Paper Facts
 The success of any printing project begins with paper. While color and design play an integral role in the overall look, nothing is more important than paper selection.
Knowing what papers are available and how they will feel and perform prior to beginning the process will help you create successful printed communications.
Factors to Consider When Specifying Paper | top |
Finish
Finish refers to how a paper feels. Is it smooth like a gloss cover or rough like a vellum uncoated cover? Will the surface be highly reflective or absorb light for easy reading? Does the paper absorb ink or have a good ink holdout to enhance photographic reproduction?
Paper Finishes by Paper Type
- BOND - Smooth, Cockle, Wove Laser or imaging finish, Laid, Linen
- OFFSET (UNCOATED) - Smooth, Vellum
- OFFSET (COATED) - Matte, Dull (silk or satin), Gloss, Cast Coated
- TEXT and TEXT COVER - Felt, Laid, Linen
Grade
All types of paper are graded. Offset papers may range from the highest
grade of “Premium” to the lowest grade of “5”. Generally, the higher the grade
is, the higher the level of whiteness and brightness of the stock will be. As your need for quality reproduction rises, so too should your choice of paper grade.
Grain
Paper is composed of fibers. Grain refers to the direction of the fibers in the sheet. Grain is an important factor for both the press and finishing, especially as the weight of the stock increases. Ideally, the papers grain will be parallel to the direction of final fold. This minimizes cracking on the fold. Scoring distresses the fibers before they are folded and also minimizes cracking in the final product.
Opacity
This is the measurement percentage of the amount of light that passes through a sheet of paper. The higher a paper's opacity is, the less chance you will have of seeing what is printed on the second side. This factor is extremely important when choosing a stock for a book, publication or newsletter. Papers with a higher amount of fibers/fillers will have a greater opacity than those composed of a higher amount of coating. Just because a sheet is thicker doesn't necessarily mean it is more opaque.
Ink Holdout
When ink comes in contact with a paper surface, it is absorbed.
That absorption is called dot gain. The ink “spreads” when laid on the sheet.
If you want to retain crisp, sharp color photograhic reproduction, choose a surface with good ink holdout such as gloss offset and cover. That is not to say that printing on text or uncoated papers will not look good. You just need to plan for more dot gain and compensate for that in your image densities. Shadows and midtones will appear much darker when using an uncoated sheet.
Paper Sizes | top |
The first thing to consider when designing a uniquely sized brochure or catalogue is its final size. Paper stock sizes are not unlimited. Sometimes, reducing the size of a brochure by ¼” may save you a significant amount of money in paper cost. Below is a listing of common sizes by paper type and some examples of products produced using these papers.
The number in a paper weight (such as the “20” in “basis 20” or “substance 20” or “20-lb bond”) is the weight of 500 sheets of that paper in a standard sheet size whose dimensions are defined for that particular type of paper, regardless of the actual size of the sheets being sold.
Common Paper Sizes by Paper Type
- BOND
8.5 x 11, 11 x 17, 17 x 22, 22.5 x 35
Basis Weight Size = 17 x 22
Common Basis Weights - 20# and 24#
Usage: Letterheads, Envelopes, Notepads and forms
- BOOK
(COATED, OFFSET, TEXT) - 19 x 25, 23 x 35 and 25 x 38
Basis Weight Size = 25 x 38
Common Basis Weights - 60#, 70#, 80# and100#
Usage: Brochures, Publications, Catalogues, Annual Reports and Newsletters
- COVER
(UNCOATED, COATED, TEXT COVER, C1S, C2S)
19 x 25, 20 x 26, 23 x 35, 25 x 38, 26 x 40 and 28 x 40
Basis Weight Size = 20 x 26
Common Basis Weights - 65#, 80#, 100#, 120#, 7 pt - 14 pt.*
*C1S and C2S are sold by thickness - “pt.” = points. Each point = 1/1000”
Usage: Book Covers, Business Covers, Folders, Note Cards and Postcards
- GUMMED STOCK
(Dry Gum*, Adhesive Lined - Offset, Matte, Gloss, EDP)
8.5 x 11, 17 x 22 and 20 x 26
Basis Weight Size - 60#
Common Basis Weights - 50# (dry gum) and 60# (adhesive)
Usage: Mailing and shipping labels, Point of purchase and Packaging labels
Dry gum must have water applied to activate the adhesive
Frequently Asked Questions About Paper | top |
What is a “house” stock?
The term house means the paper that a printer usually carries in stock in larger quantities. It is does not mean a lesser quality. Printers are able to pass on savings in paper costs when we purchase at higher quantities. Commonly used items such as 80# coated gloss and cover, 60# white offset and 20# bond may be stocked
in large quantities. When making comparisons between specified brands and house stocks, it is recommended that you see samples of each before making a decision.
Why do bleeds add to the cost of a job?
A bleed means the image extends to the trimmed edge of a sheet. In order to accomplish this throughout the entire run, the stock to the press must be larger than the final trimmed size and then trimmed after printing. In some cases, the parent sheet size of stock only comes in certain sizes. For example, when printing letterheads, the finished size is 8.5” x 11”. If you want to bleed an image on a letterhead, the stock size to the press must be 8.75 x 11.5 or 9 x 12. If the parent sheet size of the chosen stock is 17 x 22 as is typical with most bonds, we cannot cut as many finished pieces from the parent sheet, thus doubling the cost of the paper.
Why can't I varnish uncoated stocks?
It's not that you can't varnish uncoated stock, it just is a waste of money. The surface of an uncoated sheet of paper is very porous as compared to the surface of coated stocks. Varnish techniques depend on changing the surface reflection of the varnished areas. Uncoated stocks do not give you the necessary change in reflectivity when varnishes are added.
What is a mill item?
Although all papers start out in a paper mill, paper distributors stock only select sizes and colors. Most papers are sold through a distributor network to printers, not through the manufacturers. If you choose a color not stocked by the distributor or printer, then it must come directly from the mill where it has been made.
Mills only sell papers in full cartons or skids. We can usually get the type and color of paper you specify, but it may not always be available at our distributors warehouse. We must then order a full carton from the mill. On small quantity orders, this can have a large impact on the order's total cost. Check before ordering to see if that perfect stock you want is going to be available and affordable.
Will all stocks work on digital printing devices?
All paper is not created equal.
With the rise in short run digital production, paper manufacturers have rushed to create specialty surface coatings to allow the papers to perform under high temperature conditions. Heat is used to fuse the toners to the paper surface. Most offset printing papers are not capable of undergoing exposure to the heat of the fusion rollers.
It is extremely important to find out what type of digital devices your printer uses and to learn what papers have been approved for digital production.
Are samples available to help me choose a paper?
To help you determine what type of paper to choose when planning a project, we encourage you to ask for a paper sample early in the process. This is particularly true when you have never used a paper before, if total weight needs to be determined for postage costs or to check the color of the actual stock. Nothing can be more frustrating than to receive delivery of a piece that just doesn't feel as you had expected it to. We are able to fulfill sample requests from sheets in our inventory or we have access to sample departments located at our paper distributors. Just let us know what you need in terms of finished size, paper weight, color and finish.
Are all papers made from recycled stock?
Although paper mills have been using more recycled content recently, not all papers are recycled. Recycled papers are becoming more available and less costly as we move to become a “greener” society. Please ask us if your stock contains recycled content and what is available if you choose to change to a recycled paper.
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