Stock

Stock Paper qualities Paper weights Pulp paper Types of stock Characteristics

The direction of fibres in paper for laser printers, such as common printers found in offices, typically has a grain that runs parallel to the long side of the paper to allow it to pass more easily through the paper. Therefore putting a piece of paper through the printer works better this way.

A0

Paper produced on a paper machine has a grain because the fibres which it is made from line up during the manufacturing process in the direction that it passes through the paper-making machine. This is a reason why the direction of paper passing through a printer goes easier one way rather than the other. The grain is the direction in which most of the fibres lay. This makes paper easier to fold, bend or tear along its grain direction.

Grain direction

Long edge

Grams per square meter is a measurement based on the weight of a square metre of stock. The higher the GSM value, the heavier the stock is. The A0 size is defined as having an area of one square meter, therefore grams per square meter equals the weight of a A0 sheet.

Short edge

1189mm

Paper qualities

841mm

Paper weights The weight of paper is measured per unit of area in grams per square meter. The weight of paper grams range from 7 to 225 grams per square meter.

Lightweight printing papers Approx. 40 Newsprint Approx. 50 Poster papers

Approx. 60

Art papers

90 to 135

Lightweight printing paper

Newsprint

Poster papers

Art papers

Papers with the same weight can have different thicknesses as the relationship between paper thickness and paper weight is defined by volume. For example a Glossy paper with the same thickness as a Matt paper could have different volumes therefore different weights, which could range from a Glossy paper having 0.75-0.8 volume and a Matt paper having 0.75-1.0 volume.

Pulp paper Paper has different qualities according to the way it is manufactured and according to its composition. Pulp is the basic raw material for paper, it is made up of raw materials such as wood and cellulose. Cellulose is what gives the pulp sustainability.

In industrial paper production, the sheet making process takes place on a paper machine. The paper pulp is 99 per cent water.

After cleaning the pulp several times, a large portion of the water is drained which creates a paper structure. Fillers are additives in paper, they fill in the gaps between the paper fibres, the composition of the fillers determine the opacity of the paper, also the degree of whiteness and smoothness.

Pulp paper is something that can be made at home in a few easy steps. Creating pulp paper can be very useful and effective for creating a certain look, depending on what it is being used for.

Homemade pulp paper

Types of stock Many different types of paper stock are available to the designer.

In addition to adding different colours and textures to a print job, different stocks also have different printability characteristics and cost.

Antique white A texture stock with a rough or matt surface.

Flock Paper coated with flock, a textured decorative surface.

Print paper Standard print paper, good for laser printer, thin, with a low opacity.

Cartridge A thick white paper, stiff and available in several colours.

Newsprint Short life span, and produces colour poorly, but cheapest to print on.

Bulky newsprint Longer life span, cheapest to print on. Although thicker than newsprint.

Characteristics Paper characteristics that affect printability include its smoothness, absorbency, opacity and ink holdout.

Smoothness; The smooth surface of stock is obtained through the use of filler elements that may be polished. They are typically glossy as well.

Absorbency; Stocks have different absorbency levels. Printing inks tend to dry quicker on absorbent stocks, but absorbency may cause problems to the print.

Opacity; Opacity is used to describe the how much whatever is printed on one side of a sheet shows through and is visible on the other.

High-opacity papers have no show-through.

Smoothness

Absorbency

Ink holdout; This is ink resisting to penetrate stock due to its relative lack of absorbency. Coated stocks may be particularly prone to ink holdout, which in turn increases drying time.

Opacity

Ink holdout