Treated Paper

Inkjet Treated vs. Inkjet Coated: What to Know About These Paper Types

Inkjet Treated vs Inkjet Coated Semi-circle overlay

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

  • Inkjet treated paper offers superior ink holdout, fast drying time, and exceptional color density.
  • Inkjet coated paper offers vibrant color reproduction and more detailed print capability.
  • Inkjet treated papers are ideal for when designers want a premium, uncoated feel while inkjet coated papers are better for bold, high-impact images. 

The world of digital inkjet print vocabulary can be confusing. Ink dots vs. drops, basis weight vs. gsm, and web-fed vs. sheetfed presses are just a few terms or concepts that can give graphic designers difficulty in maximizing the color quality and efficiency offered by digital inkjet. 

Inkjet coated sheets vs. inkjet treated sheets is also a core concept for digital inkjet designers. While they may sound similar, these substrates have distinct characteristics that significantly influence print quality, color vibrancy, and production requirements. Here, we’ll look at what defines inkjet coated sheets and inkjet treated sheets, and we’ll also look at what you need to know to specify the right sheet for your next inkjet project. 

Inkjet Treated Paper

What is inkjet treated paper?

Inkjet treated papers may look like uncoated paper to the naked eye but are specially formulated for aqueous ink. They have surface treatments or coatings that contain fixatives to separate the colorants from their carrier liquid. This separation allows more colorant to stay near the paper surface while allowing the carrier to migrate into the body of the paper and then evaporate. 

The paper is still able to absorb liquid, but the porosity is reduced enough that the colorant does not absorb along with the liquid. Some benefits of inkjet treated paper include:

  • Improved ink holdout (prevents dot gain and blurring)
  • Faster drying time
  • Good color density, especially on pigment and dye-based presses

“Inkjet presses may deliver a better result in terms of clarity and color gamut with less ink,” write Elizabeth Gooding and Mary Schilling, authors of The Designer’s Guide to Inkjet, 3rd Edition. 

“You may care about using less ink to deliver color quality, because it means that you can have lots of color without the potential for heavy ink saturation to gum up the works downstream in the process.”

There is one exception to this. Some devices produce less dot gain or ink spread when using inkjet treated papers. Since the area of the dot is smaller, the combination of device and paper may require more ink to create the same visual coverage for solids on an inkjet treated paper than on uncoated paper.

Inkjet Coated Paper

What is inkjet coated paper?

Inkjet coated paper is available in a variety of surface finishes that can be very shiny (high gloss) or have a low shine (matte), but all are formulated for inkjet inks. Shiny inkjet papers sometimes look like traditional offset coated paper grades, but they are very different. The coating of all inkjet formulated papers is designed for the fast drying of aqueous inks.

Fast drying surfaces restrict the amount of ink that can be absorbed by the paper, keeping more ink colorant on the surface. Inkjet coated stocks have a very fast drying surface that results in a broader color gamut than either uncoated or inkjet treated papers.

Some benefits of inkjet coated papers include:

  • Sharper images
  • Vibrant color reproduction
  • More detailed print capability

Inkjet coated paper is usually more resistant to dirt, moisture, and wear as well, though this enhanced level of durability and protection can come with a price.

“The additional coating and calendering needed to create a smooth surface also make this type of paper more expensive,” explain Gooding and Schilling. 

Ideal print applications

What are the ideal print applications for inkjet treated and inkjet coated papers?

Inkjet treated stocks are generally used when an uncoated sheet cannot deliver the necessary color fidelity and print quality requirements. While uncoated may be fine for letter mail and customer communications with black only or very limited color, other projects will benefit from inkjet treated stocks. 

Such markets include full-color direct mail; educational books; and any customer communications with an emphasis on colored charts, graphics, logos, or brand colors. Bottom line: Opt for inkjet treated paper when you want a traditional uncoated feel with improved inkjet performance.

Inkjet coated papers are used when both the highest print quality and color fidelity are required (and other compatibility enabled options such as pretreatment are not available). These papers are manufactured for their high colorant compatibility and fast drying time, which help improve print quality and color reproduction. 

Even when their presses are compatible with offset grades, some print providers elect to use inkjet formulated grades due to the consistent surface quality. Inkjet coated papers are most often used for high-end direct mail and commercial marketing collateral. Bottom line: Select inkjet coated papers when your design demands high-impact images, bold color, and professional polish.

There are trade-offs when selecting inkjet treated sheets instead of inkjet coated sheets, and vice versa. Understanding the nuances of each paper type can help you choose the right substrate for your digital inkjet project, and The Designers Guide to Inkjet, 3rd Edition can equip you to make the right decision on this and many more aspects of inkjet print. 

Download the guide now. Or, if you’re ready to print, browse the PrintAccess® directory of printers to find your perfect print partner.