Choosing the Right Stationery Paper for Your Embosser
Whether you work for a large company or a small business, the embossed paper makes you look official, conveys important information, and helps you stand out. Embossing is a technique that creates a raised impression on paper. It is a great way to add texture and dimension to a report, business card, or another official document.
Types of Embossers
Embossers come in all different sizes from standard sizes to pocket embossers for on-the-go embossing to long reach designs that allow you to emboss farther on the paper.
When looking at embossers, consider your end goal. What are you going to use the embosser on most? Do you need it for reports or business cards? How detailed do you want your design to be? By asking these questions, you’ll be able to pick the perfect embosser for your needs.
You can design your custom embossers for any business, whether you’re looking for an engineering embosser or a personalized embosser (with your custom logo or artwork on it) or a corporate seal embosser.
Types of Paper Grades
When using an embosser, the most crucial component is the stationary that you choose. Paper is defined by grade and basis weight. To pick the right paper to emboss, you must understand the different grades of paper and what a basis weight is.
Grades – A paper’s grade refers to its brightness, opacity, fiber content, type of coating, or style of non-coating. If the paper is coated, it can either have a matte, premium, or ultra-gloss finish. If the paper is uncoated, it is labeled as a #1, #3, opaque or lightweight.
Within paper grades, there are multiple different types. The basic grades are:
- Bond: Used for letterheads, business forms, copy paper.
- Book: Coated and uncoated for printing.
- Text: High-quality paper on a variety of surfaces and colors. This grade comes in smooth, vellum, felt, embossed, laid, and linen.
- Cover: Used for book covers, postcards, business cards, and inserts. This grade is thicker.
- Tag or Bristol: Usually uncoated with a smooth surface. Used for displays, file folders, and tickets.
Basis Weight – The basis weight is equal to how heavy the paper feels. The higher the basis weight, the heavier the paper.
In more technical terms, a paper’s basis weight is determined by the weight (in pounds) of 500 sheets of paper cut to a specific size. Because paper has to serve many different purposes, it’s cut to different sizes. This means that papers that are different grades and different basis sizes can have the same basis weight.
For example, the average stationery weight for company seals, letterheads, and business proposals is 20-32lb. However, there are basis weights such as 65lb. cover stock and 80lb coated paper.
Which Stationery Should You Use for Your Embosser?
When you are choosing stationery to use for your embosser, you must consider three primary parts: the grade, basis weight, and finish.
Each grade of paper is best for a certain use. While a photography magazine may opt for high gloss paper with high brightness and opacity, using this paper grade for a company’s finance report is not ideal.
You’ll choose the basis weight based on how heavy you want the paper to feel. In general, it is best to use paper that weighs around 20lbs. At The StampMaker, our embossers are suited specifically for 20lb paper or below.
The finish is about how you want the paper to look – Glossy or matte? If you are using a corporate seal embosser, you will want to choose a matte stationery. Stationery like this is useful for official documents, personal seals, company logos, and libraries.
Why Using the Right Stationery Matters?
The right stationery can make or break your embossing. The right stationery lets intricate designs shine, leaving a lasting effect when the imprint is done properly. But if you choose the wrong stationery, a standard size embosser will not impart the entire design to the paper.
This is the most important component to consider when picking stationery. Will your embosser tear through the paper? Or will your embosser impression appear on the paper?
Conclusion
Embossing business cards, company reports, and official documents authenticates them and makes them stand out. It puts your company’s name on its’ important documents and says who you are. At the same time, the stationery is really what allows the embossing to reach its full effect.