Brochure Paper Stock Guide: Every Weight and Finish We Print
Quick answer: For most brochures, 150gsm Novatech Silk inners with a 250gsm or 350gsm silk cover is the specification we would recommend, and the one we produce most often. If sustainability matters, Evolution 100% recycled in 120gsm or 150gsm is a genuine like-for-like alternative. If the brochure will be written on, go uncoated. Everything below explains why.
Why We Talk About Paper This Much
Every stock we carry has been selected for a reason. We do not hold materials for the sake of range — each one serves a specific purpose and performs consistently on our press, so when we recommend a stock, it is based on direct production experience rather than a supplier's specification sheet.
The difference between a good brochure and an exceptional one is very often the paper. Weight, finish, texture and coating shape how a piece feels in the hand, how colour reproduces, and ultimately how the work is received. It is the cheapest upgrade available to you and the one clients notice most.
Coated Papers: Silk and Gloss
Our coated stocks are Novatech, specifically engineered for high-quality dry-toner digital printing. It delivers enhanced opacity, excellent whiteness and faithful colour reproduction, with the runnability that keeps a long job consistent from first sheet to last. FSC and PEFC certified, and fully recyclable.
Novatech Silk
A smooth, low-sheen finish that balances vibrant colour with easy readability. It is the versatile everyday choice for brochures, leaflets and booklets, and the stock behind most of the brochure work that leaves our studio.
Available in: 130gsm, 150gsm, 170gsm, 200gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm — plus Magno Silk at 400gsm where you want a genuinely heavyweight cover.
Novatech Gloss
A high-shine coating that intensifies colour and makes photography leap off the page. Ideal for image-led work where visual impact takes centre stage — property, travel, food, fashion, anything sold on the strength of its pictures.
Available in: 130gsm, 150gsm, 170gsm, 200gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm.
Silk or Gloss?
Both are coated papers producing vibrant, high-quality results; they differ in surface finish and feel. Silk is smooth with a low sheen, so it holds colour well without glare and stays comfortable to read at length. Gloss is shinier and more saturated, brilliant for images but harder work under artificial light if there is a lot of body copy.
Our honest position: for a brochure with meaningful text, silk. For a photographic showcase, gloss. If in doubt, silk — it flatters almost everything.
Uncoated: Soporset
Clean, natural and built for precision. With high brightness and high opacity, Soporset produces vivid colour, strong image quality and sharp contrast for an uncoated sheet. FSC certified and carrying the EU Ecolabel, the official European Union voluntary label for environmental excellence.
Available in: 100gsm, 120gsm, 150gsm, 170gsm, 190gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm, 400gsm.
Uncoated has no surface treatment, leaving the paper fibres exposed. Print looks softer and slightly warmer, colours are less punchy than on a coated stock, and the sheet is far more comfortable to write on. It also tends to read as more trustworthy and understated — which is exactly why professional services firms, charities and heritage organisations keep choosing it.
Recycled: Evolution
Making the responsible choice has never looked so good. Evolution is a 100% recycled paper with high whiteness achieved without chlorine bleach, offering good opacity, consistent sheet formation and excellent resistance to ageing. Made entirely from post-consumer recycled waste — paper that has already been used, collected and given a new life. FSC certified.
Available in: 120gsm, 150gsm, 170gsm, 190gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm.
This is the strongest environmental choice we offer, for clients who want to close the loop completely. Our recycled brochure range runs on Evolution throughout.
Speciality Stocks
Standard papers are built for performance. Speciality papers are chosen for impact. When a piece needs to make a lasting impression — a luxury brand brochure, a premium prospectus, an event programme that will be kept — the material itself becomes part of the message.
- Zeta White Linen, 350gsm — a distinctive linen embossed surface on both sides lending a particularly noble appearance. FSC Mix 70% certified.
- Olin Bright White, 350gsm — a clean, neutral white with subtle ivory warmth and no optical brighteners. Confident and natural across corporate stationery and brand literature.
