The Inkog paper guide
Choose paper with confidence.
A flyer to spread the word. A card worth keeping. Find the paper, weight, finish or sign board that gives your print the right feel.
Start with what you want it to do. We'll help you match the material to the job.
Picture the size
How big is A5, really?
A4 is the familiar office sheet. A5 is half that size, A6 is half again, and A3 is twice the area of A4.
Swipe the diagram to compare all sizes →
A6
105 × 148mmPocket handouts & postcard-sized promotions
A5
148 × 210mmVersatile flyers & service leaflets
A4
210 × 297mmFamiliar office sheets & information packs
A3
297 × 420mmSmall posters & countertop notices
A2
420 × 594mmWindow posters & event announcements
A1
594 × 841mmLarger display posters
A0
841 × 1189mmBig posters with room to make an impact
Portrait or landscape? Rotate the sheet and the dimensions swap; the size stays the same. These are finished sizes after trimming. For a folded leaflet, check whether your selected size is flat or folded. See artwork sizes and bleed ↗
01 / The surface
Silk, gloss or uncoated?
The finish changes how light catches the paper and how the print feels in your hand.
Bond / uncoated
No glossy coating. A natural, matt surface that is usually the easiest choice for writing on.
Think: familiar 80 GSM office paper. Heavier uncoated stocks feel more substantial.
Choose for: forms, letterheads, notes and writable handouts.
Silk
Smooth with a subtle satin sheen. A versatile balance between a natural matt look and a glossy shine.
Think: polished promotional print without a highly reflective surface.
Choose for: business flyers, service lists, brochures and cards.
Gloss
A shiny coated surface that catches the light. A good match for photography and colourful designs.
Think: vivid, image-led promotions.
Choose for: event flyers, product promotions and photo-rich leaflets. Less suited to handwriting.
Pulp
An uncoated option with a natural character. Consider it for understated cards, tags and invitations. Pulp does not automatically mean recycled.
Recycled
Describes the fibre source, not one fixed texture or thickness. Choose a product explicitly labelled recycled and check its stated finish.
Kraft
A brown stock for a warm, rustic look. Its colour becomes part of your design, so colours will look different from printing on white paper.
Gloss paper is not gloss lamination. Paper coating is part of the stock. Lamination is a separate film added after printing. Only the options shown on your product are available.
02 / The substance
What does GSM actually mean?
GSM means grams per square metre: the weight of a sheet measuring one square metre. Within the same paper family, a higher GSM usually feels more substantial. It is not an exact measure of thickness.
Everyday & flexible
80 GSM bond is the familiar office-paper reference. A practical starting point for forms, notes and everyday correspondence.
Lightweight promotion
Consider 130 GSM silk or gloss for leaflet drops, event handouts and larger campaigns where you want to keep each piece light.
A substantial handout
170 GSM is a useful step up for a salon price list, a service leaflet or a flyer you hand to someone in person.
More presence
Try 250 GSM for a premium promotional handout, an event programme cover or a short promotional menu with a firmer feel.
Card-like & sturdy
A starting point for postcards, invitations, heavier covers and substantial flyers. Choose the right product for folds and finishing.
A confident card
A sturdy choice for business cards and heavyweight promotional pieces that need to make an impression in the hand.
Choosing between 130, 170 and 250? Pick 130 for a lightweight campaign, 170 for a more substantial everyday handout, or 250 when the piece should feel worth keeping. These are starting points, not rules. Size, stock and finish all affect the feel.
What if the stock says “mic” instead of GSM?
Microns measure thickness. For example, 380 mic means 0.38mm thick; it does not mean 380 GSM. Papers with the same GSM can have different thicknesses because their fibres, density and coatings differ.
Is heavier paper always better?
No. Light stock is easier to distribute in volume and keeps a booklet manageable. Heavy stock adds substance to a card or cover. For folded print, select a folded product so the paper and finishing suit the job; do not assume a thick flat flyer will fold neatly at home.
03 / The finishing touch
Lamination, without the confusion.
A thin film is bonded to the printed surface, adding a different look and feel and helping protect it during handling. It can be applied to one or both sides where the product offers it.
Matt
Low sheen and a smooth feel. Consider it for understated business cards and restrained designs.
Gloss
A reflective shine. Consider it when bold colour and photography lead the design.
Velvet / soft-touch
A soft, tactile, low-sheen finish. Consider it for premium cards and invitations that people will hold.
Print lamination
The film is trimmed flush with the paper. No clear plastic border. This is what the lamination choices on our print products mean.
Pouch encapsulation
The familiar office-laminator result: plastic surrounds the sheet with a sealed border beyond its edges. A different process, not what those product options provide.
Diagrams are illustrative. Lamination does not make paper waterproof: moisture can reach the trimmed edges. For writing or stamping, choose a suitable uncoated, unlaminated surface. Ask us first if your print needs frequent wiping or outdoor use.
Beyond paper
The right board for your big idea.
A wedding welcome, a shop display or a sign that stays outside. Choose the material for where it will go and how long you need it.
Illustrative cut edge: hollow channels
Correx
Lightweight corrugated polypropylene with a fluted core. A practical, economical choice for temporary signs, with weather-resistant plastic rather than paper.
Great for: event directions, property boards, construction notices and short-term promotions.
Shop Correx signs →Illustrative cut edge: continuous foamed core
Foamed PVC / Foamex
A smooth, lightweight rigid plastic board that gives artwork a clean finish. It has a foamed PVC core, not the hollow flutes of Correx or the paper faces of foamboard.
Great for: wedding welcome signs, seating plans, exhibition panels, menus and retail displays.
Shop Foamex boards →Illustrative cut edge: metal skins, polymer core
Aluminium composite / Dibond
Thin aluminium skins around a polymer core create a stiff, durable board with a smooth surface. A strong choice for longer-term signage indoors or outdoors.
Great for: business signs, directional panels, property signage and lasting outdoor displays.
Shop aluminium composite →Thickness is measured in millimetres, not GSM. The same thickness can behave differently across materials. Larger boards need suitable support, and outdoor signs need secure fixing for their location. The diagrams show construction, not actual scale.
A warm welcome, beautifully printed
Your names. Your day. Your welcome sign.
Our go-to for wedding welcomes is A1 on 3mm foamed PVC. It is large enough to greet guests at the entrance, with a smooth finish that suits everything from elegant typography to colourful florals.
Choose A1 and 3mm on the Foamex product, then upload your personalised design. Match it with a seating plan or other signs for a consistent look throughout your venue.
Display on a suitable easel or support. For an outdoor ceremony, position it securely and account for wind.
Create your wedding sign →Put it into practice
What are you printing?
A local promotion
Start with 130 or 170 GSM silk. Prefer a glossy, photo-led look? Compare gloss in the same weight.
Explore flyers ↗A card worth keeping
Start with a sturdy business-card stock. Add matt, gloss or velvet lamination to change its surface and feel.
Explore business cards ↗Something to write on
Start with bond or another suitable uncoated stock. Keep the writing area free of lamination and heavy ink coverage.
Ask us about your project ↗Recommendations are practical starting points. Available weights and finishes depend on the product and the other options you select.
Still choosing? Talk to a printer.
Tell us what you're making and how it will be used. We'll help you choose.