If you look on the shelves in the swatch room at BPI Media Group, you'll see hundreds if not thousands of different types of papers. There are different colors, textures, coatings and thicknesses of papers from which to choose for your creative messaging. How do you know which one to choose? Hopefully, this will help and offer you a few more selections for those of you who need variety.
Things to consider when choosing a paper/substrate:
- How will it be used?
- Will anyone write on it?
- Will it mail?
- How long will it be in circulation?
- Do you need it to "stick" to anything?
- Does it need to have recycle content?
If you're going to write on it, or if the end user will write on it, you'll want to select a dull (or matte/silk) finish or even an uncoated (such as offset or opaque). Gloss-coated papers are the most difficult on which to write. You can always gloss coat the front/image side and leave the back uncoated or dull, so it can be written on if this works for the design of your piece.Keep in mind too if your piece will be ran through a laser printer at any time; if so, consider a laser-safe paper.
If it mails, you'll want to make certain it is thick enough to hold up in the mail stream and meet all USPS postal requirements. You'll also want to consider if it is a reply mail card and make sure it is thick enough to mail back as well as be easily written on if applicable.
If your marketing material is going to be around for a while or be distributed and used in the field, you may want to consider a cover-weight paper to add durability. You may even want to consider adding a varnish, aqueous coating, uv or lamination to give it a longer life span. If it is only advertising an event and will be obsolete after a few weeks, you can opt for a text-weight paper in most cases. If your marketing piece is to be used at a trade show, you may want it to be on gatorbaord or foam core (such as a sign or easel) to give it the rigidity it needs to stand alone.
Labels come in all shapes, sizes and stick to all different types of materials. There's gloss, semi-gloss and uncoated for the surface, but the back is more important here because you'll want to consider to what the label will adhere. Think about whether it will need to be permanent adhesive or repositionable. If it will be exposed to heat or cold temperatures, the adhesive will need to comply with those factors as well.
Many environmentally-conscious folks prefer a paper that contains recycle content. There are tons of options for that too, so don't sweat it.
If you have windows or "store fronts" in your brick and mortar facilities, you may need clings for your windows. BPI can print on clings as well as vinyl that will adhere to your wall (think of a fat head that kids have in their rooms on the wall). If you want to do magnets, BPI can also help with that plus window decals, ID cards and other forms of coupon cards.
Here are a few paper selector links from the most popular paper mills, but as always, feel free to contact me if you have a question or just aren't sure which paper or material is right for your project. I'd be glad to help!
Paper Selectors:
Until next time...Elizabeth
