Paper Sizes
Also known as formats. It can be easy to fall into the trap that paper size is only relevant to you is the ISO A series as this what you will mostly be working with in your time at Leeds College of Art. But after you leave there are different series’ of paper sizes used for a variety of different ways. There are hundreds of formats in the world and some of them have a very close relation to standard ISO series you will be working with most of the time.
A-Series The A series of paper is the most commonly used worldwide, with only the US and Canada not currently conforming to the ISO standard. The most frequently used paper size in this series is A4, which measures 210 x 297mm. This format is what is used throughout the LCA instituition and hence what you will be working with.
B Series B series paper is the geometrical mean between the A series format with that particular number, and the A series format with the preceding number. So for example B1 is the geometric mean between A1 and A0. The sides of B0 are 1m to √2m. The B series is less common than the A series, and is most often used for posters, books, envelopes and passports.
C Series The C series of paper is used only for envelopes; as the area of a C series sheet is the geometric mean of the A and B series sheets of the same number. This means that an A4 sheet is slightly smaller than a C4 sheet, which in turn is slightly smaller than a B4 sheet. In practice this means that an A4 letter could fit unfolded into a C4 envelope which could then fit into a B4 envelope.
Paper Sizes Envelope Series Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one of three shapes: a rhombus, a short-arm cross, or a kite. These shapes allow for the creation of the envelope structure by folding the sheet sides around a central rectangular area. In this manner, a rectangle-faced enclosure is formed with an arrangement of four flaps on the reverse side.
RA & SRA Format The RA and SRA paper formats are defined by ISO 217 “Paper - Untrimmed Sizes” and cover untrimmed raw paper for commercial printing. The RA and SRA sizes are slightly larger than the corresponding A series sizes to allow for bleed on printed material that will be later trimmed to size, often for bound publication.
Newspaper Size The broadsheet newspaper size is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages. The first broadsheet newspaper was the Dutch Courante, published in 1618. As the term “tabloid” has become synonymous with down-market newspapers in some areas, some small-format papers which claim a higher standard of journalism refer to themselves as “compact” newspapers instead, however both are generally the same size.
Paper Densi ty Weight Paper density is a measure of the area density. Paper products that let little or no light pass through are considered dense or heavy. Paper products that allow some light to pass through. Tissue paper, for example, is considered lightweight.
Calliper The bulk, or calliper, of the paper is it’s thickness. Rough papers tend to be thicker than smooth papers of the same weight. Thickness is measured by a bulking number - the number of sheets to the inch, under text conditions. The ppi (Pages Per Inch) is twice the bulingnumber (because there are two pages to the sheet) another way to describe bulk is to measure four sheets of paper. Caliper is measured in micrometers (1/1000) of mm) Grammage is measured by Quality Control System and verified by laboratory measurment.
GSM The weight of paper is commonly measured in grams per square meter (GSM or Grammage). This measurement allows printers to have much more of a precise control of how thick or thin the paper should be for it’s particular use. This is the common term you would use as a designer to comunicate to your printer and determine whether you can use that particular printer. The Offset Litho which Evolution print uses can take a substrate from 70gsm up to 450gsm. The Digital Print at Blenheim Walk, you can print double sided on to anything as thick as mount board. Don’t forget! If you are using printing processes such as Silkscreen printing, or a type of relief printing you can print onto whatever size GSM substrate you like.
Paper Types Art Paper This kind of paper is coated with a fine clay compound that creates an either gloss or matt effect on both sides of the page. Uses: brochures, calendars, magazine covers, magazine text Bond Paper Originally used for documents such as government bonds, it is stronger and more durable than the average sheet of paper. It is mostly made from rag pulp as opposed to the lower grade wood pulp and its aesthetical look makes it popular for letterheads and image building stationery. Uses: letterheads, envelopes, typed reports
LCA have a very limited supply of substrates so if you want the best paper for the job you might have to look elsewhere. There is a rich but bewildering range of paper types available to you, and it’s good to start collecting samples along with technical specificatons of each, from studios, mills & paper merchants, etc. Most places you go to will supply you with a free pack of samples but don’t expect to keep ordering samples off of the same as they still need to sell paper for their company to survive.
Coated paper The paper is coated to produce dull, gloss, matt, or other finishes. Coated paper has better reflectivity and produces sharper, brighter images. Uses: varied, depending on type of coating. Newsprint This low-cost, non-archival paper has an off-white cast and distinctive feel. It is widely used to print newspapers and advertising material because it is economical, strong enough to run through high-speed web printing presses and accepts four-color printing. Uses: newspapers, advertising material
Pulpboard These are uncoated boards made of wood pulp that can be white or coloured and come in various different densities. Uses: packaging, mounting prints Recycled paper Recycled paper is partly or entirely made from re-used paper products. Its production uses much less energy than virgin paper and reduces waste in landfills. Uncoated paper This plain paper without coating has a unique ink receptivity and absorbency. It is most popularly used for printed items that will also require pen writing such as forms and memos. Uses: forms, business reply cards, letterheads, memo paper Watermarked paper This watermark gives a distinctive prestige and is used in high quality paper such as Conqueror. In the manufacturing process an impression is pressed into the paper by attaching a wire pattern or by using relief sculptures to create the desired effect. Uses: logo, paper type description, security feature
LCA Paper s
GF Sm ith Paper s
Fedrig oni Paper s