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A brochure is an informative paper document about a business or organization that can be folded into a leaflet, template, or pamphlet. There are three primary reasons why a business may consider having a brochure. Probably you are starting a new business, trying to reach new customers in a new location, or want to inform your loyal customers about a product or service you just launched recently. Regardless of the reason, you need a brochure that not only stands out but also delivers the right mood and information to your audience. The paper on which your brochure is printed is very important as it speaks volumes once it is in the hands of your clients or customers. This article guides you on what paper is best to print your brochures on based on the paperweight, finish, size, and color.
Paperweight
You can use two main types of paperweight for your brochure; paper stock and card stock. Each of these types has its benefit and unique style depending on what you are looking to achieve.
Paper stocks use the pound as a unit of measurement (lb. or #) and tend to be thinner than card stocks. Paper stocks tend to weigh about 20-28 lbs., like your average computer paper. The benefit of paper stocks is that they are lighter to carry, easier to fold, inexpensive, and easier to mail via envelopes.
Card stocks use point (pt.) as a way of identifying paper thickness and tend to be thicker than paper stocks. They are thinner than paperboard but thicker than the average writing paper. Card stocks are durable, high quality can stand upright on a surface, will not develop crease lines, and can be mailed without envelopes.
Finish
After you have decided on the thickness of your brochure paper, the next thing is to confirm the type of finish it should have. Paper finish refers to the texture or feel of the paper’s surface. The two main finishes professionals go for include:
This type of paper is coated with a compound that gives it a smooth and shiny appearance. It is ideal for brochures with a lot of images or vibrant colors. The only downside is that it can show dust or fingerprint marks when handled.
Matte-coated products are the opposite of glossy, as they are coated without luster that gives them an untreated look. They are used by professionals and are ideal for brochures with a lot of text. Less glare on them makes images appear softer.
Size
There is no one choice fits all when it comes to brochure size. However, there are three popular brochure sizes within the business industry, which are:
This is the most popular size commonly used for the tri-fold style brochure. It can be mailed easily and is always a perfect fit in most brochure racks.
This paper size is extra 3 inches in length from the popularly used letter size. It is also used to make a tri-fold brochure and the additional inches allow for more information than the letter paper size.
This is probably one of the largest brochure paper sizes in this category. It is often used as a menu or half-fold brochure and offers a larger space for both text and images.
Color
The paper color you choose for your brochure is very important, as it has to reflect the type of message you are promoting. Most business brochures are often printed on plain white paper to give them a clean, professional look. However, this does not mean that you should shy away from the bright hues. For instance, companies with distinctive color schemes can incorporate these colors to make it easier for clients to remember their brand. An earthy green brochure or a recycled brown Kraft brochure can blend in with your motto if you own an environmental business. A little creativity on the paper color of your brochure can go a long way with so much promotional material out there.
You should have an idea of how your company brochure will turn out after going through the above paper options. The decision you make in each category should also reflect your business or company values to deliver the right message to your prospective clients and customers. Once you have settled on the best paper to print your brochure, you need a professional to help you with the quality of the design and final print.
You’ve got an event coming up. But not just any event. The event. The day that your sales team will knock it out of the park and attract a crowd of new customers.
But first, you have to figure out how to make your own brochure — and ensure that your DIY brochure is equal to the event.
This is trickier than it sounds. There’s quite a lot that goes into making an event flyer and even more considerations for custom flyers. For example, what’s the best paper for brochures? Should you use a cardstock flyer? A paper brochure? What about pamphlet paper?
After all, this is the first chance for people to see your event and one of the easiest ways they’ll remember you afterward.
We’re here to make the process easy (maybe even the easiest part of planning the whole event). Here’s how to create brochures and flyers that will have people lining up outside the door.
Before you ever set foot in a paper store or click on a single link, there are a few things you should clarify with your marketing team.
First, how text-heavy is your planned brochure? Sparse flyers benefit from a smaller surface area, while brochures packed with information are better suited to a larger sheet.
