Materials guide
Paper stocks and finishes for folders
Stock decides how the folder feels and how much it can carry. Finish decides how the cover looks and how well it wears.
Folder stocks compared
Point (pt) measures thickness in thousandths of an inch, so 16 pt is thicker than 14 pt. Pound (lb) cover weights describe lighter paper stocks.
| Stock | Feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 100 lb gloss or matte cover | Light, smooth, prints sharp color | Handouts, events, short-term use |
| 14 pt C2S | Stiff board coated on both sides | Most presentation and pocket folders |
| 16 pt C2S | Thicker and more rigid than 14 pt | Folders that carry many pages |
| 18 pt board | Heavy and firm in hand | Premium and oversized folders |
| Uncoated cover | Natural, writable surface | Folders people write on |
| Kraft board | Brown, natural look | Eco-minded brands, white ink designs |
| Linen cover | Fine woven texture | Law, finance, certificates |
| Poly (polypropylene) | Bends, resists water, wipes clean | Schools, field work, daily use |
Coatings and special finishes
| Finish | What it does |
|---|---|
| Aqueous coating | Light protective layer, keeps a natural feel |
| Gloss lamination | Shiny film, deep color, resists scuffs |
| Matte lamination | Smooth, low glare, easy to read |
| Soft-touch lamination | Velvet feel, premium look |
| Spot UV | Gloss on chosen areas such as a logo |
| Foil stamping | Metallic gold, silver, colors or holographic |
| Embossing and debossing | Raised or pressed-in logo or pattern |
How to choose stock and finish
- Count the pages going inside. More than about 20 sheets suits 16 pt or a capacity pocket.
- Think about handling. Folders used daily need lamination or poly.
- Pick one feature finish, such as foil or spot UV, to draw the eye to your logo.
- Check the design: dark covers show scuffs, so add lamination.
Pairings that work well
- Soft-touch lamination with spot UV on the logo, shown on our soft-touch folder page
- Kraft board with white ink and one spot color
- Linen cover with gold foil for certificates and law firms
- Gloss lamination with full color photos for real estate
- Embossing with foil for a raised, shining mark, as on our embossed and foil folders