A guide to help you understand paper, stock and material choices before going to print.
The same design can look and feel very different depending on the material it is printed on.
Paper weight, coating, texture, color and finish can all affect how the final piece feels, how colors reproduce and how durable it is.
This page helps you understand the main choices so you can ask better questions and compare options more confidently.
GSM means grams per square metre and is commonly used to describe paper weight.
As a general rule, a higher GSM means a heavier sheet, but it does not tell you everything about thickness, stiffness or quality.
Two papers with a similar GSM can still feel very different.
Don’t choose paper based on GSM alone.
Texture, coating, composition and stiffness can matter just as much.
A coated surface is generally smoother and can produce sharper, more controlled print results.
Common finishes include:
Uncoated paper tends to feel more natural and tactile.
It can absorb ink differently, which may affect color appearance and sharpness.