What is the best paper to use for flyers?
Creating the best flyers isn’t just determined by the design concept but also by the type of paper used. Choosing the paper is one of the final stages, right before printing, and it is one of the most challenging stages because the wrong paper can make your flyer look boring or unprofessional even if you have the most creative and vibrant design. Different papers are ideal for different types of flyers with the papers categorized according to their grammage. The one you choose should, therefore, depend on the intended use of the flyer. For instance, flyers for advertising will often look different from the flyers for shows.
Types of flyers
Promotional
Most businesses in the retail or hospitality industry use flyers to promote special events and attract a new customer base. If you intend to use your flyers for such purposes, then you should choose a printing paper that is thicker to ensure durability. 250gsm flyers are perfect for this use because they are robust and have a luxurious feel when touched, which will help portray your business as classy.
Advertising
Advertising flyers are not like promotional flyers in that they are mostly distributed to different people. As such, they are not as thick but are still sturdy enough not to get wrinkled easily. A 135gsm flyer is the most suitable type of flyer for this use. This flyer is one and a half times thicker than the normal printing paper, which makes it affordable enough to make enough flyers for wide distribution but strong enough to perform the intended purpose, which is to pass the message without getting wrinkled easily.
Trade shows
This flyer design should always exude a high level of professionalism, which means that a 170gsm flyer is more appropriate. The type of paper is twice as thick as the normal printing paper, which ensures that crinkling doesn’t happen easily even if the flyer is passed around.
Premium flyers
These are usually made for marketing purposes and are made using the thickest papers of 400gsm. They are as thick as a postcard and are made to showcase luxury and preciousness. Most businesses that make the premium flyers plan for their long-term use. They try to portray them as flyers that should not be thrown away easily.
Paper types
Apart from the thickness, the finish and size of the paper also determine its use in flyer printing. Some of the types of paper you may want to try out include:
Gloss paper
This type of paper is very shiny, which makes any flyer design look very vibrant. It usually dries off very fast, which helps with the prevention of ink smudges. You will not need the seal to vanish or anything else to make the flyer more interesting.
Matt paper
Unlike the gloss paper, which has a glossy finish, matt paper isn’t very shiny because of the matt coating. It is great for promotional flyers because it isn’t reflective, which makes it comfortable to the eye even from a distance. It is also a high-quality paper that shows a high level of professionalism when used and can also be used in advertising flyers or leaflets.
Bond paper
If you want a very strong and durable paper that is also compatible with all printers, then a bond paper is your option. This type of paper is made from rag pulp, which makes it different from papers made from wood pulp. The paper may come off as dull, so you need to use very bright and attractive colors is you choose to use it for business flyers.
Silk paper
This type of paper is often confused with glossy paper, but it is also made with a matt coating. This gives it a smooth texture, which is great for display but also reduces the glare associated with glossy papers. This formation also increases its areas of application.
Watermarked paper
Although not commonly used in flyers, watermarked papers can be great for premium flyers. They are strong and durable, and they also allow you to include your brand name or logo, which creates a lasting impression.
Uncoated paper
Uncoated paper doesn’t have any special features, but they have been known to have great absorbing capacities. If you want your text content to pop more than the pictures, then this is the ideal paper type to choose from.
The paper finishes for different flyers
The final print will depend on the type of finish the paper has. The final look you are going for should, therefore, determine the paper finish you select. Most flyers are usually based on the following designs.
Writeable
Some flyers are designed to allow the targeted customers to write on them. If that’s what you’re going for, then an uncoated paper will be the ideal choice for you. These papers are rough enough to be written on but still build enough to pass your message.
Visual
If your main objective is to create a visual appeal, then a highly glossy paper is your best choice. The super gloss papers have an elegant finish, and their glossy nature makes all colors pop. This ensures they attract attention easily and make the pictures stand out. However, you may want to consider the direction of the sunlight when using them outside because they can also be reflective.
Mostly visual but with text
Printing a mixture of text and pictures is also great on glossy papers, but only if the images are more than the text. The main goal is to capture the attention of the customer with the pictures, and they will go on to read the included text.
Mostly text but with visuals
If you want your business flyers to mostly contain text and a few images them a matt finish paper is the best choice. This paper has a vibrant display, but without the reflection of glossy paper, which makes it easier for people to read the text. You can include different colors on the images to make them more popping.
Conclusion
Your flyer paper sizes can range from A7 size to A4, but you can also use DL sheets or square papers. You can select a size depending on the message you want to pass to your readers. For instance, promotional flyers tend to have more descriptive text, which means you’ll need a larger paper than you would need for a trade show paper.