- Olin Soft White, 350gsm — a gentle off-white with a warm, inviting tone. The considered choice where warmth and elegance matter as much as print quality.
- Olin Warm White, 300gsm — a pale, characterful cream carrying the feel of traditional craftsmanship. Ideal for heritage communications and artisan branding.
Speciality stocks are not listed on our brochure product pages, but they are absolutely available as cover materials. Ask us.
What Weight Should a Brochure Be?
| Component | Typical weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inner pages, standard | 130-150gsm | The workhorse. Substantial without adding bulk or cost. |
| Inner pages, premium | 170gsm | Noticeably more solid. Worth it on short, high-value brochures. |
| Self-cover (cover same as inners) | 150-170gsm | Cleanest look on 8-16 page stitched work. |
| Separate cover, standard | 250gsm | The most cost-effective way to make a brochure feel considered. |
| Separate cover, premium | 350-400gsm | Standard on our wire and perfect bound work. Board-like, with real presence. |
A note on weight and page count: heavier inners on a high page count add bulk fast, and on saddle stitched work that bulk becomes creep at the fore-edge. A 48-page brochure on 170gsm behaves very differently to the same brochure on 130gsm. Tell us both numbers and we will tell you how it will sit.
Sustainability, Without the Hand-Waving
Every paper stock in our brochure range is certified. Novatech carries FSC and PEFC certification and is fully recyclable. Soporset is FSC certified and carries the EU Ecolabel. Evolution is FSC certified and made from 100% post-consumer recycled waste using a chlorine-free whitening process. Olin is FSC certified and Elemental Chlorine Free.
Recycled is not automatically the greener option in every scenario, and we would rather explain the difference than let you assume. Evolution closes the loop on paper already in circulation. Soporset uses virgin fibre from responsibly managed FSC forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits, and is fully recyclable after use. Both are defensible positions — they just answer slightly different questions. Our coated vs uncoated vs recycled guide goes into it properly.
If It Is Not On the List
The stocks above are what we hold and know intimately. They are not the limit of what we can obtain. If a project calls for something outside this range — a particular textured cover, a specific brand-matched shade, a tinted or coloured stock, a heavier board — we are always happy to source and test alternatives.
Call 0141 237 1924 or email sales@printstudioscotland.com. We can also send you our printed swatch book so you can feel the range for yourself, which is worth far more than reading about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper weight is best for a brochure?
150gsm for inner pages and 250-350gsm for the cover is the specification that suits most brochures. 130gsm keeps cost and bulk down on high page counts; 170gsm gives a more premium feel on shorter brochures.
What is the difference between silk and gloss paper?
Both are coated. Silk has a smooth, low-sheen finish that balances vibrant colour with easy readability — the everyday choice for brochures. Gloss has a high-shine coating that intensifies colour and suits image-led work, but can be harder to read under artificial light.
Is recycled paper lower quality than standard paper?
No. Evolution is a 100% post-consumer recycled stock with high whiteness achieved without chlorine bleach, good opacity and consistent sheet formation. It prints cleanly and behaves predictably — which is precisely why we carry it.
Is your paper FSC certified?
Yes. Novatech is FSC and PEFC certified, Soporset is FSC certified with the EU Ecolabel, Evolution is FSC certified and 100% post-consumer recycled, and our Olin speciality stocks are FSC certified and Elemental Chlorine Free.
Can I get a paper sample before ordering?
Yes. We produce a printed digital materials swatch book covering our full stock range, and we are happy to send one out. Call 0141 237 1924 or email sales@printstudioscotland.com.
Can you print on a paper you do not stock?
Yes. If a project calls for something outside our standard range, we will source and test alternatives — textured covers, tinted stocks, specific brand-matched shades or heavier boards.
Next Steps
Browse the brochure collection, compare finishes in our coated vs uncoated vs recycled guide, or read about cover lamination. For a swatch book or bespoke stock advice, contact the studio.