Paper types, paper weights and finishes for printing

Two flyers with the same design can make a very different impression: one glows on glossy paper, the other feels warm and tactile on natural paper. The paper decides how colours come across, how a print feels in the hand, whether you can write on it and how long it lasts. This page covers the papers, materials and finishes you can actually choose in our configurator, with examples from our range.

The options depend on the product, and the price in CHF, including 8.1% Swiss VAT, appears straight away in the configurator. Exact dimensions are listed in our guide to print sizes, and technical terms are explained in our printing glossary.

Paper types at a glance

On coated paper, the ink stays on a fine layer of pigments at the surface, so images are sharp and vivid. Uncoated paper absorbs more ink, looks more natural and is easier to write on.

Paper	Surface	Typical uses
Matt coated	coated, matt, glare-free	flyers, brochures, magazines, business cards
Gloss coated	coated, glossy	posters, photo flyers, product brochures
Offset	uncoated, absorbent	letterheads, notepads, forms
Recycled	mostly uncoated, natural tone	flyers, letterheads, cards
Natural and fine	uncoated, often textured	invitations, business cards, menus
Board	stiff and stable	business cards, postcards, beer mats
Kraft	uncoated, brown or white	carrier bags, labels, cards
Adhesive paper	self-adhesive	indoor stickers and labels

Matt coated paper

The versatile standard for promotional print: smooth, but without shine. Images keep their detail and text stays easy to read, even under direct light. It suits flyers, brochures, magazines and, in heavier weights, business cards. Classic Flyers come in matt coated paper from 70 to 500 gsm, saddle-stitched magazines from 70 gsm inside to 300 gsm for the cover, and Classic business cards from 300 to 500 gsm. If you plan to write on it a lot, an uncoated paper is the better choice.

Gloss coated paper

A glossy surface makes colours richer and photos more brilliant: ideal for posters, catalogues and anything that sells through images. The downside is glare under spotlights or behind glass. Posters in digital and offset printing come in gloss coated paper from 100 to 250 gsm, as well as in gloss photo paper. Premium paper carrier bags in 200 or 250 gsm gloss coated paper make a statement at the point of sale, and for the offset-printed brochure you can choose matt or gloss for the inside pages.

Offset paper: natural and easy to write on

Uncoated and slightly absorbent, offset paper takes pen, pencil and stamps without any problem. It is the paper for anything filled in by hand or later printed in the office, and colours look a little softer on it. Classic letter paper comes in white offset from 60 to 120 gsm, also with a watermark, pads with a glued cover sheet have inside pages in 80 or 90 gsm offset, and appointment cards are printed on 90 gsm offset so the next date can be written in neatly.

Recycled paper

Made from waste paper, uncoated recycled paper has, depending on the grade, a slightly natural tone and a pleasant, tactile surface, a good way to show your commitment to sustainability. For more vivid photos there is matt coated recycled paper, in 130 and 300 gsm for Classic Flyers. Environment and Nature flyers are available on recycled paper from 80 to 400 gsm, Environment and Nature letterhead in 80 and 120 gsm, and Environment and Nature business cards in 300 and 400 gsm.

Natural and fine papers

These are uncoated papers with character. Cream natural paper has a warm off-white tone that makes invitations, menus and letterheads look particularly refined. There are also grass paper with visible fibres, hemp and cotton papers, Gmund papers with a linen texture and pearlescent board with a shimmering surface. On textured surfaces, colours look softer and fine lines less crisp. You will find a wide choice on postcards in DIN formats, business cards in special material and Environment and Nature greeting cards.

Board and chromo sulphate board

Stiff and stable, board suits anything that needs to stand up or is handled often. A classic is matt chromo sulphate board: white, coated, made from bleached pulp, in 350 and 450 gsm for postcards in DIN formats and 450 gsm for flyers with finishing. Black board in 350 gsm creates strong contrast: since printing inks barely show on black, it is finished with hot foil or, for flyers with white print, printed in white. Absorbent and sturdy, 580 gsm wood pulp board is the classic material for beer mats.

Kraft paper

Made from long fibres, kraft paper is highly tear-resistant. In brown it suggests craft, nature and packaging; in white it looks clean and modern. Worth knowing: four-colour printing does not print white. White areas stay brown on brown kraft paper and light colours look darker, so go for strong colours and clear typefaces. Examples: paper bags with cord in 90 gsm brown or white kraft paper, Classic greeting cards on 350 gsm kraft paper and business cards with white print, where white really is printed on 450 gsm kraft paper.

