A guide to ordering print
How do you choose paper for a flyer without guessing?
The choice of paper affects how it feels in the hand, how easily it folds and the cost. No single paper suits every flyer. The way to choose is to start from the use and understand what the supplier offers.
What does the flyer need to do?
A flyer for wide distribution, an information sheet the customer keeps and a placemat for the table are used differently. Consider whether the product needs to fold, whether people are expected to write on it and how it will be handed out or displayed. Write these needs in the request. They help the supplier offer a suitable material instead of choosing by a name or a number alone.
Weight is not the whole story
Paper weight is usually given in grams per square meter. It helps describe the material, but it does not by itself guarantee a particular stiffness, thickness or feel. Two papers of the same weight may behave differently. If the feel matters, ask the print shop for a sample or an explanation of the material available.
Look, writing and folding
Ask about the paper's surface and the finish. Coating, lamination and folding are separate details that need to be coordinated. For example, if people need to write on the flyer, it is important to confirm that the material and the finish suit the planned writing tool. If there is folding, the supplier can explain whether additional preparation is needed.
How do you compare alternatives?
Compare by the same quantity, size, number of sides and finish. Ask the supplier to explain what changes when the paper is switched. Do not conclude that a cheaper or more expensive quote uses a particular material unless the material is stated explicitly. For comparison, record the material name and weight if they were given.
If you are still not sure
You can describe the job and leave the paper weight undefined instead of choosing at random. In your request on Drapress, state what matters to you — folding, writing, hospitality or branding — and ask the supplier to confirm a suitable material. The final choice should appear in the quote or in the job coordination.
The suitability of the material, the file and the delivery is settled with the print shop according to the job.
