Silk, gloss or matt: choosing a paper finish
Finish changes how ink sits on the sheet, how light bounces off it and how the piece feels after a week in a bag. Colour on screen is identical; colour in the hand is not.
Gloss: maximum colour, maximum glare
Gloss reflects light, which makes photographs and saturated colours look their strongest. The trade-off is glare under overhead lighting and visible fingerprints, and it is unfriendly to pen.
Matt: readable, modern, slightly softer colour
Matt absorbs light, so text-heavy pieces read easily with no glare and the piece feels contemporary. Deep colours look a touch softer than the same file printed on gloss.
Silk: the sensible middle
Silk sits between the two, with a light sheen that holds colour well while staying readable. It is the default we recommend for leaflets because it flatters both photography and body copy.
Choosing by how the piece is used
Match the finish to behaviour, not taste alone.
- Photo-led promotion in daylight - gloss
- Text-heavy service leaflet or price list - matt
- General door-drop leaflet - silk
- Anything that gets written on - uncoated
Frequently asked
Which finish looks most expensive?
Matt laminate on a heavier stock generally reads as the most premium, particularly on cards and covers.
Does finish affect price much?
Silk and gloss are usually comparable. Lamination is the step that adds a noticeable cost, not the base coating.
Can I mix finishes in one job?
Yes - a matt laminated cover with uncoated inner pages is a common and effective combination on brochures.
See the finishes side by side
Ask for samples and compare silk, gloss and matt before you commit to a run.