You’ve spent months, maybe even years working on your research. Your thesis is almost finished and now comes a question you might not have thought about yet: which paper will you print it on?
Choosing the right paper type has more impact than you might think. It doesn’t just affect how your thesis looks, but also how pleasant it is to read and what impression it makes. Additionally, sustainability plays an increasingly important role for many PhD candidates. In this blog, we’ll explain which paper types are available, what the differences are, and which choice best suits your thesis.
Why is the choice of paper important?
The paper type determines three things:
• Readability: how pleasant is the text to read? Does the text show through from the other side?
• Appearance: what impression does your thesis make? Modern and sleek, or warm and classic?
• Sustainability: do you want to consciously choose recycled or FSC-certified paper?
At Gildeprint, we offer four paper types, each with their own character. All of them are FSC-certified, which means they come from responsibly managed forests.
Our four paper types at a glance
115 gsm G-print (off-white) – the most popular choice
This coated paper is heavier and therefore less transparent, ensuring better reproduction of colour images. Thanks to the matte coating, the text is excellently readable and figures and graphs appear razor-sharp.
When do you choose this?
• Your thesis contains many colour images, graphs or photos
• You want a professional, high-quality appearance
• Both readability and image quality are important
This is by far the most popular paper type for theses, as it offers the best balance between readability and visual quality.
100 gsm Everprint (100% recycled) – the sustainable choice
An environmentally friendly choice with a natural appearance, made entirely from recycled material. This sustainable paper offers a subtle texture and a conscious choice for a thesis with an ecologically responsible appearance.
When do you choose this?
• Sustainability is an important theme in your research or personally important to you
• You want a natural, authentic appearance
• Your thesis contains mainly text and few colour images
Please note: due to the recycled composition, colour reproduction may be slightly less intense than on coated paper. For text and black-and-white images, this paper is excellently suitable.
90 gsm Biotop (yellowish) – the classic choice
Uncoated paper with a warm, yellowish tint that creates a classic and authentic appearance. Ideal for theses where a soft, calming reading experience is desired.
When do you choose this?
• You like the classic appearance of a book
• Your thesis consists mainly of text
• You want a warm, calming reading experience
The yellowish tint provides less contrast than white paper, which many people find more pleasant for extended reading. This paper is reminiscent of traditional academic publications.
90 gsm HVO (bright white) – the modern choice
Uncoated, bright white paper with high contrast, making text print sharply and highly readable. This paper gives your thesis a modern and sleek appearance.
When do you choose this?
• You want a modern, fresh appearance
• Your thesis contains mainly text and black-and-white images
• You prefer bright, white paper with sharp contrast
The high contrast makes this paper particularly suitable for theses with lots of text, formulas or black-and-white graphs.
Comparison table: which paper suits you?
| Paper type | Grammage | Type | Best for | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-print | 115 gsm | Coated, off-white | Colour images, graphs | Professional, high-quality |
| Everprint | 100 gsm | Uncoated, recycled | Sustainability, text | Natural, conscious |
| Biotop | 90 gsm | Uncoated, yellowish | Text, classic appearance | Warm, authentic |
| HVO | 90 gsm | Uncoated, bright white | Text, modern | Clear, sleek |
Grammage: what does that actually mean?
The grammage indicates how heavy the paper is per square metre. The higher the number, the thicker and heavier the paper.
• 90 gsm: lighter, thinner paper. May show through slightly more, but is perfectly readable and suitable for theses with mainly text.
• 100 gsm: slightly heavier, less transparent. Good balance between thickness and weight.
• 115 gsm: heavier paper with less show-through. Ideal for colour images and a luxurious feel.
Heavier paper does make your thesis thicker and heavier. Keep this in mind if you have many pages. Use our spine width calculator to calculate how thick your thesis will be.
FSC certification: what does that mean?
All our paper types are FSC-certified, which means they come from responsibly managed forests. If you choose to have your thesis printed entirely according to FSC standards, we can add the FSC logo to your thesis. This label guarantees that the product comes from sustainably managed forests, taking both ecological and social aspects into account.
Would you like to know more about this? Contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss the options with you.
Colour or black-and-white: does that matter for your paper choice?
Yes, that certainly matters:
• Colour images: choose 115 gsm G-print. This coated paper provides the best colour reproduction and ensures your images look sharp and professional.
• Black-and-white or mainly text: all four paper types are suitable. Choose based on the appearance you want: modern (HVO), classic (Biotop), sustainable (Everprint) or professional (G-print).
Still undecided? Request our physical information booklet
The best way to choose is to feel and see the paper yourself. Would you like an impression of the different paper types? Request our physical information booklet in which all paper types are included, so you can see and feel exactly how print work looks on different paper types.
This way you can compare the paper types side by side and be sure you’re making the right choice for your thesis.
>> Request our information booklet here.
Would you like to receive the information booklet or do you have questions?
Contact us or request a quote directly. We’re happy to help!
