Prestige diplomas

Prestige diplomas are for the moment when an ordinary diploma is not enough. When you hand out an award at a gala, close a training course, reward the winner of a competition or thank a partner for years of cooperation, the document itself becomes part of the ceremony. That is why we print it on decorative papers with a distinct look and feel: pearlescent, metallic, felt-marked, ribbed, linen-textured and structured. That kind of paper creates a premium impression before anyone has read a word.

It is a good choice whenever the document should look more distinguished than a standard diploma on plain paper. Prestige papers can have a subtle linen texture, a felt-marked surface, fine ribs, a pearl sheen, a metallic tone, a cream shade, grey, ecru, gold, silver or a deep decorative colour. The diploma stops being just a document and becomes an elegant keepsake, something people want to frame and hang up.

What Prestige diplomas are used for

Prestige diplomas work wherever the final impression matters. They are usually chosen by organisers of training courses, courses and conferences, by companies rewarding staff and partners, and by institutions, universities, foundations, hotels, clinics and premium brands.

• Training and course certificates - confirmation of attendance, completion of a course, a gained skill or the end of an educational programme.
• Company diplomas and awards - diplomas of recognition, thank-yous, awards for business partners and certificates for clients.
• Gala and competition diplomas - documents handed out at galas, competitions, sporting events, conferences and company celebrations.
• Commemorative and artistic diplomas - keepsake, artistic and event documents, plus elegant premium attestations.

You can present Prestige diplomas on their own, in a folder, in a decorative envelope, in a frame or as part of a training or event pack. They work especially well where the look of the document should reinforce the standing of the occasion.

Which format to choose

The calculator offers three formats - match yours to the standing of the document and the way it is presented:

• A5 (148×210 mm) - smaller certificates, thank-yous, awards and keepsake cards. A good elegant addition to a larger set of materials.
• A4 (210×297 mm) - the most popular format for diplomas and certificates. Practical, legible and easy to frame. Suits training certificates, company diplomas, educational documents and thank-yous.
• A3 (297×420 mm) - larger and more imposing. Choose it for galas, competitions, sporting events, company celebrations, thank-yous for partners and documents meant to be displayed in a frame.

Which decorative paper to choose

The paper is the heart of a Prestige diploma - each one changes how the design is received, so it is worth matching it to the style of the event and the kind of document. Your choices are:

• ICEBLINK cream linen 250 gsm - an elegant linen-like texture and a warm cream tone. Suits classic, artistic, keepsake, wedding, hotel and educational diplomas, and certificates with a soft, refined character.
• STARDREAM (OPAL, SILVER, CRYSTAL, GOLD) 285 gsm - pearlescent and metallic effects. OPAL is subtle and elegant, SILVER and CRYSTAL read cooler, more modern and prestigious, and GOLD works for gala diplomas, awards, prizes and premium certificates.
• RIVES Shetland Natural 250 gsm and 350 gsm - a natural decorative texture. The 250 gsm version is lighter, 350 gsm is stiffer and more solid. A good choice for elegant, natural, classic and corporate diplomas without a metallic effect.
• DALI 285 gsm (perla, verde pino, candido, camoscio, Ghaccio) - distinctive fine ribs. Perla beige, candido white, camoscio light corn and Ghaccio light grey suit official, company and occasional diplomas, while verde pino has a strong green character for natural, artistic and eco projects.
• MODIGLIANI 260 gsm (candido, camoscio, perla, bianco) - a felt-marked surface. Candido white, bianco ecru, perla light grey and camoscio corn look excellent on premium diplomas, certificates, thank-yous and artistic designs with a subtle texture.
• CHAGALL Bianco 260 gsm - an elegant paper with a felt-marked character. Suits classic diplomas, company certificates, thank-yous, graduation invitations and designs meant to be delicate, light and prestigious.

Not sure what to pick? For official and company certificates reach for light, legible papers (STARDREAM OPAL, STARDREAM CRYSTAL, RIVES Shetland Natural, DALI candido, MODIGLIANI candido, MODIGLIANI bianco or CHAGALL Bianco). For gala diplomas, prizes and premium awards consider the metallic papers (STARDREAM GOLD, SILVER, CRYSTAL). For artistic, natural and boutique projects the textured and coloured papers fit best (ICEBLINK cream linen, DALI perla, DALI camoscio, DALI verde pino, MODIGLIANI camoscio, MODIGLIANI perla or RIVES Shetland Natural).

