Paper Types

Art
Normally, china clay (kaolin) coated on both sides of the paper. This finish of both the sides is the same, be it glossy or matt. Used For: Brochures, calendars, magazine covers, magazine text, where high quality printing is required.

Carbonless - Self Copy
Paper Paper stock specially treated or coated to provide copies without the use of interleaved carbon. The copy process requires mechanical pressure such as from writing or typing and sometimes a chemical reaction. Used For: Application forms, computer stationery, time saving stationery. Also used in copying applications without carbon paper.

Cast Coated Paper
This paper has a very high gloss finish achieved by using a special coating and the surface is then polished by stainless steel drying cylinders. It is often used for packaging requirements.

Coated Paper
Paper could be coated on either or both sides. Coating applied on the paper could be as per the requirement. For example, china clay coating for glossy paper used for high quality printing or gum coated paper for use of printing stamps. Used For: Could have different applications for different coated papers.

Gloss Coated
Paper Gloss coated papers have a high shine and a very smooth surface, ideal for producing printed items for promotional work. The finish of the paper gives the ink a high degree of “lift”, giving vibrant colour and definition to printed images in particular. Ink dries well on gloss coated paper, making a seal varnish (to protect the ink from rubbing and marking) less likely to be needed.

Laid
Laid paper is a type of paper having a ribbed texture imparted by the manufacturing process. In the 19th century its use diminished as it was largely supplanted by wove paper. Laid paper is still commonly used by artists as a support for charcoal drawings.

Matt Coated
Paper Plain paper which has received a special coating to give a smooth, matt finish. Matt coated papers have no surface shine, and a slightly “toothy” feel, rougher than a gloss coated paper. The images will not have quite such a lift as when printing onto gloss coated paper, however, applying a gloss seal varnish can often improve this. In addition, printing inks do not dry and harden as well on matt coated stocks as on gloss, meaning that use of a seal varnish is recommended to prevent ink rubbing. However, seal varnish is relatively inexpensive

Newsprint
It has to be made with adequate strength properties and surface characteristics; especially wax pick. Optical properties brightness is required for better readability and appeal (with ink to paper contrast which improves readability of print) and opacity. Used For: Used for printing our daily news papers and associated issues. It is used under very stringent shop-floor conditions by the news paper blouses for printing our daily news papers and associated.

Pulp board
Matt uncoated boards in white or tinted ranging from 200 micron thickness to 600gsm.

Recycled Paper
Paper recycling processes can use either chemical or mechanical pulp. By mixing with water and applying mechanical action the hydrogen bonds in the paper can be broken and fibres separated again. Most recycled paper contains a proportion of virgin fibre in the interests of quality.

Silk Coated
Paper Plain paper which has received a special coating to give a smooth, silk finish. Silk coated papers have a low surface shine, and are not as toothy feeling as matt coated papers, or as smooth a feel as gloss coated paper – a good compromise between matt and gloss coated paper. Again, inks do not dry or harden as well as on gloss coated papers, and the use of seal varnish is recommended.

Uncoated Paper
Plain paper which is not coated. Uncoated paper is typically rougher feeling than any of the coated stocks. This can be used as an effect when considering a print project. Ink lift is not as strong from uncoated papers as any of the coated ones which means images will not appear as defined as when they are printed onto a coated stock. Used For: Forms, Business reply cards, Letterheads, Memo paper etc

Watermarked Paper
An impression is pressed into the top of the sheet on manufacture. This is normally used in high quality writing papers e.g. Conqueror. Clients can have their own watermark put into a sheet if required.

Woven
Woven paper is a paper composed of warp and filling threads that are interlaced together at right angles. It is a paper having an even, uniform surface, without watermarks. Used For: Lampshades, Screens, Photo Albums, Paintings, Lithography.

Paper Sizes

Another commonly used size based on the 'A' size system is one third of 'A4' (99 x 210 mm). Two thirds of 'A4' (198 x 210 mm) is also sometimes used as is the square size 210x210mm. There is also 'A00' (or '2A') at 1189 x 1682 mm.


B sizes
The 'B' sizes are designed to be intermediate between the 'A' sizes; their sides are in the same ratio and they are scaled in the same way. They are less frequently used, but can be very useful.


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