An important factor in printing is the types of print paper. We offer a variety of papers, some thick and others thin. Some glossy and some matte. How do you decide which paper to use? First, let's get technical. There are some terms that will help you to understand the different paper options for online printing available.

Cover vs. Text

A cover weight paper is going to be thick, similar in feel to cardstock. Text weight papers are thinner, more similar to catalog and magazine paper. A paper for printing labeled "cover" is always going to be thicker than a "text" paper. For example, 100# Gloss Cover is going to be much thicker than 100# Gloss Text. You can also tell the difference in thickness by checking the "point" or "pt" thickness. For example, a 100# Gloss Cover is 9pt while a 100# Gloss Text is 5pt. If you had an instrument called a micrometer you could measure the paper thickness yourself.

You can use a cover weight or a text weight as the cover paper for your booklet project. You are not required to use a cover weight as the cover paper. For example, the 100# gloss text can be a nice cover option for projects like catalogs, programs and magazines.

Gloss, Matte, Uncoated, & UV Coated Paper

Gloss vs. Matte

Gloss paper is shiny and is very popular for most print projects. Matte paper has a "flat" look to it. It doesn't shine and reflect light the same way that gloss paper does.

UV Coating     

UV is short for Ultra Violet coating. This is a shiny gloss coating applied over printed cover weight paper to make photos and colors pop to catch your customer’s attention and to protect against scratching and frequent handling. UV coating is recommended for extra protection on the cover of your project. UV coating is not recommended when you need to write on the coated area.

Uncoated Paper

This paper is similar to the paper you would put in a home printer because it is uncoated. It is easy to write on and would be used in a project such as a journal or coloring book. 

Recommended Paper Types

Below I am going to recommend different papers for different types of projects. These are simply suggestions; your project may or may not fit into these recommendations. I would also highly recommend requesting a free sample packet from us. When you request a sample packet, we send you our Paper Sample Guide. It's a small booklet that has an example of all of our different papers in it so you can see and feel the weights of each. You can determine which papers you like best using this Paper Sample Guide.

• Brochures - 100# Gloss Text
• Business Cards - 14pt Gloss Cover
• Calendars - 80# Gloss Cover for the cover paper (with a UV high gloss cover finish for extra "Pop!"). 100# Gloss Text for the inside pages.
• Door Hangers - 12pt Gloss Cover
• EDDM - 100# Gloss Cover
• Flyers - 100# Gloss Text
• Greeting Cards - 12pt C1S (C1S means Coated One Side. The outside of the card is coated so that it has a nice finish but the inside is uncoated so that you can easily write in it).
• Newsletters - 100# Gloss Text
• Posters - 100# Gloss Text
• Presentation Folders - 100# Gloss Cover with UV Coating added to it
• Rack Cards - 14pt Gloss Cover

Of course, if you have any questions about the type of paper to use feel free to call us at  or request your free sample packet so you can see and feel these different papers.

Cover Paper Options

• 80# Gloss Cover Cardstock - Coated gloss paper about twice as thick as 80# text giving it a more substantial and sturdy feel (thickness of a printed postcard or baseball card). It has a smooth gloss finish similar to that of a glossy photograph making photographs stand out and look rich and beautiful. This stiff, shiny and lustrous coated sheet is the preferred substrate for printed booklet covers. Special characteristics include dimensional stability, good folding qualities, and durability. Well-suited for scoring and die-cutting.

• 80# Matte Cover Cardstock – (similar characteristics as 80# Gloss Cover) Dull coated sheet that exhibits low gloss finish. Excellent for jobs that require high quality color reproduction with minimal paper gloss. Great when there is a lot of typed copy making it easier to read. It is superior to that of uncoated papers yet paper is glare free.

• 100# Gloss Text - is our most popular option and best value. It is about 25% more bulk being thicker and heavier with a sturdy and higher end feel than 80# text. This shiny and lustrous coated sheet is excellent for full color printing. Photographs stand out and look rich and beautiful.

• 100# Matte Text (has the same characteristics as 100# gloss text) Dull coated sheet that exhibits low gloss finish. Excellent for jobs that require high quality color reproduction with minimal paper gloss. Great when there is a lot of typed copy making it easier to read. It is superior to that of uncoated papers yet paper is glare free.

Other Cover Paper Options

• 100# Gloss Cover Cardstock - It has the same characteristics and uses as 80# gloss cover but is about 25% more bulk being thicker and heavier, similar to a medium weight card stock.
• 100# Matte Cover Cardstock: It has the same characteristics and uses as 80# matte cover but is about 25% more bulk being thicker and heavier, similar to a medium weight card stock.
• 80# Opaque Cover: Also known as un-coated, this paper is commonly used anytime you are expecting to write in the piece itself.

