Choosing the Right Paper

There are more types of paper available than you might think, and finding the right one can give you a mild headache. That's why Midland Printing not only carries all of the paper you'll likely ever need, we'll also be happy to discuss your project, explain the positives and negatives of each type of paper, and recommend one that will give you the best results.

Thickness is measured in thousandths of an inch, also knows as "points." If you have 20-pt paper, it is 20/1000 or .020 inches thick. For reference, a business card is usually around 12 or 14 pt stock. This is normally only discussed when choosing paper for a cover.

Glossy paper has a little bit of a shine to it, which makes colors appear brighter and images sharper. However, glossy prints may also produce a glare at certain lighting angles. A matte finish doesn't have vivid colors or sharper images, but there won't be a glare either. You might also find a finish called silk, which is like a combination of matte and glossy.