Printing and the paper as a finish

There are two printing options:

• Single-sided - the usual choice for diplomas and certificates. It lets you prepare a full-colour design with a title, a name, a logo, a certificate number, a date, signatures, a border, artwork or a QR code.
• Double-sided - useful when the document should carry extra information on the back: the training programme, the scope of the course, a description of the skills, a list of modules, terms, the organiser's details, a second language version or a QR code for verification.

Remember that the decorative paper is the finish here. Its colour, sheen and texture affect how the print looks. On pearlescent, metallic, felt-marked, ribbed or cream papers the colours can come out differently than on plain white coated stock. It pays to go for elegant designs with good contrast, legible typography and a sensible margin from the edge.

Personalisation and what goes on the diploma

Prestige diplomas can be prepared with personalisation, meaning variable data on individual copies. That matters most for certificates, training courses, courses, competitions, company diplomas and thank-yous, where each document carries different details. Personalisation can cover the participant's name, the name of the course or training, a certificate number, an issue date, a result, a grade, a title, a job title, a company name, a competition category, a place in a contest, individual wording, a QR code, an identification code or the tutor's signature.

That way you produce a whole series of diplomas from one piece of artwork and a list of data - every copy has the same graphic setting but a different name, number, date or text. On the diploma itself you can place the organiser's logo, the name of the school, company or institution, the word "Diploma" or "Certificate", the name of the course, competition or event, the date and place, a description of the achievement, the scope of the training, signatures, a graphic seal, a QR code, a decorative border, a monogram, the event slogan or a short training programme.

With Prestige papers, go for a simple, elegant, well-balanced design. The decorative paper is a major part of the final effect, so you rarely need elaborate backgrounds, heavy graphics or a lot of decoration. Typography alone, a logo, a subtle border, signatures and a light graphic accent often look best.

File check and graphic design

When you place the order you choose one of the file preparation options:

• No file check - for advertising agencies, designers and anyone confident their artwork is correct. The file goes into production without further graphic control.
• File check by a designer - the designer checks the technical preparation of the file: format, bleed, safe distances, image quality, colours, how the file was saved and whether it meets our requirements. On Prestige diplomas they also look at what matters for an elegant document: the correct format, the quality of borders and graphics, important content kept away from the edge, contrast on decorative paper, and the preparation and layout of the variable data.
• Simple graphic design - when you have no artwork ready. Just send us your logo, the wording of the diploma, the organiser's details, the list of participants, signatures, the date, the certificate numbering, the style you want and any graphic guidelines. We will prepare a simple design matched to the format, the Prestige paper, the printing option and the personalisation.

We particularly recommend the technical check if the design was made in Canva, an online generator, an office program, a presentation app or with AI tools. Such designs often look fine on screen, but they can need adjusting to the format, bleed, CMYK colours, resolution, image quality, room for personalisation, contrast on decorative paper or safe margins. Important: the designer's file check does not cover the content itself - typos, first names, surnames, titles, course names, certificate numbers, dates, results, grades, signatures, QR codes or agreement with the participant list. Responsibility for the wording and for the accuracy of the personalised data stays with the customer.

How to prepare the file for print

• File format - a PDF that follows our specification works best. We also accept other files, and in selected cases a good quality JPG or PNG.
• Resolution and colours - images at 300 dpi at 1:1 scale, the design in CMYK.
• Bleed and margins - if artwork, a border or a background runs to the edge, add bleed. Keep important elements (the title, the name, the logo, signatures, the date, the certificate number, the QR code, the main text) away from the edge. With decorative borders leave a wider margin - a border too close to the cutting line can look uneven after trimming.
• Decorative paper - allow for the colour, texture and sheen of the stock. Avoid very small text, thin lines, weak contrast and overly light elements on darker papers.
• Personalisation data - prepare it as a clear table: one row per diploma, one column per field (name, surname, course name, date, certificate number, result). Before sending it, check the spelling, capitalisation, titles, double-barrelled surnames, numbers and dates.
• QR code - it should be large enough, high in contrast and tested. Make sure it leads to the right page, document, profile or verification.

The exact surcharges for the paper, printing, personalisation and file preparation option are shown in the calculator above - you pick the options and the price updates straight away. Our site also has a dedicated section on how to prepare artwork for print and which mistakes to avoid; it is worth a look before you send your file.