Nadia Petrov, 4OVER4 customer education voice (illustration)
Nadia Petrov Customer Education Lead at 4OVER4.COM

Nadia is our customer education voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.

Question

What paper should I use for postcards if I want to write on them?

Answer

If you plan to write on your postcards by hand, uncoated stock is the best choice because its natural, untreated surface takes pen and marker ink cleanly without smearing.

SurfaceWritability
UncoatedBest, ink absorbs and dries readily
Silk coated / gloss coatedWritable per the product documentation
Silk laminated / velvet laminatedAlso accepts writing per the documentation

So while uncoated is the safest pick for a writing surface, several coated and laminated options can be written on too. If you want to be sure for a specific stock, test with a sample first. Writability varies by stock, so confirm the details on the product page.

For cards passed around and filled in at an event, a heavier uncoated cover weight keeps them sturdy and resists creasing.

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