The ABC's of
Paper
Many variables must be considered when selecting the
right paper for your publication such as the overall look
of the printed piece, ink coverage, the shelf-life, or if
it mails. Talk to your sales representative as they can
provide further recommendations and options for your
publication.
Paper
Options
There are many different paper grades, weights and brands
on the market from a variety of mills. Publishers select
the type of paper that not only meets their customers'
requirements, but also works well in their machinery.
Weight
Paper is categorized by weight in pounds of a ream
(500 sheets) of paper cut to a standard size, 25" x
38" for text paper, 20" x 26" for cover weight papers.
For example - 500 sheets 25" x 38" of 70# coated paper
will weigh 70 pounds.
Weight has not only an effect on the feel of the magazine (heavier paper will generally be thicker and less easy to fold) but also shipping/mailing costs of the final magazine. More weight costs more to ship/mail.Grade Specifications
A grade is a way of ranking paper by certain composition and characteristics. For example, brightness is one of the characteristics used to determine a paper's grade. A number 5 paper grade has the lowest brightness (less white and uniform texture), from 69-73. A number 3 grade paper has a brightness from 81-84.5. Number 1 grade paper has 89-96 brightness. Most magazines run on #3-#5 grade stock.
Uncoated Offset Paper
Uncoated Paper is designed to generally run in offset presses and is a non-coated sheet of #50 or 60#. Also- return card offset stock is usually run on a 75# uncoated stock to meet postal requirements.
Freesheet Paper
Freesheet paper is free of groundwood pulp and has a
bit higher brightness (whiter) than groundwood paper.
Freesheet starts at a number 3 grade. Magazines
commonly use 50#, 60#, 70# text weight freesheet
options on the interior and 80#, 100# text weight or
66# cover weight freesheet stock on cover options.
Freesheet paper is more costly than Groundwood.
Groundwood Paper
Characteristics of groundwood paper are higher bulk,
smooth feel, lower brightness (whiteness) and good
printability. It is usually lower in cost than
freesheet paper. Magazines commonly use 36#, 40#, 45#,
50# and 60# groundwood paper. Groundwood is available
in number 4 or number 5 grade.
Coated Offset Paper
Coated papers are described by their finish: matte,
dull, or gloss.
Gloss
The majority of magazines today use gloss paper,
the property responsible for coated paper's shiny
or lustrous appearance. Gloss papers are less
opaque and have less bulk and are less expensive
than Dull & Matte papers.
Dull
Smooth surface paper that is low in gloss. Dull
coated paper falls between matte and glossy
paper.
Matte
A non-glossy, flat looking paper. Matte papers are
higher in cost and in bulk.
Paper Making: The
Process
Most people can tell you that paper (or stock) is made
from wood, but many don't know how a tree is transformed
into a sheet of paper. The basics are pretty simple and
perhaps you have made paper for a science project or
craft project before. While all paper starts out as wood,
the end result, be it high gloss freesheet or uncoated
offset paper, is determined during the manufacturing
process of the paper.
Perhaps a brief overview and education of paper and
the paper making process will enable you to better
understand the differences in paper.
Logs are stripped of their bark, then chipped into
very small and thin pieces. The small pieces of stripped
logs are placed in a large cooker with chemicals and
steamed under pressure until the wood fibers are removed
from the lignin (the glue that holds the individual wood
fibers together). The resulting pulp is then processed
through several machines which will separate the fibers,
remove the chemicals, and bleach to proper shade of
whiteness. (See grade specifications later in the
article)
After the pulp has been refined and other additives
added to give the finished paper the desired properties,
water is added. The result is called furnish. The furnish
is spread over a mesh screen which forms the paper and
lets the water be extracted. The paper then travels
through different processes and machines designed to
remove the water from the paper.
After the paper is dry, it is run between steel drums
to give the desired smoothness. This process is called
calendering the paper. The more times paper is calendered
the less bulk it has but the smoother it gets. To create
glossy paper, uncoated paper is coated with a paint-like
product and buffed by rollers under very high pressure,
to create a shiny appearance. This process is called
supercalendering. Coated paper is used for magazines.
