There are many decisions to make when choosing and ordering your photo birth announcements. Where are you going to order from? What kind of design? What photo of your baby will you use? But another important decision that should not be overlooked is choosing the type of paper on which to print your Ads.

Some online birth announcement stores only offer their cards printed on photographic paper. Others only offer cardstock cards printed on press. But many online merchants will offer you both of these options. You need to understand the differences between these options in order to make the best decision for your personal preferences.

Photographic paper

Birth announcements printed on photographic paper will be a real photograph. This means that the back of the card will be like any other photograph you’ve seen, with the manufacturer’s logo and perhaps a printed copyright or other identifying text from the printer.

Regarding image quality, printing on photo paper will render your image more accurately. This can have positive or negative results. If your image is of good quality, high resolution, well lit and in sharp focus, photo paper will show this quality at its best. However, if your image is of poorer quality, low resolution, or slightly out of focus, photo paper will also make these blemishes more noticeable.

If you choose a photo paper option, make sure that the birth announcement company you have chosen uses only professional quality photo paper, such as Kodak Endura Professional Paper, and prints your cards at a professional lab. The matte finish works best for photo cards as they are easier to see and resist fingerprints.

Cardboard

Having your ads printed on cardstock will cost a bit more than photo paper, but the cardstock will give it a more formal and sturdy look. An added benefit is that you can often request that the reverse side be printed as well, perhaps with additional photos or a message of your choice. Or if you leave the back blank, you can write your own messages by hand.

Most online photo birth announcement companies that offer cards printed on cardstock typically offer several options to choose from. Many offer sample packages from their stock, but generally charge a small fee to ship them. Understanding the differences between card stocks will help make choosing your preferred one easier.

Semi bright – a heavy card stock with a smooth finish. This stock is not very shiny but has a slight sheen. Depending on the type of pen you use, this paper can be more difficult to write on than matte paper.

Semi-gloss with UV coating – Adding a UV coat to the Semi-Gloss stock will give it a high gloss (gloss) finish. Most companies will charge a little more for this finish.

Matte linen – a medium weight matte material with a light linen texture. This material can have a very elegant and formal air, due to the texture of linen, and it is a very popular choice among consumers.

Matte Watercolor – a lighter stock with a slightly grainy texture.

Some stores also offer metallic and pearl finishes that give cardstock a metallic or luminescent finish, respectively. These finishes, while unique, can make some images look distorted when viewed from different angles. These print finishes often look best for landscapes, abstracts, or artistic portraits, rather than the baby announcement photo.

When deciding where to order your photo birth announcements, be sure to review all the options offered by the online merchants you are considering. Having a solid understanding of the differences between these options will not only make your decision easier, it will help ensure that you are satisfied with your final printed product.