Adhesive paper for stickers and labels

With an adhesive layer on a backing sheet, adhesive paper is used for indoor stickers and labels: on packaging, binders, envelopes or products on the shelf. For outdoor use, adhesive films are the better choice. There are also special grades: a paper you can write and stamp on, plus natural, recycled and grass adhesive papers, for indoor stickers, a paper that withstands cold and heat for temperature-resistant stickers, and even a water-soluble paper for labels on a roll, handy for reusable containers.

Paper weight in gsm: how heavy should it be?

Paper weight is the weight of one square metre of paper, in grams per square metre (g/m², usually written gsm). The higher the value, the firmer a print feels. Weight alone does not tell you everything about thickness, though: at the same weight, uncoated natural paper is bulkier than coated paper, so it feels thicker.

Paper weight	Effect	Typical uses
60 to 90 gsm	thin, light, easy to fold	letterheads, notepads, forms
100 to 170 gsm	pleasant in the hand	flyers, leaflets, posters, inside pages
200 to 300 gsm	firm, close to board	postcards, invitations, covers, menus
300 to 500 gsm	stiff and premium	business cards, folded cards, gift cards
over 500 gsm	very thick	beer mats, premium cards

The configurator shows the weights available: 60 to 500 gsm for Classic Flyers, 60 to 120 gsm for letter paper, and from 80 gsm offset up to 840 gsm board for posters. As a rule of thumb, 90 to 115 gsm is enough for mass distribution, a promotional flyer feels good at 130 or 170 gsm, and a business card needs at least 300 gsm. See also our guide Choosing Flyer Format and Paper.

A handy calculation: an A0 sheet measures one square metre, and each smaller A size is half the previous one. An A4 sheet, one sixteenth of a square metre, therefore weighs 5 g at 80 gsm, and an A5 flyer at 170 gsm around 5.3 g. In the US, paper is often described in pounds; in Switzerland and the rest of Europe, gsm is the standard.

FSC® and PEFC: certified papers

Depending on the product, many papers are also available in an FSC® or PEFC certified version, such as 130 gsm matt coated PEFC for Classic Flyers or 300 gsm cream natural paper FSC® for Environment and Nature magazines. Both labels stand for responsible forest management: the fibres come from forests managed to environmental and social standards, or from controlled sources, and the supply chain up to the finished paper is checked. Certification applies to the paper, which you select in the configurator, for example for Environment and Nature flyers.

Other materials: film, fabric, wood, metal and glass

For outdoor use, trade fairs, gifts or long-lasting applications, other materials are available.

Film and plastic

Weatherproof films and plastic panels are the go-to materials for outdoor advertising. Banners come in 500 gsm PVC, recycled PVC and mesh, which lets the wind through and suits construction fences and scaffolding. Banners printed on both sides use an opaque blockout material. Outdoor stickers are printed on adhesive film, PVC-free or transparent if you prefer, and signs on rigid foam or twin-wall boards, among others. Examples: rectangular banners, outdoor stickers and advertising signs. For fixings, see our guide Banners, Flags and Outdoor Signs.

Fabric

Fabric looks soft and high-quality, does not create glare and folds up for transport. Flags and beach flags are printed on 110 gsm flag fabric, also available recycled, and roll-ups come in film or in polyester or cotton fabric. Bags, T-shirts and other textiles are printed or embroidered depending on the item. Examples: Beach Flag, print, Roll-Up Classic and our personalised T-shirts. To choose the technique, see our guide Printing or Embroidering Textiles.

Wood and bamboo

Real wood turns a card into an object people keep, and thanks to the grain every piece is unique. Business cards in special material come in maple and birch, while wooden postcards and wooden greeting cards are printed on 2 mm bamboo: ideal for weddings, company anniversaries or season's greetings. The wood pulp board used for beer mats, by contrast, is still board.

Metal

For door signs, company signs and advertising signs, aluminium composite panel is often used: two thin aluminium layers around a plastic core, light, rigid and weatherproof, also available in brushed silver. It is 3 mm thick on door and company signs and 3 or 6 mm on advertising signs incl. print. As a card, metal is a real talking point: NFC cards come as metal and PVC cards in gold, silver or black. Metallic board, on the other hand, is paper with a shimmering effect.

Glass and acrylic glass

For signs and wall pictures with a sense of depth, acrylic glass is used: a crystal-clear plastic, lighter and more impact-resistant than glass, that makes colours look brilliant. Wall pictures with gallery hanging and door and company signs are available in 5 mm acrylic glass. For real glass with your logo, see our glasses, ideal for restaurants and events.

Finishes: protection, shine and feel

A finish protects a print, changes its shine or makes it tactile; the options depend on the product and the paper. Single-sided means the front only, double-sided both sides.

Matt lamination

Lamination applies an ultra-thin film to the printed paper. Matt film protects against scuffs and dirt, slightly softens the colours and gives a silky feel: ideal for business cards, menus and covers. It is available single or double-sided, for example on Classic Flyers and Classic business cards, and in a scratch-resistant version on Premium paper carrier bags.

