Paper Speaks
A primary consideration when designing is what paper stock to use. It seems like such an easy choice, but it is really quite complicated. Paper can speak softly and calmly or be loud and right in your face. It can be smooth and shiny or enhance your printed piece with its rich texture. Paper, without a doubt, is an essential part of your project.
As a design professional, I work with paper every day, and have learned the best ways to use it. The choice of paper can make the ink colors in a design soft, muted and welcoming, or bold, sharp, and in your face. Neither is good, or bad on its own merits, but when you consider your message, your audience, and the overall image of your organization, the paper selection and what it says becomes critical to the success of the design.
In our studio we have swatch books containing hundreds of paper options. Paper suppliers are happy to work with us and provide samples, including mock-ups of the piece using the paper sample or samples being considered.
On your next design project, let us consult with you about the paper choice for the project and select the best paper. This may be an uncoated sheet, or a sheet with a special texture. It may be a sheet with a heavier basis weight or some other feature that completes the design and adds to the reader’s experience.
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