Visiting card paper and finish guide: GSM, matte, velvet, spot UV and foil

Two cards with the same design can feel completely different in the hand. The difference is the paper and the finish. Here is what the main choices mean, so you can pick without guessing.

What GSM means

GSM is grams per square metre, a measure of paper weight. A higher number means thicker, stiffer paper. Cards in the range of 300 GSM and above feel sturdy. Below that they can feel closer to a flyer. Very high weights are thick and rigid, which can feel premium but also bulky in a wallet.

Common paper types

• Art card: smooth and coated. Colours look sharp. A good everyday choice.
• Ivory board: a slightly warm, uncoated feel. Looks classic and takes writing well.
• Velvet: a soft-touch surface that feels smooth and quiet. Popular for premium cards.
• Thick card: built up from heavy board for a solid, rigid feel.
• Non-tearable synthetic: plastic-like and water resistant. Useful when cards will be handled a lot.

Matte or gloss?

A matte finish has no shine, so it hides fingerprints and is easy to read under bright lights. A gloss finish makes colours look richer and deeper, but reflects light and shows fingerprints. If your card has a lot of text, matte is usually safer.

Spot UV

Spot UV is a glossy coating applied to chosen parts of the card, such as your logo, on a matte background. The contrast between shiny and flat feels special. It works best with simple shapes. Fine small text is not a good candidate.

Foil

Foil adds a metallic effect in gold, silver or other colours. It looks striking on a logo or a single line. Use it sparingly: one foil element is elegant, five is noisy. Your artwork needs clean, solid shapes for foil to work.

Die-cut and special shapes

Rounded corners or custom shapes make a card stand out, but they cost more and need a cutting die. Decide early if you want one, because it affects how the design is laid out.

How to choose

1. Think about how the card will be used. Handed out in bulk at events or given one by one?
2. Set a budget per card, then pick the heaviest paper that fits it.
3. Add one special effect at most: spot UV or foil, not both.
4. Ask for a sample of the paper if you can, because screens do not show texture.

Next step

On our visiting cards page you can see the paper grades, finishes and starting prices, and check exact rates for the options you choose. Not sure what suits your business? Ask us on WhatsApp and tell us what you do.