Gloss lamination

Gloss lamination makes colours pop and gives a smooth surface that is easy to wipe clean: perfect for posters, illustrated brochures and menus with photos. You will find it on posters in digital and offset printing (single-sided), on the cover of the offset brochure and on menu cards with Wire-O binding (double-sided).

Soft-Feel

Soft-Feel, also called soft touch, is a matt lamination with a velvety, almost powdery feel. People notice the difference the moment they pick up the card, and colours look soft and slightly muted. It is often chosen for business cards, invitations and covers, for example on saddle-stitched magazines or roll-fold food and drink menus.

UV varnish and spot UV varnish

UV varnish is a glossy varnish that cures instantly under UV light. Over the whole surface, it protects the print and boosts the shine of the colours. As spot UV, it covers only selected areas such as a logo, a photo or a headline, which then shine against a matt background, with the strongest effect on matt paper or matt lamination. Both versions are available on Classic Flyers, Classic business cards and Classic greeting cards, among others. You define the areas to be varnished in your print file.

Relief varnish

Applied as a thick layer, relief varnish can be felt: a logo, a pattern or a name becomes tangible. Combined with Soft-Feel, it gives a velvety surface with raised, glossy details. You will find it on business cards with finishing and postcards in DIN formats.

Hot foil stamping in gold, silver and copper

Hot foil stamping uses heat and pressure to transfer an ultra-thin metallic foil onto the paper, with a shine no ink can match: ideal for logos, Christmas cards or high-end letterheads. Depending on the product: gold, silver, copper, sometimes holographic, black, white, coloured or relief foil. Examples: Classic business cards, Classic letter paper, also with holographic foil, and labels on a roll, also in red, blue, green or iridescent silver. Another option is a printed additional colour in gold or silver, for example on business cards with finishing.

Embossing and letterpress

Embossing works without ink, using only a die and pressure. Blind embossing creates a relief you can feel; with colourless letterpress, the design sits recessed in the surface. Both look best on thick, fairly soft papers and boards, for example on business cards with finishing, postcards in DIN formats and premium envelopes with blind embossing.

Antimicrobial varnish

Antimicrobial dispersion varnish is a water-based varnish with an antimicrobial additive, applied to both sides. It is intended for print that passes through many hands: menus, business cards at reception, documents in waiting rooms. It does not replace normal cleaning. Available, for example, on antimicrobial flyers, single-sheet menus and Classic business cards.

Bio film and water-based varnish

On several products, single-sided matt lamination is also available with bio film, a separate option in the configurator, for example for Classic Flyers, postcards in DIN formats and Classic greeting cards. To do without film altogether, choose a water-based dispersion varnish: it seals the surface, protects it from dirt and scuffs and has a moisture-repellent effect. On Classic Flyers and Classic business cards, it is available as a matt protective varnish on both sides.

Practical tips for choosing

• Writing by hand: no lamination or varnish on the side people write on, for example on reply cards or appointment cards. Uncoated paper takes ink best, and with a single-sided finish the back stays free.
• Vivid or natural: gloss coated paper or UV varnish for photos, matt coated paper with Soft-Feel for a calm, refined look, natural or grass paper for warmth and character.
• Outdoors: paper is not made for rain. Choose banners, adhesive films or panels, see our guide Stickers and Labels: Which Material for Which Use?
• Plan for white: on kraft paper, black board and transparent films, white only appears if it is printed specially or applied as foil, as on labels on a roll with additional colour white.
• Feel before you order: for business customers and larger projects, we put together samples on request. Many products can also be ordered in small quantities.
• Prepare your file: print templates are available for many products, every file is checked before production, and our design service takes care of your layout from CHF 29.

Frequently asked questions

Matt or gloss coated paper: which is better?

Gloss coated paper makes photos and colours stand out: posters, photo flyers, product brochures. Matt coated paper does not reflect, is easier to read and looks more elegant, which is why it is chosen for text, business stationery and business cards. If in doubt, matt is the safe choice, and spot UV varnish still adds glossy highlights.

What paper weight do I need for flyers, posters and business cards?

For flyers, 130 or 170 gsm is usual, and 90 to 115 gsm for mass distribution. Indoor posters are mostly printed on 130 to 170 gsm; for posters without a frame or that are handled often, 250 gsm or board is better. Business cards start at 300 gsm, and 400 to 500 gsm or chromo sulphate board makes them really stiff.

Does recycled paper print well?

Yes, today it is a fully fledged printing paper. On the uncoated version, colours look a little softer and more natural, which suits many brands. For photos and fine detail, matt coated recycled paper offers a smooth surface, for example on Classic Flyers and Environment and Nature flyers.