Selecting Paper for Commercial Printing

When it comes to commercial printing, having the right type of paper can make a substantial difference in the appearance and feel of your final printed piece.

There are a plethora of options to choose from. When it comes to paper color, white is significantly the most popular color choice for printing projects. However, it’s important to understand that not all white paper is the same. That’s why it’s best to choose a “true” white color in order to provide an effective contrast between light and dark images and the whiteness of the paper.

Another factor to consider is the brightness of the paper, which is essentially the percentage of light which the paper reflects. The importance of brightness pertains to the readability of the document. You must be aware of the fact that increased brightness may result in eyestrain or brightness that’s too low and causes a blurring effect.

Finally, the last factor is the opacity of the paper, meaning how much the printing displays through the paper from the other side. Opacity increases with the weight and bulk of the paper, as well as the influence of color, ink color, coatings, coverage and chemicals.

In summation, the general guidelines to adequate paper selection for commercial printing include:

  • Choose brighter papers to produce images with higher contrast
  • True white papers print with the most natural-looking skin tones
  • Coated or smooth papers produce sharper images

Contact Acro Photo Print Inc. and find out more about our printing services today.

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