Printing in Pakistan has gotten dramatically better in the past decade. Imported European inks and substrates, modern offset and digital presses, and large-format flex printers have made premium-quality output accessible at every budget. But navigating the options can be confusing. Here's the master guide.
The two big families: large-format and small-format
Large format is anything bigger than A3 — flex banners, hoardings, vinyl wraps, wallpapers, vehicle wraps. Printed on roll-fed printers using solvent or eco-solvent inks for outdoor durability.
Small format is anything A3 and below — business cards, brochures, flyers, books, packaging. Printed on either offset (high volume, premium) or digital (low volume, fast) presses.
Flex vs panaflex vs vinyl — pick one
These three terms are often confused.
Flex is a flexible PVC banner material. Comes in shine, matte, frontlit, backlit, and mesh grades. Used for hoardings, banners, and outdoor signs.
Panaflex is a brand name for premium flex (used generically in Pakistan).
Vinyl is a self-adhesive material that sticks to glass, walls, vehicles, or floors. Used for stickers, window graphics, vehicle wraps, and frosted glass effects.
Offset vs digital printing — which to pick
Offset: Plates and rollers transfer ink to paper. Premium quality, very cost-effective at high volumes (500+ copies). Slower setup, higher minimum order. Best for: brochures, books, packaging, anything 500+ copies.
Digital: Direct from computer to press, like a giant office printer but better. No setup cost, fast turnaround, perfect for low volumes. Slightly less premium feel than offset for paper stocks. Best for: business cards, short-run flyers, on-demand printing.
Paper stocks 101
Paper is measured in GSM (grams per square meter). Higher = thicker.
- 80 GSM: standard photocopy paper
- 100 GSM: letterhead paper
- 130 GSM: standard flyer / brochure paper
- 170 GSM: premium brochure paper
- 250 GSM: premium business card stock
- 300–400 GSM: thick business card / postcard / luxury packaging
Finishes: matte (no shine), gloss (high shine), silk/satin (in-between), uncoated (raw paper feel).
Lamination & finishes
Matte lamination: soft-touch feel, no glare Gloss lamination: high-shine, durable Soft-touch lamination: velvety, ultra-premium Spot UV: glossy varnish on selected areas (logo, headline) Foil stamping: metallic gold/silver/copper/rose hot-stamped Embossing/Debossing: raised or recessed image Edge painting: color along the cut edge of cards
How to prepare files for printing
Format: PDF (preferred), AI, or PSD with all fonts outlined Color mode: CMYK (not RGB) Resolution: 300 DPI for raster images Bleed: 3 mm on every side for trimmed pieces Fonts: Outlined or embedded
Not sure? Send us your file and we'll do a free pre-flight check before printing.