What's the difference between coated and uncoated postcard paper?

Coated and uncoated stocks handle ink very differently, and that changes both how your postcard looks and how it feels. Coated paper carries a thin sealant (gloss, matte, or satin) that keeps ink sitting on top of the sheet, while uncoated paper lets ink soak into the fibers. The right pick depends on whether your design leans on photos or on people writing on the card.

• Coated paper has a smooth sealed surface that keeps colors vivid and sharp, with better smudge resistance, ideal for photo-heavy designs.
• Uncoated paper has a natural, textured feel and absorbs ink, giving colors a softer, more muted look, well suited to text-heavy pieces.
• Writability favors uncoated, which takes pen ink and stamps cleanly, so choose it if recipients will add handwritten notes.

For a promotion built around imagery, go coated. For a personal or handwritten touch, uncoated is the more practical and characterful choice.