Printing industry paper types and uses

The variety of printed materials, the requirements for their use, and the printing methods are all different. Therefore, the paper must be selected according to the requirements and characteristics of the use and printing process. The purpose, variety, and specifications of some commonly used papers for publication are described below for reference by designers and printing companies.

Newsprint

Very lightweight, with a basis weight of 30 pounds or less, is a relatively inexpensive grade of paper. Newsprint, also known as white paper, is the main paper for newspapers and magazines; it is suitable for newspapers, periodicals, textbooks, and comic books. The characteristics of newsprint are: Paper is light and light, and it is full of good elasticity; The ink-absorbing performance is good, this ensures that the ink can be fixed on the paper surface more; After the paper is smoothed, both sides are smooth, no lint, so that both sides The print is relatively clear and full; it has a certain mechanical strength; opacity is good; suitable for high-speed web press printing.

This kind of paper is produced from mechanical pulp (or other chemical pulp) as a raw material, contains a lot of lignin and other magazines, and should not be stored for a long time. If the storage time is too long, the paper will become yellow and brittle, and the water resistance is poor, so writing is not appropriate. Must use printed ink or book ink, the ink viscosity should not be too high, the lithography must strictly control the layout of moisture.

Non-coated offset paper

Non-coating offset papers are of many different grades and are used for books, newsletters, catalogues, brochures, and direct mail. This paper is often a non-mechanical pulp that does not contain wood pulp. Paper that is generally suitable for writing is this type. Non-coated offset papers can be produced with or without wood pulp, with basis weights varying from 25 pounds to 60 pounds. Paper containing wood pulp is lighter; paper without wood pulp is higher in weight (between 45-60 pounds).

High-quality non-coated offset paper

There are also some non-coated papers produced according to different quality standards on the market. Therefore, when selecting paper, we must not only specify the choice of non-coated paper, but also indicate the manufacturer and grade. Different grades of non-coated paper, their color is very different, so we need to ask the paper supplier for a sample handbook to help determine the desired color. Also, keep in mind that colored paper will have an effect on the image printed on it. Non-coated paper is supplied in the form of webs and sheets, and is generally light in weight. When we plan to print a job, remember that non-coated paper is much more absorbent than coated paper. This difference affects the performance and process operations of inks, varnish, and coatings.

Text and cover pages

High-quality non-coated offset papers vary widely in color and texture. Designers generally choose based on the different effects they exhibit and the company’s identity, writing plans, annual reports, and market exchanges. This type of paper is available in both roll and sheet formats. Their relatively lower grade papers generally have a higher basis weight (24 lbs, sticking up to 130 lbs. in the cover), higher opacity, greater ink coverage, and a more uniform printing surface.

Highly lighted paper

Highly glossy paper, commonly referred to as SC paper, is a paper with a lighter basis weight. This paper base is made of mechanical pulp, kraft pulp, additives and minerals like clay/kaolin, talc, calcium carbonate and other minerals. These mineral fillers completely penetrate into the paper. The more mineral fillers used in the production process, the greater the basis weight of the SC paper. Once the SC paper base is made from the paper machine, it also goes through a 35-foot-long offline love-mouse. They are structurally similar to those used to produce coated paper. The SC paper base passes through a series of alternating cloth/plastic filled and heated iron rolls of the calender. After the paper passes through the calender, it is subjected to multiple presses under the effect of heat and pressure at a more gradual rate than on the papermaking machine. This calendering process produces characteristics such as paper smoothness, density, porosity, and gloss that can affect the printing effects that can be achieved with high-quality SC paper.

Paint wood pulp coated paper

This grade of paper is lighter in weight and is mainly used for the publication of magazines, periodicals and catalogues. The SWOP specification (web offset printing publication specification) was developed on the basis of this type of paper. Paint wood pulp paper may contain recycled fibers. This grade of paper is often supplied in the form of webs, but some manufacturers also provide sheet-fed papers based on special supply requirements.

