For those of you who have ordered printed materials, you’ve likely been asked whether you want coated or uncoated paper. Aside from your personal preference about how the paper feels, there is actually a more important consideration, one that can make all the difference in making a powerful impression.

Like ripples on a pond from a thrown pebble, a rough paper surface can blur an image. The smoother the finish of a paper’s surface, the more balanced the reflection of light will be, resulting in a sharper, more vibrant print. If a paper is rough or uncoated, light scatters, creating a dull or washed-out surface. A solid black on an uncoated paper, for example, will look grey rather than a rich dark black. In addition, an uncoated paper will absorb more of the ink, like a paper towel cleaning up a spill. The image becomes dull and lines become fuzzy.

Please don’t think that uncoated papers are all that bad. If a design’s intention is to be soft or tactile, an uncoated sheet might be the way to go. For example, an uncoated stock can be warm and inviting, while a coated paper can sometimes feel impersonal or cold. The good news is that there are plenty of surfaces to choose from, each with a varying degree of smoothness.

Posted: Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 at 2:03 pm Topic: Tips from the Lab . Follow comments: RSS 2.0 . Respond or trackback.