Get Paper Samples — See Our Quality Before You Order
Personalized paper samples are the most accurate way to evaluate our print quality before committing to a larger order. Upload your own artwork or request blank samples — we'll print on the paper of your choice and ship everything to your door so you can see, feel, and compare in person.
Samples are watermarked and not intended for resale. If you need production-quality prints in small quantities, order single prints instead — those ship without watermarks.
How Paper Samples Work
- Sample sizes: 4×6 to 8.5×11 for standard papers; wide-format samples ship as a 24" × 8" strip.
- Upload your own artwork or request blank samples — see your actual designs on real Printkeg paper.
- Watermarked for evaluation only — not intended for resale or final use.
- Fast turnaround: Samples ship within approximately 2 business days.
- One sample order per customer — additional small-quantity orders should use our single print products.
Standard Paper Options
Our archival cardstocks and standard papers are available in multiple weights and finishes for different project types:
- Gloss Paper (80# Text) — Lightweight glossy stock for flyers, brochures, and booklet interiors. Best for budget-friendly, high-volume projects.
- Matte Paper (70# Text) — Lightweight uncoated paper for booklets, letterheads, and text-heavy flyers. Best for projects where readability matters more than visual punch.
- Gloss Card (80# Cover) — Mid-weight glossy cardstock for postcards, art prints, photos, and upgraded booklet covers.
- Matte Card (70# Cover) — Mid-weight uncoated cardstock for artwork and booklet covers. Smooth, glare-free finish.
- Gloss Card (110# Cover) — Heavyweight 300gsm cardstock for postcards, rack cards, and premium art prints. Substantial hand-feel with vibrant gloss.
- Matte Card (100# Cover) — Heavyweight uncoated cardstock. The artist favorite for fine art reproduction and a smart economical choice for prints.
- Textured Card (100# Cover) — Natural, felt-like textured cardstock that gives artwork an authentic fine art paper character.
Wide-Format Paper Options
Wide-format samples ship as 24" × 8" strips so you can evaluate the substrate at large-format print sizes:
- Wide-Format Photo Gloss — Archival satin-gloss paper for large-format posters and photography prints.
- Wide-Format Photo Matte — Archival uncoated paper for large-format posters and fine art prints.
- Wide-Format Watercolor — Substantial 19mil watercolor paper for fine art reproduction at exceptional value.
Looking for Booklet Samples?
Booklet samples work differently — since our minimum is one, you can simply order a single booklet of any type from our booklet products. The booklet will be a real production piece (not a watermarked sample), so you can evaluate the binding, paper combination, and finishing quality directly.
Need Production-Quality Small Orders?
Paper samples are intended for evaluation only. If you need small quantities of production-quality prints (no watermarks), we offer several options:
- Single Prints — Order one of any size from 4×6 to 13×19 with no minimum quantity.
- Affordable Short-Run Postcards — 50 postcards at a fixed affordable price.
- Affordable 11×17 Poster Starter Bundle — 25 archival posters at a fixed affordable price.
- Folded Card Starter Pack — 25 archival folded cards at a fixed affordable price.
Paper Samples FAQ
Can I upload my own artwork for samples?
Yes — upload your artwork during checkout to see your actual designs on real Printkeg paper. There may be a small fee for printed samples with custom artwork. Watermarks will appear on your printed samples regardless of the artwork uploaded — these prints are for evaluation only, not for resale or final use.
Why are the samples watermarked?
Watermarks distinguish evaluation samples from production-quality prints. Without watermarks, sample orders could be used as cheap small-quantity production runs, which isn't what they're designed for. If you need production-quality prints in small quantities, our Single Prints or Starter Pack products are the right fit.
How many sample orders can I place?
Each customer is limited to one sample order. After that, additional small-quantity needs should be filled by our Single Prints, Starter Pack products, or any of our standard production runs.
How long do samples take to ship?
Sample orders typically ship within 2 business days, plus standard shipping time to your address.
Will the sample look exactly like my final order?
Samples accurately represent paper texture, color reproduction, and finish quality on the specific paper you select. Color may shift slightly between sample runs and production runs due to normal print variation, but samples give you a reliable preview of the substrate and overall quality you can expect.
Are wide-format samples available in full size?
Wide-format samples ship as 24" × 8" strips rather than full-size posters. This format lets you evaluate the substrate, color reproduction, and finish characteristics without the production cost of a full-size print.
