We are often asked which card stock or paper type should be used for greeting cards. The weight range for greeting card printing is between 10pt to 18pt paper. Usually, 16pt card stock is considered the best paper weight for printing greeting cards to sell.
This guide to choosing the correct greeting card paper explains why there are different types and weights. For example, 18pt paper is a heavyweight card that is best for folded, foiled invitations or handmade greeting cards. This heavier card stock ensures that your 3D cardmaking or similar craft project doesn’t tip over. Ideal if you are going to be adding bows or die-cutting foiled stickers to stick to your cards.
Choosing the paper type is the most important decision you will make when creating greeting cards. Having some paper knowledge helps you to pick from our enormous selection of unique paper types. After all, the paper stock can influence the finished look of your product just as much as the design itself. Want to see (and feel) our paper stocks and finishes for yourself? Why not browse our amazing sample pack range for peace of mind!
There are three paper features to think about when selecting a type of card for your project. There is the weight value, the paper type and the finish. These three different paper features affect the look and feel of your greeting card. Before we look at the various paper types and laminate finishes, let’s get a better understanding of paper weight.
Paper weight is measured in PT which stands for Point and refers to the measurement of paper weight as a point, with one pt equalling .001 inch. Most of the time, the higher this value, the heavier and thicker the cardstock will be. There are some exceptions to the rule because some paper types have fibres that are more compact than others.
The weight of card and paper varies dramatically depending on its use. To give you an idea of what to choose, here is a quick summary of the different paper weight ranges and their best uses:
Copier paper, compliment slips and printer paper all fall within this weight range. Letterhead printing is usually within this weight range too. Sometimes compliment slips can be 7.3pt if they are being used as part of a direct mailing campaign.
This weight range is best used for printed flyer campaigns and double sided leaflets such as takeaway menus.
This range is the most common choice for cover stock in brochure printing.
Paper over 16pt is often referred to as a heavyweight card. Card inserts and business card printing should be at least 16pt. In fact, we usually recommend 18pt for metallic business cards, foiled flyers, and metallic swing tags. This is because high-quality paper makes a better impression. For more of an impact, opt for double thickness (32pt) or colour core paper which is 38pt.
10 and 14pt paper types allow printed greeting cards to stand on their edge. However, 16pt is heavier which feels much higher quality. The extra thickness means that the greeting card is more rigid. Ideal if you are going to be posting cards in the mail. This sturdy paper is less likely to be blown over from a draught from an open window.
If you want an impressive card which feels luxurious, we recommend 18pt heavier weight paper. If you are selling greeting cards, 18pt paper makes a high-quality impression. This allows you to position your card designing business as premium quality, which makes your brand more valuable.
To save you time, we can finish the cards with a fold and crease line. That way, your cards are professionally folded, ready for you to ship to customers.
We have over 40 different paper types for you to choose from. The most popular choices are silk, uncoated and recycled paper types.
Silk paper is between a gloss and a matt finish. It has a slight sheen and feels smoother and softer than uncoated paper stock. It is a popular choice for adding a little vibrancy to your artwork. In fact, most of our flyers, leaflets, business cards and brochures are printed using our high-quality silk paper.
Uncoated paper is often considered the best paper for greeting cards because it is the easiest to write on. It’s the same paper type that is used for writing pads, notepads and books. It has a modern matt finish and does not reflect the light unlike silk paper. To discover more differences paper types, see our blog article Gloss Silk or Uncoated Paper.
Our recycled paper looks and feels very similar to our uncoated paperstock. It’s a high-quality paper which makes your greeting cards sustainable without reducing the print quality. You can order a paper sample pack to see if you can tell the difference between these two types.
You can print on the back of your cards to tell customers that the card is printed in the UK using recycled paper from sustainable sources. This adds value to your brand and helps to position your greeting card business as an environmentally friendly alternative to your competitors.
Kraft card printing is the most eco-friendly choice because it is made from 100% recycled kraft paper. It has a warm earthy texture and a rustic look, which is perfect for nature inspired designs. It also works well with bold black artwork. Often simple card designs are the most striking ones when it comes to printing on kraft material.
Our customization options means that you can choose to have your greeting cards printed on special paper types. If you are looking for something different, our pearlescent paper gives a pearl shine to your greeting card. The shimmer adds a beautiful touch to your design, making it stand out when it catches the light.
Our selection of over 20 colours in our GF Smith Colorplan range, means you can make your cards more colourful. It is a great way to add colour to the back and inside of your greeting cards. Ideal if you are printing corporate greeting cards. It can be used to boldly add your brand colour to corporate Christmas cards or thank you notes.
