Uncoated vs gloss vs matte vs silk paper: which to choose

Coated vs uncoated in one minute

Coated paper has a thin layer of clay or similar coating on the surface. Ink sits on top of the coating instead of soaking into the fibers, so dots stay sharp and colors stay bright. Gloss, silk and matte are all coated papers, just with different surface finishes.

Uncoated paper has no coating. It feels like paper in the most familiar sense: soft, a little toothy, easy to write on. Ink sinks in, so colors look softer and photos lose some snap. That is not a defect. For a lot of work it is the look you want.

Gloss

Gloss is the shiniest coated finish. Photos look saturated and contrasty, and colors pop. It is the default for many flyers, postcards and catalogs full of product shots.

The trade-offs: glare under bright lights makes long blocks of text tiring to read, fingerprints show on dark solids, and it is hard to write on with a ballpoint. If someone needs to fill something in, skip gloss.

Matte

Matte coated paper has a flat, low-glare surface. Text reads easily, it looks quiet and modern, and photos still print with good detail, just less punch than on gloss. Dark solid areas on matte can scuff or show rub marks, so heavy coverage often gets a coating or laminate on top.

Silk (sometimes sold as satin or dull)

Silk sits between gloss and matte. It has a soft sheen without the mirror shine, so photos look rich and text stays readable. Names vary between mills, and one company's dull is another's satin, so judge from a sample rather than the label.

If you cannot decide and the piece has both photos and a fair amount of reading, silk is usually the safe pick.

Uncoated

Uncoated is the right call for anything people write on or run through an office printer: letterhead, envelopes, forms, notepads, appointment cards and reply cards. It also gives a natural, handmade feel that suits restaurants, nonprofits, wedding pieces and brands that want to look unpolished on purpose.

Expect colors to print a little darker and less vivid. A Pantone color looks different on uncoated paper. Pantone guides show an uncoated (U) version for exactly that reason. If you are matching a color to coated work, approve it on the uncoated stock.

Quick picks by job

• Letterhead and envelopes: uncoated, and laser-compatible if you print on them in the office.
• Business cards: matte, silk or uncoated if people write notes on the back; gloss for photo-heavy designs.
• Postcards for the mail: gloss or silk card. Leave the address area uncoated or ask about a coating that takes ink jet addressing.
• Tri-fold brochures: silk or gloss text, scored before folding.
• Catalogs: gloss or silk text inside with a heavier cover.
• Menus that get handled: a coated stock with a protective coating or laminate.
• Forms and anything filled in by pen: uncoated.

Office printers and mailing equipment

Some pieces get printed twice: once by us, then again in your office or by an addressing machine. Letterhead goes through a laser printer. Postcards may get inkjet addresses. Reply cards get filled in by hand. Laser printers run hot, and some coated papers and inks do not like the heat. Many coatings shed inkjet ink before it dries.

If anything will be printed, written or stamped on after it leaves the shop, say so in the quote request. It changes the paper we suggest more than any other single detail.

Coatings and laminates are a separate choice

The paper finish and a coating on top are two different decisions. A matte stock can get a gloss spot UV on the logo. A gloss card can be laminated for durability. Coatings protect against scuffs and fingerprints, but some of them stop pens, inkjet addressing or glue from taking. Tell us how the piece will be used and handled and we will suggest the combination.