Coated paper is associated with elegance and high print quality. Glossy and smooth, it is ideal for brochures, catalogs, and posters. However, many customers are surprised that it does not always behave as they expected. In practice, coated paper can cause a number of problems that are worth knowing about before you decide to print.
1. Coated paper and color scheme
One of the most common problems is color difference. Coated paper, especially glossy paper, strongly saturates colors, which can lead to an “over-colorization” effect.
- Photos may appear unnaturally intense.
- Black can appear “flat” if the correct ink composition is not used.
- Designs prepared for LCD screens often look surprising when printed.
Therefore, it is always a good idea to prepare a test print, especially for materials with large areas of color.
2. Coated paper and text legibility
Coated paper is slippery and very smooth, which works great for graphics and photos. But text? That’s where things get tricky.
On glossy paper:
- small font reflects light, making it difficult to read,
- matte chalk improves the situation, but still does not match offset printing,
- publications with a lot of text (e.g., books) become tiring for the eyes.
That is why printing houses usually recommend coated paper for advertising materials rather than for full publications.
3. Resistance to use
Another problem is durability. Customers often assume that since chalk looks luxurious, it is also durable. Unfortunately, this is not always the case:
- Catalog covers made of chalk without lamination scratch easily,
- prints wear off with frequent use,
- fingerprints are visible on glossy chalk.
The solution is foiling (matte, glossy, soft touch) or UV varnish.
4. Coated paper and the environment
More and more companies are asking about environmental issues. And this is where chalk has its limitations. The production of chalk requires more chemicals and energy than uncoated paper.
It is worth looking for certified options, such as FSC or PEFC. There are also chalks on the market that are partially made from recycled materials, but they are still less “eco-friendly” than offset or bulk eco-friendly papers.
5. Coated paper and price
The final pitfall is the price. Customer sees a low rate “per copy,” but does not always take into account:
- higher cost with lower output,
- the need for refinement to maintain the visual effect,
- additional production time (e.g., foiling).
The result? The budget is growing faster than expected.
Summary
Coated paper is a great solution if you want your photos, graphics, and advertisements to look impressive. But you need to be aware of its limitations – from difficulty in reading, through susceptibility to damage, to environmental issues. It is worth considering carefully whether chalk is definitely the best choice for your project. And if you have any doubts, at druck.pl we will suggest alternatives and show you samples so that you can make an informed decision.