Choosing between the different types of paper available on the market is one of the key factors in obtaining excellent quality digital printing. Depending on the product you want to print, you will need to carefully select the type of paper best suited to enhance the visual and textual content present within your editorial or graphic project.
Choosing between the various types of paper available is not always easy, especially when you are faced with a huge choice of sheets that are very different from each other. Each type of paper is characterized by weight, a processing and a finish that determine its transparency, visual appearance, weight, thickness, degree of opacity, touch effect and durability.
In this article, we’ll help you choose the type of digital printing paper that best suits your needs.
The grammage is technically defined as “the weight of a sheet of paper with a surface area of one square meter”, is the ratio between the weight of the paper and its surface. It is measured in grams per square meter (g/m2) or simply in grams (g) and differentiates, together with other characteristics that we will see shortly, the various types of paper on the market.
For example, photocopy paper (also called “hand use”) has a weight ranging from 60 to 90 g/m2, while cardboard has a weight starting from 150 g/m2 and reaching up to 350 g/m2. Depending on the weight, the sheet of paper will have a certain texture to the touch and a certain degree of transparency, which will be greater if you choose a paper with a lower weight.
With the same weight, the processing chosen by the paper mill can give the paper a higher density, and therefore a lower thickness to the sheet, or a lower density, producing a sheet of paper with a greater thickness.
The paper consists of a compact structure of fibers obtained from tree plants both by chemical processes (cellulose) and by mechanical processes (wood pulp). A large amount of wood fiber can increase the thickness of the paper.
Some paper mills, to reduce the use of cellulose and obtain an unusual visual and tactile effect, add particular substances to the paper mixture. For example this is the case of the ecological paper Laguna, made with algae from the Venice lagoon, or other types of ecological paper made with organic residues of oranges, coffee, corn and olives.
It is therefore evident that two sheets of the same weight can have a different thickness, depending on the type of processing and the composition of the paper.
As we said at the beginning, to choose between the various types of paper it is useful to know the main processes and finishes available on the market. Here is a short list of the most common paper types:
It is a type of paper characterized by a smooth and glossy surface, obtained thanks to the use of chemical additives. It can have a matte or glossy finish, and is used for making magazines, posters, business cards, brochures and all products that require excellent color rendering paper.
It is an uncoated paper, recognizable by the embossed design on the surface, which gives it an elegant and refined style. Embossed papers, lined papers and hammered papers fall into this category.
The ecological paper is obtained from wood from FSC certified forests (Forest Stewardship Council, the most accredited forest certification system in the world), in compliance with strict environmental and social criteria.
It is produced with recycled waste paper, with a percentage ranging from 60% to 100%. Recycled white paper, to be truly ecological, must be bleached without the use of polluting chemicals, or must use virgin cellulose fibers from forests. FSC certified.
Papers or cardboard that have undergone special processes, such as patinations, laminations and other processes aimed at obtaining very original visual and tactile effects.
In summary, to choose between the various types of paper and the weights available on the market, you will need to take into account the following factors:
If you want a lasting print, opt for a heavier weight and a high quality paper.
Sophisticated, natural, original… each card is able to convey a different message, choose the one that best suits your goals.
Our article on the different types of paper for digital printing your products ends here: have you already chosen the one that best suits your project?
With Pronto Pricelist you have the possibility to create a pdf file for printing. We hope that this quick guide has helped you to understand which type of paper to print your layouts with, and not only.
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