A practical guide
The print buying guide
Sizes, paper, finishes and artwork explained — so you get it right first time.
01 — Sizes
Paper sizes
Most print uses the A-series. Each size is exactly half the one before it, so artwork scales neatly between them.
| Size | Millimetres | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 594 × 841 | Posters, display boards |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | Posters, menu boards, notices |
| A3 | 297 × 420 | Posters, folded brochures, certificates |
| A4 | 210 × 297 | Letterheads, brochures, magazines, reports |
| A5 | 148 × 210 | Flyers, menus, booklets, invitations |
| A6 | 105 × 148 | Postcards, flyers, tickets |
| DL | 99 × 210 | Leaflets, compliment slips, invitations |
| Business card | 85 × 55 | The UK standard card size |
02 — Paper
Paper weight & type
Paper weight is measured in gsm (grams per square metre). The higher the number, the thicker and more substantial it feels in the hand.
- 80–100gsmLetterheads, compliment slips, notepads
- 115–130gsmFlyers, leaflets, booklet inside pages
- 150–170gsmPosters, premium flyers, brochure pages
- 250–300gsmCovers, invitations, postcards, menus
- 350–450gsmBusiness cards, swing tags, place cards
Silk
Smooth with a soft sheen. The most popular all-rounder — great for photos and easy to read.
Gloss
Shiny and vibrant. Makes photography pop, but can reflect light, so it’s less ideal for lots of text.
Uncoated
Natural and matt, like good writing paper. Perfect for letterheads and anything people write on.
Recycled and textured premium papers are also available — ask for samples if the feel of the paper matters to your brand.
03 — Finishes
Finishes that make it special
A finish protects your print and changes how it looks and feels. A little goes a long way.
- 01Matt lamination
- A thin protective film with a smooth, non-reflective look. Elegant and fingerprint-resistant.
- 02Gloss lamination
- A shiny protective film that boosts colour. Durable for menus and covers.
- 03Soft-touch lamination
- A velvety, premium feel that people notice the moment they pick it up.
- 04Spot UV
- A clear gloss coating on selected areas — such as a logo — for contrast against matt.
- 05Foiling
- Metallic gold, silver or coloured foil pressed onto the paper for a luxury finish.
- 06Embossing & debossing
- Raised or pressed-in detail you can feel, often used on business cards and covers.
04 — Large format
Banners, signs & event graphics
The right material depends on where it will go, how long it needs to last and how it will be fixed.
| Material | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| PVC banner | Outdoor events, building fronts, fences | Weatherproof; hemmed with eyelets for tying |
| Fabric backdrop | Stages and indoor backdrops | Lightweight, crease-resistant, no glare under lights |
| Pull-up banner | Receptions, exhibitions, events | Self-standing in its case; quick to set up |
| Correx board | Temporary outdoor signs, directions | Light, rigid and weather-resistant |
| Foamex | Indoor signs and display panels | Smooth, rigid and economical |
| Dibond | Long-lasting indoor or outdoor signs | Aluminium composite; very durable |
| Acrylic | Premium office and reception signs | Glass-like finish, often on stand-off fixings |
| Self-adhesive vinyl | Windows, walls, floors and table wraps | Removable or permanent options |
05 — Artwork
Getting your files print-ready
Most print problems come from the file, not the press. These are the checks I make on every job before it goes to print.
- 1
Bleed
Extend backgrounds and images 3 mm beyond the trim edge, so there are no white slivers after cutting.
- 2
Safe area
Keep text and logos at least 3–5 mm inside the trim edge so nothing important is cut off.
- 3
Resolution
Photos should be 300 dpi at the size they are printed. Images taken from websites or social media are usually too small.
- 4
Colour
Print uses CMYK ink, not the RGB light of your screen — very bright on-screen colours can look slightly softer on paper. Brand colours can be matched with Pantone references.
- 5
Fonts & format
Supply a print-ready PDF with fonts embedded. Logos are best as vector files (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG).
06 — Buying well
Quantities, timing & proofs
01
Order the right quantity
- The price per item falls as quantity rises, because most of the cost is in setting up the job.
- Order a few spares for events and walk-ins — reprinting a small number later costs more per item.
- For items that change often, such as prices or dates, smaller runs avoid waste.
02
Allow enough time
- Plan for design, proofs and approvals as well as printing — most print takes 1–4 working days once approved.
- Seasonal peaks (Christmas, events, the start of term) get busy — book early.
- Express options exist when something is urgent, at an extra cost.
03
Check the proof carefully
- Read every word, number and date — then ask someone else to read it too.
- Check phone numbers, emails and web addresses by actually using them.
- For large or important runs, ask for a printed proof before the full run.
07 — Checklist
Before you order
- What is it for, and who will see it?
- How many, and do you need spares?
- Any finish — lamination, spot UV, foil?
- Are the text and images final?
- When and where is it needed?
- Finished size and orientation
- Paper weight and type
- Folding or binding needed?
- Who approves the proof?
- One delivery address or several?
Start a project
Not sure what to choose?
Tell me what you’re making and I’ll recommend the right size, paper and finish — free.