Uncoated Paper vs. Matte, Dull and Glossy Paper

Choosing printing paper can be a tough decision because it affects the quality and appearance of the final product. If you’re a decision-maker, you definitely want to familiarize yourself with each paper stock to make sure you make more out of your choice and streamline your production line. The question of uncoated paper vs. matte, dull and glossy paper is common.

These are popular papers for printing, but you want to select the right one for each project. In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about the different papers for printers.

Understanding Paper Coatings

Different types of printer paper are coated. These coatings are a layer of material that is applied to print paper to improve its brightness, smoothness, printability and overall appearance. Coatings are typically made of kaolin clay or calcium carbonate pigments and form a thin film on the paper surface. Here’s how coatings affect print results:

Interaction with ink: Coated printer papers interact differently with ink, creating variations in sharpness, saturation and even how fast they dry. The result is unique paper types — like glossy, matte and dull — that offer rich colors and crisp detail, with varying degrees of appearance and depth.
Ideal application: Coatings also affect each paper’s usage. For example, high-gloss finishes have a vibrant and polished look that makes them pop. The super-realistic visuals make them ideal for photography and marketing materials. While matte and dull papers are also coated, they have less glare with a more refined appearance.
Image and text quality: Coating creates a smooth surface that limits ink absorption into the fibers. The result is an excellent base that forms sharper lines and text and finer details in images.
Durability: Coating adds a smooth, non-fiber layer that improves the paper’s resistance to moisture, dirt and general wear. The extra hardness makes the material more durable and lasting.

Basically, understanding how each coating affects the print outcome is the first step toward choosing paper that meets your needs. In contrast, uncoated printer paper doesn’t have a surface layer over the natural fiber. As a result, it has a porous texture that readily absorbs ink, leading to softer colors but finer text.

1. Uncoated Paper

Uncoated printing paper is the lone wolf of printing surfaces, as it has no surface coating and is printed on as it is. That gives it a natural and slightly textured feel. If, for example, your options are uncoated vs. glossy printer paper, you’re looking at polar opposites because the lack of a finish in uncoated papers leads to a flipside outcome.

Key Features of Uncoated Paper

Here are the common characteristics of uncoated printing paper:

Natural surface: Uncoated paper has an organic appearance with no glare or shine. The non-reflective surface makes it comfortable to see text in different lighting conditions.
Ink absorption: Without a coating, the paper absorbs ink into its fibers, resulting in softer edges and muted colors. Compared to coated papers, uncoated papers evoke a warm, classic and tactile feel that lends itself well to text-based products and muted designs.
Textured quality: Uncoated stock has a noticeable texture due to the paper’s natural fiber being exposed. The quality of uncoated paper makes it suitable for writing on, as it absorbs ink and dries fast.
Softer colors: While uncoated paper is not the best material for vibrant colors, it still produces images and designs well. However, the visuals are less saturated and realistic.
Low durability: Uncoated paper tends to show dirt, marks, and wear more readily than coated papers because it absorbs substances into its fibers. It is also less resistant to moisture and abrasion.

Best Applications

Uncoated paper stands out due to its versatility and writability. Since it’s cost-effective and readable, it’s the ideal paper stock for publications, general office printing and business stationery. Anything that requires text, clean lines, and understated visuals can use uncoated paper. Some examples include textbooks, manuals, letterheads, receipts, brochures and reports.

Fujifilm Expert Tip: For quality control on porous, uncoated stocks, Fujifilm’s advanced inkjet and toner technologies offer sharp and accurate results. 

2. Matte Paper

Matte paper has a smooth surface, similar to other coated paper types, but it doesn’t reflect light. When comparing matte vs. glossy printer paper, you’ll notice that the former absorbs light, eliminating the shiny look and glare common with high-gloss finishes. This paper type sits at the farthest end of the sheen look. It’s easy to confuse it with dull paper. However, when it comes to matte vs. dull printer paper, the defining feature is an even softer and more muted appearance of matte prints.

Key Features of Matte Paper

Here are the characteristics of matte printer paper:

Minimal sheen: Matte paper has minimal glare because it absorbs light, resulting in better visibility under bright light.
Smooth texture: As a coated paper, matte has a smooth, velvety feel but without the gloss. 
Muted colors: Matte-coated paper tends to diffuse reflected light, resulting in softer images and less glare. 
Ink absorption: The surface absorbs less ink into the fibers compared to uncoated paper. Matte and glossy papers are generally not suitable for writing with pens and markers, as the coating can resist ink adhesion.
Professionalism: Matte’s subdued print results offer a premium, elegant appearance suitable for business materials that prioritize refinement.

Best Applications

Matte is an excellent printing paper for projects that prioritize readability, professionalism and elegance. The glare-free finish makes it ideal for designs that are text-focused. Some of the best use cases for matte include printing educational materials, magazines, invitations, menus and art.

Fujifilm Expert Tip: Do you consistently print on matte stocks? Try the Revoria^™ Press series, which uses advanced toner technology to bring out rich, precise tones and fine details without a glossy appearance.

3. Glossy Paper

Glossy printer paper is a popular type made with a high-gloss coating, often enhanced by calendering, which smooths the surface and increases reflectivity. The process results in a super-smooth and high-gloss surface that reflects light. When printed on, the paper delivers a sharp, high-contrast and vibrant print with a smooth and reflective surface that brings out color saturation. 

