Why Catalog Paper Matters

Customers experience a printed catalog visually and physically. They see the photographs and design, but they also hold the publication, turn the pages and feel the weight and surface of the paper.

That means paper selection can affect:

Catalog Paper Options at a Glance

What Is Gloss Text Paper?

Gloss Text is a coated paper commonly used for printed marketing materials and catalog interiors. Its glossy surface works especially well when photographs, graphics and strong colors are an important part of the design.

Bright Print Works offers Gloss Text options for custom catalog printing, and our 8-page and 12-page pricing examples use 100 lb Gloss Text with a self-cover.

What Is Gloss Cover Stock?

Cover stock is heavier than typical text stock and can be used when you want the outside of the catalog to feel more substantial than the interior pages.

A heavier cover can help visually and physically separate the exterior of the publication from the inside pages. This can be useful for catalogs intended to be kept, handled repeatedly or presented as a more substantial sales piece.

Bright Print Works offers catalog options including 100 lb Gloss Cover as well as custom paper configurations.

What Does “Self-Cover” Mean?

A self-cover catalog uses the same paper stock for the cover and the interior pages rather than adding a separate, heavier cover stock.

That can create a streamlined publication and can also help control printing cost. It is the configuration used in the Bright Print Works pricing examples throughout our catalog cost guides.

When Should You Consider Matte Paper?

Not every catalog needs a high-gloss appearance. Matte options can work when you want a less glossy surface and a different visual feel from traditional gloss-coated catalog stock.

The better choice comes down to the look of your artwork, the type of products or services being presented and the overall appearance you want the finished catalog to have.

Text Stock vs. Cover Stock: What Is the Difference?

The terms text and cover describe different categories of paper. Text stock is generally used for interior pages and is more flexible. Cover stock is heavier and is commonly used when a sturdier exterior is desired.

One important point: paper weights should not be compared by the number alone. For example, 100 lb Text and 100 lb Cover are not the same thickness. They are different paper categories.

What Paper Is Best for Catalogs With Lots of Photos?

If your catalog relies heavily on product photography, a coated stock such as Gloss Text is often a strong option because it is designed for printed graphics, photographs and color-rich layouts.

That makes gloss paper especially relevant for product catalogs, retail catalogs, equipment catalogs, real estate presentations and other publications where images do much of the selling.

Paper and Page Count Should Be Chosen Together

The paper that works beautifully for a short catalog may create a very different finished piece when used across dozens of pages. As page count increases, the cumulative thickness and weight of the publication increase too.

If you are still planning the length of your catalog, read How Many Pages Should a Printed Catalog Have?

Paper Choice Can Affect the Finished Binding

Paper, page count and binding should be planned as parts of the same project. The combination determines the thickness and construction of the finished publication.

Bright Print Works offers Saddle Stitch, Perfect Bound and Wire-O catalog options. Compare two common methods in Saddle Stitch vs. Perfect Bound Catalogs: Which Should You Choose?

Does Paper Choice Affect Catalog Printing Cost?

Yes. Paper and cover choices are among the specifications that can affect the price of a catalog printing job. Quantity, page count, finished size and binding matter as well.

This is one reason catalog quotes should always be compared using equivalent specifications. A low price on one paper configuration is not necessarily a lower price than another printer's quote for a different stock or cover.

See real pricing in How Much Does Catalog Printing Cost? and our printer-by-printer research in Catalog Printing Prices Compared.

Real Pricing on 100 lb Gloss Text

To make our pricing guides useful, we used a specific catalog configuration rather than a vague “starting from” example: 8.5" × 11", full color, 100 lb Gloss Text, self-cover.

How to Choose the Right Catalog Paper

Instead of asking which catalog paper is universally “best,” ask which paper best fits the job you are printing.

Design for the Paper You Plan to Print On

Paper should not be an afterthought once the design is finished. Photography, colors, page count, cover treatment and binding all work together in the final printed piece.

Before finalizing your artwork, read How to Design a Catalog for Printing.

Frequently Asked Questions