A major part of print design is choosing the right paper. Letterhead, Business Cards, Envelopes and any other printed collateral is all hand held, and the paper wight, finsh, and brightness all imact the message being portrayed by the graphic design, and ulitmailty, communicates the brand of the company.

Paper Basics

For a glossary of paper terms, visit: Neenah Paper’s Resource Center

Weight

Basic weight: The weight of paper is determined by the weight of a ream of paper in the basic size for that grade (e.g. 500 sheets of ‘80 lb.’ book paper in its basis size, 25” x 38”, would weigh 80 bs.) Because the starting base size is not the same between paper types, the basis weights do not correspond directly (80 Text is much lighter than 80 Cover).

Read: Fox Paper, Basic Weights

Paper Types

Writing Paper

Writing papers are generally used for letterhead and communication systems, and are usually regarded as the lightest, most delicate sheets available. They are usually offered in a wide range of white, but not in different colors.

Writing paper weight is determined by weighing 500 – 17” x 22” sheets of writing grade paper. A 24 lb. writing therefore weighs 24 lbs. when 500 sheets are cut into 17” x 22” sheets and weighed. All weights of writing paper are based on the “basis size” of 17” x 22”.Writing papers come in several weights. Most popular are 20 lb., 24 lb. and 28 lb.

Text Paper

Text Paper are weights used for announcements, booklets, annual reports, and other jobs where different surface textures, colors, and finishes are required

Text paper weight is determined by weighing 500 – 25” x 38” sheets of text grade paper. A 70 lb. text therefore weighs 70 lbs. when 500 sheets are cut into 25” x 38” sheets and weighed. All weights of text paper are based on the “basis size” of 25” x 38”.

Cover Paper

Cover papers are heavier than text sheets and are generally used for the covers of brochures, annual reports and folders where extra bulk and protection are needed. Other cover uses include calendars, menus, invitations and announcements. Except for their basis weight, text and cover papers are manufactured identically.

Cover paper weight is determined by weighing 500 – 20” x 26” sheets of cover grade paper. An 80 lb. cover therefore weighs 80 lbs. when 500 sheets are cut into 20” x 26” sheets and weighed. All weights of cover paper are based on the “basis size” of 20” x 26”.

Read: Fox Paper, Paper Types

Brightness

Brightness is a measurement of a paper’s light-reflective qualities that affect contrast and even color of the paper and art printed on it. The brighter and whiter the paper, the brighter and lighter the images.

The brightness of a piece of paper is typically expressed on a scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being the brightest. The multipurpose bond paper used in copy machines and desktop printers generally has a paper brightness in the 80s.

Very bright paper (paper with a brightness in the 90’s) will appear blue, because brighter light is bluer light. (*Photographers: think daylight color balance)

Finish

The finish of a paper refers to the special characteristics of a paper’s surface, which differ from grade to grade. High, low, and textured finishes, for example, exhibit varying degrees of smoothness, ink receptivity, and printabilit.

Coated Paper
Coated Papers are papers with substances applied to the surface to achieve higher opacity, brightness and special sheet properties for printing . They different grades of coated papers are generally referred to as gloss, dull, matte, or silk finish.

Uncoated Paper
Uncoated paers are papers on which the printing surface consists of the paper stock itself. This category of paper is more natural in feel, and often has a “toothy” feel refering to texture of the paper. Uncoated papers have the widest variety of colors and finshes, from cotton based papers, to recycled and organic material used to create different colors and finishes.

These papers tend to absorb more ink than coated papers, and can sometimes display artwork duller than coated paper.

Places to Find Paper

There are many paper mills and manufactures that offer hunders of finishes, colors and brightness of papers. Because choosing a paper for your design projects is so crucial and can only be made with samples in hand to see and feel, nearly all paper companies offer swatchbooks and samples that can be sent to designers to try.

Most Swatch Books from the companies below are avalaible in the Deisgn Lab. When samples, be sure to know the name of the paper, color, and finish you want. Some paper companies require you to pay for shipping.

Paper Companies that offer Samples

Neenah Paper
http://www.neenahpaper.com/ResourceCenter/index.asp?ft=Home

Fox River (now owned by Neenah)
http://www.foxriverpaper.com/

French Paper
http://www.mrfrench.com

Mowhawk Paper
http://www.mohawkpaper.com