Writing Utensil Guide for Handwritten Notes for Business

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Whether you want to add handwritten notes for business partners or personal needs, we’ve got your guide for which writing utensils work best on which paper stocks, coatings and finishes. As a premium online printer, we offer all kinds of them, and it’s essential you to know which utensil ensures your message shines.

Before you make your selection and add a personal touch to thank you cards, postcards and brochures, find out how a blue ballpoint pen, black permanent marker and regular ol’ pencil performed.

Paper Stocks

A pen, pencil and marker written on coated gloss paper stock.

Coated Gloss

  • Stock Specs: Coated stock with a coated surface and shiny appearance.
  • Utensil Performance: The pen, marker and pencil all have a smooth writing feel, with the ink/lead sitting on top of the stock.
A pen, pencil and marker written on coated matte paper stock.

Coated Matte

  • Stock Specs: Coated stock with a coated surface and soft matte appearance.
  • Utensil Performance: The pen, marker and pencil all have a smooth writing feel, with the ink/lead sitting on top of the stock.
A pen, pencil and marker written on coated semigloss paper stock.

Coated Semigloss (C1S)

  • Stock Specs: Cardstock with one uncoated side and one exceptionally smooth side with a semigloss finish.
  • Utensil Performance: 
    • Coated Side: The pen, marker and pencil all have a smooth writing feel, with the ink/lead that sits on top of the stock.
    • Uncoated Side: The pen and pencil both have a smooth writing feel, with ink/lead that sits on top of the stock. The marker ink has a slightly grainy appearance and slight bleed that gets between the stock fibers.
A pen, pencil and marker written on felt weave paper stock.

Felt Weave

  • Stock Specs: Uncoated paper stock with a raised bump texture and made from 30% post-consumer fiber.
  • Utensil Performance: 
    • Pen: Ink has a slightly grainy appearance on the stock.
    • Marker: Ink has a slightly grainy appearance and slight bleed that gets between the stock fibers.
    • Pencil: Lead has a slightly grainy appearance and gets between the stock fibers.
A pen, pencil and marker written on linen paper stock.

Linen

  • Stock Specs: Uncoated paper stock with a linen color, raised grid texture and made from 30% post-consumer fiber.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink has a slightly grainy appearance on the stock.
    • Marker: Ink has a slight bleed that gets between the stock fibers.
    • Pencil: Lead has a grainy appearance and gets between the stock fibers.
A pen, pencil and marker written on Kraft paper stock.

Kraft

  • Stock Specs: Uncoated stock with visible flecks and made from 100% recycled content with 30% from post-consumer waste.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel.
    • Marker: Ink has a slight bleed that gets between the stock fibers.
    • Pencil: Lead has a slightly grainy appearance.
A pen, pencil and marker written on synthetic and waterproof paper stock.

Synthetic (Waterproof)

  • Stock Specs: Synthetic stock that’s strong, durable and has excellent printed ink adhesion. 
  • Utensil Performance: The pen, marker and pencil all have a smooth writing feel, with the ink/lead sitting on top of the stock. The pen requires you to press hard when writing.
A pen, pencil and marker written on uncoated recycled paper stock.

Uncoated 100% Recycled

  • Stock Specs: White paper stock with a few flecks and fibers and made from 100% post-consumer-waste recycled fiber.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel.
    • Marker: Ink has a slightly grainy appearance and slight bleed that gets between the stock fibers.
    • Pencil: Lead has a smooth writing feel.
A pen, pencil and marker written on uncoated black paper stock.

Uncoated Black

  • Stock Specs: Uncoated stock with a dark, rich black color that’s ideal for white ink printing and made from 30% recycled post-consumer fiber.
  • Utensil Performance: 
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel but is difficult to see.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock. (Note: We tested this stock with a silver marker.)
    • Pencil: Lead has a smooth writing feel and appears slightly shimmery.
A pen, pencil and marker written on uncoated smooth paper stock.

Uncoated Smooth

  • Stock Specs: Uncoated stock with a smooth, uniform surface.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock.
    • Marker: Ink has a slightly grainy appearance and slight bleed that gets between the stock fibers.
    • Pencil: Lead has a slightly grainy appearance and gets between the stock fibers.

Coatings

A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with an ultra gloss UV coating.

Ultra Gloss UV Coating

  • Coating Specs: Adds exceptional depth and high sheen to stock and makes designs pop so your artwork and color looks stunningly vibrant.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink doesn’t show up well and requires you to go over your writing multiple times. We do not recommend.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock with a shiny appearance.
    • Pencil: Lead doesn’t show up well and requires you to press hard when writing. We do not recommend.
A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with a flat matte UV coating.

Flat Matte UV Coating

  • Coating Specs: Lends a rich, finished appearance to stock without adding shine.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink doesn’t show up well and requires you to go over your writing multiple times. We do not recommend.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and a slight bleed that gets between the stock fiber.
    • Pencil: Lead has a smooth writing feel that sits on top of the stock.

Laminates

A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with 3 mil gloss laminate.

3 Mil Gloss

  • Laminate Specs: Provides exceptional depth with a high sheen and allows for maximum color saturation for photographic images.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink doesn’t show up well and requires you to go over your writing multiple times. We do not recommend.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock with a shiny appearance.
    • Pencil: Lead doesn’t show up well and requires you to press hard when writing. We do not recommend.
A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with 3 mil matte laminate.

3 Mil Matte

  • Laminate Specs: Creates a rich, subtle matte finished appearance.
  • Utensil Performance: 
    • Pen: Ink doesn’t show up well and requires you to go over your writing multiple times. We do not recommend.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock with a shiny appearance.
    • Pencil: Lead doesn’t show up well and requires you to press hard when writing. We do not recommend.
A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with Soft Touch laminate.

Soft Touch Laminate

  • Laminate Specs: Matte appearance with a soft, suede-like feel to the touch.
  • Utensil Performance:
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock with a shiny appearance.
    • Pencil: Lead barely shows up and requires you to press hard when writing. We do not recommend.

Foil Sleeking™

A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with rose gold foil printing.

Foil

  • Foil Colors: Gold (warm, golden glint), rose gold (soft pink-copper), silver (clean, modern shine) and holographic (iridescent with soft, watercolor shades of rainbow).
  • Utensil Performance: 
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock but doesn’t show up well. We do not recommend.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock.
    • Pencil: Lead doesn’t show up well and requires you to press hard with writing. We do not recommend.
A pen, pencil and marker written on paper stock with clear spot gloss.

Clear Spot Gloss

  • Gloss Specs: Clear material that shows the color that’s printed underneath it, adding an undeniable sheen.
  • Utensil Performance: 
    • Pen: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock but doesn’t show up well. We do not recommend.
    • Marker: Ink has a smooth writing feel and sits on top of the stock.
    • Pencil: Lead doesn’t show up well and requires you to press hard with writing. We do not recommend.

Before you begin your handwritten notes for business, get the look and feel of our stocks, coatings and finishes with our FREE Paper Sample Book.

And dive even deeper into the stocks and finishes we tested: Handwritten Notes for Business: Your Writing Utensil Guide for Stocks & Finishes.

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