Second, what is your budget? Lower budgets will require economical paper options, which generally means lighter paper and smaller flyers. On the other hand, if you have more money to spend, you have broader options to make a splash.
Third, what impression do you want to make? Do you want to seem fun and hip? Do you want to seem elegant and sleek? This will change your color and finish, as certain colors and finishes lend themselves to a certain psychological impression.
First, you need to answer a basic question: what’s the right flyer size for the occasion?
There’s some variation between leaflet size and brochure size, especially if you’re looking at tri-fold brochure size. Here are a few standard brochure sizes you’ll likely encounter:
One of the most popular brochure sizes is 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches long. It’s the most popular because it’s one of the most common paper sizes in the world–which means its widely available to the average consumer like yourself. Plus, most consumer printers can handle brochures this size.
The next most popular is 8.5 inches by 14 inches, which is slightly longer while retaining the same width as most consumer printer paper. This makes it a great choice for tri-fold brochures since you have more space to show information but can still print in a regular consumer printer.
If you need to make a bigger impact, paper that measures 11 inches by 17 inches gives you more freedom. You’ll have extra space to fit information, which means more space to get noticed. That said, many at-home printers can’t handle paper this size, so you’ll have to have them printed via special order.
The biggest of the four is 12 inches by 18 inches. This is the best choice for flyers that need to fit a lot of information, but it will cost more to print on paper this size because there’s more surface area and because you won’t be able to print it at home.
When selecting a brochure size, think about how much information you want to fit, what kind of impact you want to have, and how large your budget is. Larger sizes give you more space, but they’re also more expensive. Plus, customers may not pick up a larger brochure at first glance because they don’t want to read extra information.
Once you’ve selected your brochure size, you have to consider your brochure paper weight, which is intricately related to the brochure paper type you select.
When we refer to paper weight, we’re actually talking about the thickness of the paper. As a rule, the heavier the paper, the thicker the sheet. There are three common methods for measuring paper weight:
For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to refer to U.S. basis weight.
Most people prefer to use text paper as their paper of choice for brochures and flyers, as text paper is a thicker, sturdier form of cardstock. It can run as low as 50 lbs (regular copy used for home printing) and as high as 183 lbs (for heavy-duty applications. We generally recommend paper between 80 lbs and 100 lbs for brochures and flyers.
When considering the best paper weight for a tri-fold brochure, keep in mind that you’re going to have to fold the paper. Tri-fold paper should be sturdy enough to hold its shape and look good but thin enough that it will fold comfortably.
Flyer paper thickness is at your discretion. Keep in mind that heavier paper will survive more abuse if you’re releasing it into the wild (i.e. your community) but the heavier the paper, the greater difficulty your printer will have in processing it.
Once you know your paper weight and size, it’s time to turn a critical eye to the appearance of the brochure, specifically the brochure color and finish.
The best colors for brochures depends on what you want to achieve and the effect you want to have on your viewer. Generally, if you’re at a loss for a pamphlet color, your brand colors are a great place to start, as this helps keep brand consistency and makes your flyers recognizably yours.
If you want to branch out, you should generally stick to two or three colors. Ideally, look for either analogous colors (colors right next to each other on the color wheel) or complementary colors (colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel).
From there, you should also take a look at what kind of finish you want–glossy brochure paper or matte brochure paper?
Glossy flyer paper is more commonly used for flyers and brochures, since people tend to perceive them as more polished and high end. The matte finish is also less vibrant, which isn’t ideal if you want your flyer to stand out from the crowd.
On the other hand, matte flyer paper is more economical, and the right combination of colors on a matte finish can look quite elegant. Matte paper is also easier to read than glossy paper, so it’s a better choice for text-heavy brochures.
Whether you’re looking to make the best tri-fold brochure your trade show has ever seen or a batch of great flyers to draw in customers, every good brochure has its roots in good paper. That’s where we can help.
We offer extensive flyer options and customizable brochure options for any style, budget, and event. Because we know every brand starts with great advertising, and great advertising relies on a great medium to convey the message.