When we talk about paper grammage, we are referring to the paper density, i.e. the thickness of the sheets. To make sure you choose the right kind of paper for your printed product, I thought I’d give you a run-down of the various kinds of paper: coated/art paper, postcard board, offset paper (copier/printer paper), and poster paper. We’ll be taking a closer look at each kind and the differences between them, as well as at our printed products and the papers on offer for them.
Different paper grammages
In talking about different kinds of paper, it’s probably best to mention the “surface feel”, which is how paper professionals describe the texture of the paper to the touch; the surface feel can tell you a lot about the paper, e.g. size, contours, surface texture, weight, and stability.
Offset paper
Also known as copier or printer paper, offset paper is frequently used for letters and notebooks because it can be written and printed on over and over again; this makes it suitable for copiers, ink-jet, and laser printers.
Offset has high brightness and a “rough” surface, which allows it take on colour better. It can be written or printed on at will because no water-based coating is applied.
Offset has high brightness and a “rough” surface, which allows it take on colour better. It can be written or printed on at will because no water-based coating is applied.
Art (coated) paper
Coated or art paper is made of chemical pulp which often has a high non-wood percentage. The matt or glossy finish applied and the water-based coating (dispersion coating) applied gives a smooth, closed surface which makes this paper harder to write, print, or stamp onto. The dispersion coating seals the colour and gives the paper increased stability, which leads to excellent printed images with sharp contrasts. Coated paper is the perfect illustration printing sheet, just right for flyers, brochures, and similar visual products.
Poster (outdoor) paper
With a grammage of 115gsm, poster paper is hard-wearing and weather-proof, woodfree white with a matt coating on one side. The blue rear side prevents whatever is behind the paper from showing through the poster once it has been pasted up; the paper’s translucent basis and its UV resistance make it particularly suitable for outdoor use.
Postcardboard / chromo board
Cardboard used for post cards is often called chromo board, and is kind of mixture between art and offset paper as one side is varnished and given a water-based coating, making it unsuitable for writing on, while the rear side is left matt. Due to the very high stability of chromo board, it is particularly useful for postcards or presentational materials which need to be writable on one side.
Paper grammage for printed products
You might find this overview useful when choosing the right paper for your product:
Business cards (one and two sided)
| -> Business cards tend to be in heavy use, so the paper should be stable. |
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Business cards (four sided)
| -> The paper should also be stable, but with folds not too thick. -> If you are setting a fold in colour, we recommend creasing from a grammage of 250gsm onwards so that the colour does not split at the fold. |
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Letterheads (one sided)
| -> In view of postage costs, lighter paper can bring real savings. |
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Letterheads (two sided)
| -> If you’re printing a letter on both sides, you’ll need slightly thicker paper so that nothing shows through. |
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Brochures with/without cover
with Staple binding, Perfect binding, Loop binding or Spiral binding
| -> The paper can be thicker if you have a low number of pages or if it’s a corporate image brochure. -> If you have a large number of pages, you should have a maximum grammage of 135 gsm. -> If you are setting a fold in colour, we recommend scoring from a grammage of 170 gsm onwards so that the colour does not split at the fold. -> According to the type of brochure and the kind of binding used, you can choose from the paper grammages set out here. |
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Poster (one sided)
| -> A0 to A3 posters with small print runs are generally best printed on photo papers like these. |
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Ad Posters (one and two sided)
| -> To be hung on glass surfaces which can be viewed from both sides: shop windows, etc. -> Given the colour intensity of neon paper (dayglow paper) this is best used for monotone/black printing. -> Due to its consistency, poster paper is well suited to outdoor use; its blue background stops coloured backgrounds from showing through. |
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Flyers (one and two sided)
| -> 90–135 gsm is good for flyers in brochures, etc. -> 135–170 gsm is best for classic flyers. -> 250–300 gsm is almost like cardboard. |
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Folded leaflets (4, 6, 8 and 10-sided)
| -> If you are setting a fold in colour, we recommend scoring from a grammage of 170 gsm onwards so that the colour does not split at the fold. -> 250 gsm is an unusual grammage for folded leaflets, but is popular for large-sized prints due to its stability. |
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Calendar (wall/desk/pocket)
| -> Thanks to spiral binding, creasing is only needed on higher grammages if they are used for four-sided pocket calendars. -> The paper grammages shown can be selected according to the type of calendar. |
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DVD/CD covers
| -> 80–135 gsm is suitable for greater numbers of page given the limited space available in a CD case. -> Highly stable 170–250 gsm is good for covers with lower numbers of pages. |
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CD Booklets
| -> 80–135 gsm is suitable for greater numbers of page given the limited space available in a CD case. -> Highly stable 170–250 gsm is good for covers with lower numbers of pages. |
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Postcards
| ->Postcardboard is the classic choice for tourist postcards. |
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Notepads
| -> Notepads are printed on one side with a grey cardboard back and available optionally with 2 punches or 4. |
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Let us know your next printing project by commenting below, so that we can advise you on the best paper you can use.
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