This article looks into the differences between the two paper types to help you make your paper choices when printing. We’ll help you understand the physical differences (by explaining the manufacturing), and how to choose the best paper based on the files you have to print.

The differences in manufacturing gloss and matt paper

The two paper types look and feel different to the touch, but they’re actually manufactured in a very similar manner. Believe it or not, matt paper uses the same chemical coating as gloss paper.

Gloss paper simply has more of the coating applied than matt paper. You can think of matt paper as a “semi-gloss” or a “light gloss”—it has enough of a coating to add thickness and smoothness to the paper, but not enough to reflect paper under the light.

Fun fact: gloss paper is very slightly thinner than matt paper, even though they’re the same weight. For example: if you print booklets on gloss and matt paper, they’ll weigh the same amount on the scale. However, the glossy booklets are denser, and ever-so-slightly thinner.

Factors when choosing between gloss and matt paper for printing

The biggest factor when you choose between gloss and matt paper is the kinds of content that you’re printing. How many photographs, graphic designs/illustrations, and articles of text do you have in your prints?

Gloss paper is shinier—this makes the color in your images “pop” on the sheet. The extra shine works well on print files with heavy color coverage, especially photographs and big graphics. This effect also gives the color on the prints look like they have higher contrast.

Matt paper has a more muted feel to it. This can be used to great effect in designs with a light or pastel color scheme, and in designs with a great deal of text on it. Because matt paper changes less under the light, they also have more of a “flat” feel than gloss sheets.

Matt paper is easier to be written by all kinds of paper, while gloss paper is ok for ball pens but not so good for ink pens to write, cause gloss paper absorb ink slowly.

Final thoughts

Don’t stress! In the end, you can’t really choose the wrong paper for printing. You’re not going to end up in a situation where you regret the choice of the paper. Both paper types carry color very well, and it ends up coming down to subtle preference and nuance.