Choosing the right paper for your brochure is important and
needs to be handled carefully. There are many kinds of paper
that are available for you to choose from and it is important
to choose the best paper for the job.
The paper that is used in brochures is generally a heavy stock
card. Printing on this paper requires a change in the printer
settings to emit the correct amount of heat and type of ink.
There are six kinds of paper that are available. One is used
for offset printing and is used in text books and books. This
is the paper that is normally found inside a brochure. A lighter
weight paper, known as bond paper, is used for stationery printing.
The cover of the brochure is done in cardstock, the heaviest
paper of the lot. The remaining three are Bristol, Index and
Newsprint, also known as tag.
When buying paper, the vendor will need to know what weight
of paper is desired. The basic weight of each paper is measured
by weighing 500 sheets for the particular grade of paper.
The paper comes in different finishes, which is dependant on
the purpose of the printing. The finishes can be smooth or glossy
in texture. Some of the most commonly used finishes are: Dull-coated,
Matte-coated, Gloss-coated, Antique, Vellum, Wove, Smooth, Felt,
Laid & Parchment, Linen and Fiber-added.
A swatch book is available to help choose the correct type and
weight of paper and sample sheets are available if a recommended
kind of paper is desired. The best way to decide on the printing
paper is by the use of the swatch book. These sample sheets
can be used to test against the brochure design.
Once the paper quality and size are chosen, be sure to have
a matching envelope in the correct size. If the size of the
paper is unusual, custom envelopes can be made to accommodate
the size.
