The success of your book, package design, direct mail piece or annual report will depend on the paper you choose. This will help you decide the best paper for your printed marketing materials.Definition papers by grade A paper's grade is based on its primary use. It can also be used to indicate a paper's quality rating. This includes premium (the best), #1, #2 and #3, etc. There are five main grades of paper, namely: text, cover, bond and uncoated books. Other characteristics include brightness, opacity and bulk as well as color, finish and fiber content photographic paper.
Definition Paper by Basis Weight Basis weight is another way to identify paper. Basis weight refers to the 500 standard size sheets of paper that have been cut into a base size. Standard size sheets can vary in size depending on the grade. Different basis weights can be applied to sheets that are identical in different grades. Coated papers can feel thicker because they are compressed. For forms, bond paper is usually available in 16#, 20#, and 24#, respectively. The weight of offset varies from 50# up to 70#. For web presses, coated books are generally available in sizes of 30 to 70# and 60 to 110# for sheetsfed. Text paper is available in a range of 60# to 100#. The cover paper is usually available in 60# to 100#. Duplex cover stocks double these numbers. Eye-Popping Tip: Before you purchase or specify paper for your printer, designer or printer, it is a good idea to get a free sample swatch from your paper representative. You can feel and examine the sheets to determine their finish, thickness, stiffness, transparency, color, and texture. Brightness The paper's ability to reflect light is called brightness. A printed photo will appear brighter if it is made of brighter paper. Brighter papers will also make it easier to read type. However, too bright paper can cause eyestrain in lengthy documents (e.g. book interiors). Opacity Visual and Printed Visual opacity refers to the paper's light-blocking capabilities. Take a piece of paper and hold it up to the sun. See how much is visible. The contrast ratio is used to measure opacity. Most printing papers have an opacity between 80 and 98 percent. It rises with bulk, coating, uneven surfaces, the use of pigments (color), and fillers. Opacity makes text easier to read and reduces eye strain. The printed opacity refers to how much ink is absorbed through the paper from one side. These characteristics are crucial for folded and two-sided pieces. Bulk Bulk refers to the thickness of the paper. It is measured in pages per inch (or PPI). To determine the width of the binding or spine, you will need to measure the thickness of your finished piece. You can use a heavier paper if you have a small book. Color There are many colors available for paper. There are many shades of white paper. Ink is translucent, so the paper's color will have an impact on the final ink color. Warmer colors will look better on warm paper. Photos of color printed on pure white paper will look closer to the original colors. Finish The paper's finish is its texture. Paper can be as smooth or rough as chrome, but it doesn't have to be glossy. The shiniest finishes are cast-coated, premium and ultra gloss. They are usually found on coated stock. These papers are coated with clay or other chemicals to create a smooth veneer over the paper. Coated papers do not always have to be glossy. A coated paper can also come in a matte finish. Uncoated papers come in a variety of finishes, including the smoothest (machine finish), to the most toothy (vellum, antique and eggshell), to the embossed (felt, linen and ribbed finish), and the smoothest (machine finish). Eye-Popping Tip Do not choose a gloss finish if you have to write on printed material (e.g. business form replies cards or forms). The ink from a ballpoint pen can smear on that surface. The texture of a paper will affect how much ink is absorbed, which can cause colors and halftones (photos), to become muted or muddy. The designer or the pre-press department takes special steps to adjust for ink retention. Because there is less reflection from the paper, reading is easier in bright lighting. Recycled papers Recycled paper is virtually indistinguishable to their non-recycled counterparts. They have similar performance, color and cost as well as being available in the same quantities. The percentage of post-consumer (recycled fibre) that is recycled in recycled paper will determine the price. For more information about recycled paper, contact your paper representative. No matter the post-consumer content, all recycled papers will have the recycled paper symbol.