Inside Paper

• 100# Gloss Text - is our most popular option and best value. It is about 25% more bulk being thicker and heavier with a sturdy and higher end feel than 80# text. This shiny and lustrous coated sheet is excellent for full color printing. Photographs stand out and look rich and beautiful.
• 100# Matte Text (has the same characteristics as 100# gloss text) Dull coated sheet that exhibits low gloss finish. Excellent for jobs that require high quality color reproduction with minimal paper gloss. Great when there is a lot of typed copy making it easier to read. It is superior to that of uncoated papers yet paper is glare free. 

Other Inside Paper Options

70# Opaque Text: Also known as un-coated, this paper is commonly used anytime you are expecting to write in the piece itself. Match this up with an uncoated cover to give the entire project an un-coated look and feel.

Is your grade, junior high or high school thinking about printing custom yearbooks? PrintingCenterUSA is here to help with all your education printing needs. Whether you choose to upload your own design files or utilize our free templates, we make online yearbook printing easy and will deliver them to you quickly and at a reasonable price! Below are 4 reasons we think yearbook printing is important for any educational institution.

1. They Are a Great Public Relations Tool

Yearbook printing can be a great PR tool because they show off the personality of the school. If you’re looking to use your yearbook as a public relations tool, include the highlights of the opportunities offered, such as courses, clubs, athletics and facilities. This helps sell the community to potential businesses, students, and/or faculty. You can also include sponsors from local businesses and family members to help add a little profit to your bottom line.

2. The Educational Experience

Designing school yearbooks can be a great learning experience for students interested in photography, journalism, graphic design, typography, and marketing. Educate your students by having them go out and take photos at sporting events, pep rallies, fundraisers, plays, and more! They can also interview fellow students to have quotes to go along with their pictures. From there, they can use those images and quotes to design their yearbook, which helps to expand their creative knowledge.

3. Serves as a Memory Book for Students

Class yearbooks are a wonderful way to tell the story of the school year. Include pictures, memorable quotes, projects or events that took place that year to help the memories live on forever. Later in life, when students look back at their yearbook, they will get to remember everyone who made an impact in their life.

4. They Are a Piece of History

What better way to capture a piece of history than with school yearbook printing? They help to capture events, dates, scores, trends, news, facts and figures. They include accurate records of grades, names of students, faculty and staff. Show off the participants of sports teams, band, cheer, choir, clubs, and more! You may also want to add in information such as enrollments, sports statistics, events and news.

Affordable yearbook printing can help set your school apart while also serving as a keepsake for the students to look back on. Running late on your yearbooks? Order your last minute yearbooks online now! Help keep your students’ younger years alive for years to come by printing an online yearbook today!

Starting a catalog project can be both exciting and intimidating. On one hand, you get to put together an awesome product that will excite & inspire your customers. On the other hand, where do you even begin? Well, we are here to help you get started. Below you will find easy design tips and suggestions, as well as examples from our customers.

#1: Planning

Before you begin designing, you want to choose a goal for your catalog. Are you trying to get customers to order through the catalog or just get them to go to your website or store? Who are you going to be sending the catalog to? Loyal customers or people who have never heard of your brand?

Once you have set your goal, you can tailor your design, images, and layout to appeal to your audience. Hint: the more appealing your catalog looks, the more likely your audience is to continue turning the pages.

#2: Content

After deciding upon a goal, you want to lay out what to say, how to say it and where the information should go. Your content should be simple, clean and concise. If you crowd the pages with too much information, the reader will get overwhelmed and likely quite reading.

Adding in easy-to-follow information and images helps to guide your reader through your pages. By using headings, subheadings, and images, your audience will be drawn to the important information within your catalog.

#3: Design

Before you start designing, you want to think about how you are going to distribute your catalogs. Are you going to send them out via mail, hand them out at conferences, or have them in your store? After deciding your distribution, you can select the appropriate size. Follow the tips below when designing your catalog to make sure you’re getting the most out of your catalog printing.

• Use attractive colors, images and elements that represent your company and brand.
• Stick to fonts that are easy to read. Consider size, style and color.
• Use white space wisely, you want the page to feel balanced and not overwhelming.
• Eliminate unnecessary elements or distractions.
• Use full color images with 300dpi resolution. Anything below 300dpi will print pixelated.

#4: Things to Remember

Don't forget - depending on the type of catalog you are putting together you may want to include these following pages:

• Table of Contents
• Order Form
• Contact Information
• Website URL and/or Store Location

Remember, we are here to help. If you would like to speak with a specialist about your catalog project, please give us a call at !