Different Types of Paper for Printing

The selection of the ideal type of paper amongst the wide range of options available on the market is a crucial and determining factor in attaining first-rate printability. Precisely, the bottom line is that the chosen paper type should ensure the visual and textual contents are highlighted.

For selecting a type of paper, it should be dependent on if the features of the paper is in tandem with the functional requirements of the purpose. While considering the sea of options in paper sizes and grades, it is but natural that it could be quite a challenge to decide which one would be ideal with your printer and for the particular requirement.

There are a number of paper types you can select for your particular task. With the diversity in composition, design, function, weight and thickness, besides customisation options available on the market, every paper type offers a range of characteristics.

To understand these aspects better and in detail, through this blog, we will help you choose the paper type that goes perfectly with your printing requirements by considering some of the different and the most common paper types.

Also Read: The Process of Papermaking

The dictionary meaning of grammage in paper is “the weight of a sheet of paper with a surface area of one square metre.” Also, it signifies the ratio between the weight of the paper and its area. It is quantified in Grams per Square Metre (GSM). Through this metric, the various types of paper along with some other characteristics are distinguished. For instance, the grammage of copier paper generally has a grammage between 60-90 GSM, while paperboard is generally from 150 up to 350 GSM. All in all, the impact of the grammage is seen on the paper’s texture along with its level of transparency.

Whether you’re printing business cards or books, or a flyer, each of the said printing job has a recommended grammage. Choosing the suitable paper for printing your project for the desired final effect is undeniably important, for instance, if you have selected a paper having quite low grammage for a catalogue, the pages will seem too transparent.

Let’s have a quick look-through the different paper grammage and what they’re suitable for:

• 90 GSM Paper – The 90 GSM paper is a type of uncoated paper which hasn’t been through any sort of chemical treatments. It is ideal for printing large quantities of text making it the right match for the inside pages of books, printing documents, and headed paper.
• 130 GSM Paper – The paper of 130 GSM grammage is an ideal choice for high-quality colour images. Consequently, it is suitable for printing glossy magazines, brochures, posters and folded flyers. It can have either a matte or gloss finish.
• 170 GSM Paper – With 170 GSM grammage, you get a lightweight, thin paperboard. This has a pleasant texture and excellent colour rendering making it ideal for catalogues, presentations, certificates, and posters. It is available in coated, environmental-friendly or recycled types, and can be given a gloss, satin or matte finish.
• 350 GSM Paper – The 350 GSM paper makes for a semi-rigid paperboard which is primarily used for business cards, book covers, presentation folders, and invitation cards.
• 380 GSM Paper – This is the heaviest paper type, essentially a cardboard used for packaging, rigid book covers and folders, counter displays and product tags.

Here’s a short list of the most common paper types:

Coated Paper – Matte Coated, Gloss Coated, or Silk Coated

The coated paper can have a smooth and glossy surface created using chemical additives.

• Gloss Coated: Gloss coated paper has an incredibly high shine and a smooth tactile feel. It is mainly used for leaflets and flyers because it enhances colours.
• Matte Coated: With the matte coated paper, you get a surface that refracts light subtly and reducing any glare. Matte coated paper is ideally used for magazines, books, and other larger copy-based print. In contrast to gloss, matte coated paper has a better printability of text.
• Silk Coated: Fundamentally speaking, silk coated paper comes between gloss coated and matte coated. It has an incredible printability. It has the smooth feel of glossy paper but without the shine.

Find list of Suppliers to Paper Mills: Paper & Paper Board Making Machinery

Watermarked Paper

This is paper type which can be easily recognised from the design stamped onto its surface. This category includes – embossed papers, laid papers and hammered papers. Watermarked papers, which are identifying images or patterns, are perceived as sophisticated and professional when used in printed documents.

Environmentally Friendly Paper

Environmentally friendly paper is made from wood sourced from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)- certified forests, following strict environmental and social sustainability criteria.

Recycled Paper

This is produced using between 60-100 percent recycled paper pulp. In a bid to be truly sustainable, white recycled paper must be bleached without using polluting chemicals, or contain virgin cellulose fibers from FSC-certified forests.

Special Paper

Papers and paperboards, that have undergone specific processes such as coating, laminating or other procedures, are known as Special Papers. The function of these types of papers are to achieve highly original visual and tactile effects.

Uncoated Paper

The uncoated papers have the advantage of easily being used for printers or pen-use. It is the perfect medium for ink and absorbency. However, with no coating, it also makes the uncoated papers more susceptible to physical damage such as tears, scuffs and stains.