ALL ABOUT PAPER
TYPES OF PAPER
Paper or card can come in coated or uncoated options. Coated stocks can be glossy or matt. The coating makes these stocks more durable and resistant to dirt moisture and wear. The coating also changes the way inks react to the stock. Offset printing on a coated stock will allow you to print richer and brighter colours.
​Coated stocks are common for brochures, flyers, business cards, magazines and so forth. Coated stocks are generally always smooth.
Uncoated paper is always a matt finish. General office copy paper as an example of an uncoated paper. Uncoated stocks can come in much more textured options. You can get laid textures, open weave styles like blotting paper and much rougher surfaces with uncoated stocks. Uncoated stocks (when printing offset or letterpress) give you much more muted colours as the ink soaks into the paper rather than sitting on the surface of a coated stock.
Uncoated stocks are used for business cards, wedding invites, letterpress items and has recently become more common for
PAPER WEIGHT AND THICKNESS
The most common way of comparing stocks is their weight. This is measured in GSM (grams per Square Metre). The higher the number the heavier the stock is.
Weights can start around 60-70 gsm and go up to 1000 gsm or more. 80 gsm is the weight of standard copy paper. Flyers and brochures are usually around 120-150 gsm A standard business card is around 300-350 gsm.
While GSM is important and relevant, stock is also measured in thickness. This is usually measured in microns. The thickness also contributes to how ‘stiff’ a card feels when you hold it. Sometimes you can have a lighter stock that is thicker and feels more substantial than a heavier stock that is thin and therefore more bendy.
Digital printing can handle up to 350gsm in weight but does require a thin dense stock. Letterpress requires the opposite – a stock that is really thick allows a much more pronounced indent and that much desired ‘letterpress’ look.
STOCKS FOR DIGITAL PRINT
- 80gsm copy paper
- 100 gsm uncoated offset
- 120 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 150 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 180 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 210 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 240 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 300 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- miscellaneous coloured and specialty finish papers
There are many brands or types of paper available within these weights
STOCKS FOR OFFSET PRINT
- 80gsm copy paper
- 100 gsm uncoated offset
- 120 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 150 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 180 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 210 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 240 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 300 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 350 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- 400 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / uncoated
- miscellaneous coloured and specialty finish papers
There are many brands or types of paper available within these weights
STOCKS FOR LETTERPRESS
- Colorplan range - 100, 120, 135, 175, 270, 350, 540, 700gsm
- Crane's Lettra 100% cotton Fluoroescent white 150, 300, 600gsm
- Crane's Lettra 100% cotton Pearl white 120, 300, 600gsm
- Wild 35% cotton 150gsm, 300gsm, 450gsm, 850gsm
- Wild 35% cotton 150gsm, 300gsm, 450gsm, 850gsm
- kraftpak Kraft 225, 283, 410gsm
- Various box boards of heavy weights
- Other options may be available on request
STOCKS FOR DIGITAL FOIL
150 gsm smooth uncoated Advance laser white
180 gsm smooth uncoated Advance laser white
210 gsm smooth uncoated Advance laser white
240 gsm smooth uncoated Advance laser whiteÂ
280 gsm smooth uncoated Saxton Chardonnay
300 gsm smooth uncoated Advance laser white
250 gsm smooth uncoated Bristol Intensive black Â
250 gsm smooth uncoated Bristol Intensive navy
250 gsm smooth uncoated Bristol Intensive bordeaux
240 gsm curious metallics cryogen white
280gsm Prado KraftÂ
other options may be available on request
STOCKS FOR OFFSET PRINT
Spot UV gives best results on matt coated or matt laminated stocks
120 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
150 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
180 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
210 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
240 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
300 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
 350 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
400 gsm gloss coated / matt coated / laminated
STOCKS FOR FOIL STAMPING
All digital and offset stocks will work with foil stamping as well as the following:
Colorplan range – 100, 120, 135, 175, 270, 350, 540, 700gsm
Crane’s Lettra 100% cotton Fluoroescent white 150, 300gsm
Crane’s Lettra 100% cotton Pearl white 120, 300 gsm
Wild 35% cotton 150gsm, 300gsm, 450gsm, 850gsm
kraftpak Kraft 225, 283, 410gsm
Various box boards of heavy weights
various stocks matt or gloss laminated (foil on top of laminate)
Crane’s Lettra 100% cotton Fluoroescent white 150, 300gsm
Crane’s Lettra 100% cotton Pearl white 120, 300 gsm
Wild 35% cotton 150gsm, 300gsm, 450gsm, 850gsm
kraftpak Kraft 225, 283, 410gsm
Various box boards of heavy weights
various stocks matt or gloss laminated (foil on top of laminate)
Other options may be available on request