TAP :: Paper Information

Talk to us about paper as early in the process as possible.

A TAP representative can suggest paper alternatives or changes in your design if your choice of paper is unrealistic for the type of project you're planning.

Discussing paper early will also allow your TAP representative to check on local availability of your paper. If a tight deadline is involved, ordering paper can add three or four days to the printing schedule.

Get a paper sample that's at least 8.5"x 11" so you can really see the color, brightness and other features of the paper.

The paper you choose can affect every aspect of your job. For example:
Fiber formation can affect ink coverage.
Finish and coating affect the ability to accept ink.
Weight can have an enormous effect on cost, including mailing costs.
Grain direction can affect folding.
Paper Finishes

There are three basic types of finishes:
uncoated, matte coated and gloss coated

and more than a dozen common finishes including:
felt, laid, satin, vellum and wove

Text-heavy projects require a paper with low glare for readability.
Uncoated paper is less likely to produce glare than a coated sheet.
Four-color images generally reproduce better on bright, white paper with good holdout properties.
Coated papers are hard to write on - something to keep in mind when designing forms of any kind.
Coated papers tend to weigh more than uncoated papers, so they can add to the weight of a mailing.