Conqueror textured paper is available in contour, wove and laid patterns. The slight texture on the card can help to make your design stand out. The cream contour paper is popular for wedding invitation printing because it adds an elegant and natural texture. It has a slightly hammered look and feel to the paper texture.
Our selection of luxury laminates includes matt, gloss and a soft touch laminate. These paper finishes are used on the outer pages of greeting cards to add a protective coating. The protective laminate increases scratch resistance and protects your greeting card from dirt, damage and discolouration.
You do not need to select a laminate for your inner pages. It is recommended that you leave the inside of your card uncoated so that it is easy to write on.
Matt laminated greeting cards produce a lower contrast with dark-coloured designs. This gives your artwork a softer look. It is popular if you want a modern matt look that does not reflect the light.
Soft touch laminate is the best choice for your design if you want the outer pages to feel like velvet. It adds a luxurious velvety feel which often catches people by surprise. It feels like a short nap velvet or the skin of a soft peach. It has a matt finish that does not reflect the light.
Adding a gloss finish to your design makes the colours more vivid and enhances your artwork. It’s the best choice if you have a colourful image based greeting card. The reflection of the light captures attention and makes your artwork stand out. It is also the most protective laminate finish with better scratch resistance than matt. For more information about our laminate finishes, read our article Laminated Business Cards : The Different Types And Benefits.
There is a huge selection of customization options for printing greeting card designs. The most popular paper choice is 16pt uncoated paper with a soft touch laminate on the outer pages. However, there are many customizable options that you will see on our custom greeting card printing page.
On that page, the online calculator lets you pick from the many different sizes, folds, card stock and laminate finishes. We also offer a design service if you need help creating the artwork. Simply select ‘supply brief and we design’ when you place your order online.
If you've perfected the art of greeting card sales, why not add bookmarks, stickers, and tags to your Etsy store by learning how to design bookmarks, how to create your own custom stickers, and how to use swing tags to communicate your brand values.
We’ve all gotten craftier than ever this past year. Beautiful cards are the beginning of new business adventures and perfect heartfelt handmade gifts. When you dive into creating your custom greeting cards, however, it’s necessary to choose the right paper stock so that your card looks great and pops. Learn about the various types of greeting card stock for inkjet printers, the benefits and drawbacks of each, and how to make the right choice for you.
When you go to the store, you can find thousands of different designs and weights of greeting cards. Traditionally, greeting cards are printed on paper with a weight of 200 to 400 gsm (grams per square meter), averaging around 350 gsm. However, that’s for professional cards. The best greeting card stock for inkjet printers depends on many factors, all of which come down to what your specific printer can handle.
It’s time to choose the paper. Cardstock tends to be more rigid than paper and is a cross between paper and cardboard. Not every printer can handle cardstock. If you need cardstock alternatives, choose heavyweight paper. You’ll likely want weight between 44 lbs and 60 lbs, or between 200 gsm and 290 gsm. On the other hand, 80 lb, 90 lb, and greater are cardstock-level weights. If your printer can handle cardstock, choose heavier stock than the above. It’s important to check to avoid a paper jam!
Some people select photo paper because it’s thick and one side is glossy. If you have a photo printer, playing with the opportunities shiny photo paper presents is fun. It also carries some significant drawbacks though. Photo paper will get fingerprints all over it when touched. The backside is not made for printing, could bleed, and will not have the same texture as the photo side. Be aware when you try it out.
Consider what type of finish you like. Paper comes in gloss, luster, and matte finishes. The finish you choose is purely a matter of choice. Most professional greeting cards would use a luster or semi-gloss finish.
The benefit of lighter paper is its accessibility. From 20 to 60 lbs, almost every printer out there has no problem feeding it through. The downside is it will not have the professional-grade thickness of a greeting card.
On the other hand, cardstock is the perfect professional choice, but it may not feed through your printer. If you are a business owner, consider what printer you have and if you need to purchase an option to fit your needs. The variety of cardstock weight gives great flexibility for anyone looking for a personal touch on design and texture.
Finally, photo paper looks great on the outside, but the downside is that the back of photo paper, which usually feels very soft, isn’t made to take ink. Photo paper is also often marked with the brand on the back, so we do not recommend it for professional use.
We urge you to play with different papers, test out your options, and explore different features. If you are seeing issues with the ink quality be sure to check out our guide to ink cartridges. Need some more professional advice on cardstock printers? Give Vegas Ink and Toner a call today and create stunning, professional-grade greeting cards.
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