High-quality light and matte/rough matte coated paper

This grade of paper has both roll and sheet forms. They often have a higher basis weight (higher text and cover pages). This kind of paper has a large content of coating components, which enhances the overprinting amount of the ink, and has a high printing gloss and a good smoothness of the ink layer. Bright and matte papers differ in their paint composition and production process. The designer's choice of glossy paper or matte paper depends primarily on the end user's usage requirements and customer preferences. This grade of paper is used for year-end reports, sales manuals, art reproductions, and posters, to name some products.

Digital Printing Technology Paper

Paper designed for special processes such as laser or ink jet printers is generally low in humidity and has a very smooth surface. This type of paper is generally small in size and provides webs for some special printing equipment. The special coated paper used in inkjet printing equipment is manufactured with the paper surface in mind, controlling the liquid ink/dye diffusion, and the ability to carry color.

Letterpress paper

Letterpress paper is the main paper used in the use of letterpress books and magazines. Applicable to important works, science and technology books, academic journals, textbooks for colleges and universities and other texts. Letterpress paper can be divided into four grades of No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 according to the distribution ratio of paper materials. The paper number represents the degree of paper quality. The larger the number, the worse the paper quality.

Toppan printing paper is mainly used for relief printing. The properties of this paper are similar to those of newsprint, but they are not exactly the same. Because the proportion of pulp and the pulp solution are better than newsprint, the fibrous tissue of the letterpress paper is relatively uniform. At the same time, the voids between the fibers are filled with a certain amount of filler and rubber, and after bleaching, this results in the formation of This paper has a good adaptability to printing. Slightly different from newsprint, its ink absorption is not as good as newsprint, but it has the characteristics of uniform ink absorption; water resistance and paper whiteness are better than newsprint.

Relief paper has a uniform texture, lint-free, slightly elastic, opaque, slightly water-resistant, and has a certain degree of mechanical strength.

Painting newspaper

The texture of the painting is fine and smooth, and it is used for printing pictorials, atlases, and posters.

Written paper

Written paper, also known as book paper, is the paper used for printing book covers. Written paper is pigmented in paper, with gray, blue, beige and other colors.

Embossed paper

Pressure paper is a type of cover decorative paper specially produced. The surface of the paper has a pattern that is not very noticeable. The color is gray, green, beige and pink, and is generally used to print monochrome covers. Embossed paper is brittle and the spine breaks easily when binding. The curvature of the paper during printing is large, and it is difficult to feed the paper, which affects the printing efficiency.

Dictionary paper

Dictionary paper is a kind of advanced thin-type publication paper. It is thin, strong and durable, with fine white paper, tight and smooth texture, slightly transparent, and a certain degree of water resistance. It is mainly used for printing dictionaries, dictionaries, manuals, classic books, and books with more page numbers and portability. Dictionary paper has high requirements on the pressure and ink in the printing process, so the printing process must pay special attention to it.

Burr paper

The burr paper is thin and soft, pale yellow, has no water resistance, and has good ink absorption. The raw paper should only be printed on one side, mainly for ancient books.

Writing paper

Writing paper is a paper for writing ink, and paper is required to be written. Writing paper is mainly used to print exercise books, diaries, forms and books. Writing paper is divided into No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4.

Typing paper

Typing paper is thin-sheet type paper, thin and flexible, and requires no holes when typing, and will not be scratched by a pen tip when rewritten with a hard pen. Mainly used for printing documents, forms, and multi-copy certificates. Used as a slip sheet and printing and packaging paper in books. Typing paper has white, yellow, red, blue, green and other colors.

Postage paper

Postage paper is used to print all kinds of copybooks and printing and packaging papers in printing.

Copy paper

Copy paper is thin and flexible, suitable for printing multiple copies of the book; used in book binding for the protection of art works and play an aesthetic role.

White paper

White paper is small in stretchability and toughness, and it is not easy to break when folded. It is mainly used for printing packaging boxes and decorative paper for goods. In bookbinding, binding materials such as paper (ridges) in both sealed and hardcover books for hardbound books.

There are two types of white paper, paper white and plain white. According to the bottom of the classification of gray and white two.

Kraft paper

Kraft paper has high tensile force, such as single light, double light, stripes, and no grain. Mainly used for packaging paper, envelopes, paper bags, etc.