Compared to uncoated paper and other coated papers, images on a glossy print appear richer and more polished, with a more realistic depth.

Key Features of Glossy Paper

Here are the characteristics of glossy paper that set it apart from other printer paper types:

High shine and reflectivity: Glossy paper has a mirror-like surface due to the heavy coating and calendering process. The polished look comes from the reflective finish that boosts brightness and contrast in the printed images. Colors in these prints appear more intense, creating a sense of depth.
Smooth surface: What makes glossy paper stand out is the ultra-smooth surface that supports high resolution output and provides and even printing surface.
Color saturation: The glossy surface makes it difficult for ink to seep into the paper fibers. Since the ink remains on the surface, it allows the paper to retain pigment strength, resulting in saturated colors and sharp graphics.
Increased glare: While the reflective quality boosts color and depth, it causes glare under bright lighting or when viewed from different angles. Fingerprint sensitivity: The extra-smooth surface and reflective nature of glossy paper make it susceptible to fingerprints, scratches and stains. These imperfections show easily on the paper.

Best Applications

Glossy paper is perfect for photo printing because of its lifelike images and rich colors. It’s also popular with marketing materials that need flashy designs that grab attention, such as brochures, posters, flyers and product catalogs. Any use case where visual impact matters and high-quality graphics are the top priority, glossy paper is the ideal choice.

Fujifilm Expert Tip: If you prefer vibrant and detailed visuals on gloss paper, the Fujifilm J Press 750HS offers CMYK+ color gamut and precise ink droplet placement.

4. Dull Paper

Dull printer paper is a low-sheen coated stock, sometimes called satin or silk depending on manufacturer terminology. These finishes all offer minimal glare and a smooth feel suitable for premium printing applications.

Key Features of Dull Paper

Here are the main characteristics of dull printing paper:

Low-sheen coating: Dull has a low-sheen coating that provides a premium look.
Rich colors: Color reproduction in dull paper delivers rich tones and sharper details, without the organic matte look and the glare of glossy finishes.
Clear prints: Controlled coating keeps the ink closer to the surface, resulting in high clarity and low dot gain. It makes images and text stand out.
Professional aesthetic: Dull paper has a smooth texture that appears elegant, yet remains resistant to glare even under various lighting conditions.
Flexibility: The balance of sharpness, readability and vibrancy makes dull paper one of the most flexible coated paper options. Where glossy fails due to glare, dull paper excels. While matte may not be suitable for color-rich professional designs, dull steps in.

Best Applications

Dull paper is often chosen for brochures, catalogs, and premium marketing materials when a balance of detail, readability, and reduced glare is preferred over the highly reflective finish of gloss. Due to the visual clarity and professionalism, many businesses prefer dull paper for presentations, reports and product guides.

Fujifilm Expert Tip: For production lines that rely on uncoated papers, consistency and accurate color reproduction are essential. Our color management software can help fine-tune output across your print run.

Uncoated vs. Matte vs. Dull vs. Glossy Printer Paper

Here is a comparison table that summarizes different printer paper types. It highlights the various features that set them apart, making each ideal for specific applications:

How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Needs

Choosing uncoated paper vs. matte, dull and glossy paper rests with your project’s goals. Consider how the intended audience will interact with the printed piece. If what you need is a text-heavy document where readability and a sense of touch make the experience comfortable, uncoated paper usually scores higher. If your needs are the opposite and photo-realistic visuals are the top priority, gloss is the obvious choice.

Chart the middle ground with matte and dull stocks as they both offer excellent color reproduction without shine, and are generally ideal for mixed content. When it comes to glare, you want to factor in brightness. Matte and dull work best in bright environments, while gloss is best for controlled lighting conditions. 

Also consider your brand’s overall tone. High-end and minimalist brands may prefer the muted elegance of matte and dull printable, while luxury and upbeat brands may rely on gloss for its visual intensity. A good example for each will be a finance company and a fast fashion store, respectively.

Other factors you might want to consider are durability and print technology. Depending on the print technology and desired result, both coated and uncoated papers can provide optimal quality with inkjet printers. Some inkjet production printers are engineered specifically for use with coated stocks. That said, choosing the right paper requires balancing functionality and aesthetics to ensure your final product has the intended message.

Fujifilm Advantage: Matching Paper to Print Technology

Fujifilm print solutions answer the need to align paper choice with the capabilities of modern printing systems. You can have the right paper, but without a reliable and accurate printing system, you may not reach the quality potential you need. Our commercial printing technologies, from inkjet and toner-based systems, are designed to optimize color reproduction, sharpness and durability across different printer paper types.

Our advanced color management software matches output devices with specific color targets, ensuring predictable and high-quality results with all types of paper finishes. By using innovative, state-of-the-art technology for your printing projects, it’s much easier to achieve consistent, professional results with each paper type.

Explore Fujifilm Printing Solutions

Understanding the differences between printing paper types allows you to deliver the right message with your print materials. Each paper type has qualities that affect how your audience perceives your message. Fujifilm is an industry leader and understands how to streamline operations, from printing to workflow.

We deliver innovative, quality-focused print solutions to help you make more impressions and a lasting impact in a competitive print marketplace. Request a demo and join our list of happy, long-term partners.