-find paper. They may not be always offered so you must inquire its availability on the market.

Personality. If your project demands youthful aura, try to be colorful in your choices, go for neon colors. If it is environmental, you can use recycled paper. If it connotes luxury try leather, suede, metallics and other specialty paper. Basically, it is harmony with the material you are printing.

Finish. Some materials require gloss finishing while others, matte. The material which requires added protection must be coated to preserve it.

The Printing Process. There are a lot of printing processes available today. You can use letterhead, embossing, foil stamping and the likes. Feel free to ask from your printing company.

End Usage. This can be the most important aspect that you must consider in paper selection. How is it going to be distributed? Is it to be mailed or hand delivered? If it is, then you need a more durable kind of paper to withstand the pressure. In addition, it must be compatible with its use.

Price. Choose your paper according to your specific budget. If your budget is just on the average, then don’t pursue an exorbitant kind of paper, it will just upset you.

You can also seek advice from your prepress or printing company regarding the selection of the right paper. They are mostly staffed with expert members to advice you on the matter.

Wipe those worry lines off your forehead and be confident of your choice of paper. After all, it is not that difficult when you know exactly what to choose!