| Choosing the right paper for a printing job is a very | | | | paper but has a flat non-reflective finish. Because of |
| complicated undertaking. You have overwhelming | | | | this finish this paper is typically used in product |
| options. Paper influences all the aspects of a print | | | | brochures catalogs and reports that want to convey a |
| project, together with overall perception, reproduction | | | | message of understated quality and exclusivity. It is |
| quality, durability and mailing cost. Choose poorly, and | | | | advisable that when printing on Matt or Silk papers that |
| you can spoil an otherwise great project. | | | | they should be coated with a sealer varnish to ensure |
| To be specific is to consider a lot of aspects. First the | | | | that the image will not rub or mark when it is is handled |
| surface of the paper because it affects its look, feel | | | | during the finishing process. |
| and printability. It matters because people are | | | | Gloss coated paper produces' a printed image that |
| influenced by the appearance of the paper, it is that | | | | seems to sit on the paper and it is bright vibrant and |
| simple. | | | | shiny. From a production view point it is the easiest |
| In the main there 2 types of paper used in Litho printing: | | | | material to print with as it typically dries quicker than |
| 1. Uncoated | | | | the other types of materials mentioned earlier. It is also |
| 2. Coated | | | | cheaper to use than matt or silk paper because you |
| Both of these types of paper can come in various | | | | do not require a sealer varnish to be applied. |
| sheet sizes, colors and different grammages | | | | Paper and the Environment |
| depending on the brand name and which mill or | | | | Lets be honest with ourselves, in the overall grand |
| merchant you are dealing with. A reputable printer will | | | | scheme printing isn't a clean business. In its most |
| have relationships with most if not all the major paper | | | | simplistic form, we cut down a tree, pulp it with water |
| merchants. | | | | from the local river, add a few minerals we dug out of |
| Both paper types have sub types which refer to | | | | the ground and create paper. We ship the paper |
| processes involved in producing the paper and as a | | | | around the world to printers who then cover it in |
| general rule of thumb, the more complicated the | | | | vegetable oil and pigments which in turn is then shipped |
| process, the better the paper and typically the more | | | | around the world for consumers to read. It is then |
| expensive it is. | | | | either land filled, burnt or if it's lucky recycled. |
| The details we list here are by no means exhaustive | | | | I deliberately broke it down to its most simplistic level |
| but are designed to give you a clearer picture of the | | | | because until a few years ago that cycle was most |
| paper types available for your use. | | | | definitively what was happening but without the |
| Uncoated sub types | | | | recycling and also without the social or corporate |
| Calandered or Super Calandered - A method of using | | | | responsibility that we now have within the print industry. |
| rollers during paper making, to impart a finish or | | | | In fact until only a few years ago, very few printers |
| smoothness. It reduces the thickness and increases | | | | used vegetable based inks and indeed some still don't. |
| the density. Papers are subjected to smoothing and | | | | From the paper perspective, the first thing that |
| polishing between stacks of highly polished steam | | | | happened was the trees that were harvested started |
| heated rollers, either forming part of the paper machine | | | | to come from 'Sustainable Forests' i.e. the mills were |
| (calendered/machine calendered) or as an off-machine | | | | planting more trees than they harvested. Now the |
| process (supercalendered). Calender rolls on a | | | | majority of paper available in the UK is from |
| supercalender may be arranged so that friction as well | | | | Sustainable Forest stocks. |
| as pressing is created, resulting in friction glazed | | | | As the world woke up to environmental issues, there |
| papers. | | | | then came the environmental accreditation programs |
| Uncoated paper is what you would normally find in | | | | such as ISO14001 and EMAS. |
| your office copier or printer. Better grades of | | | | EMAS - Eco Management and Audit Scheme |
| uncoated paper are used for your company | | | | A company accredited with EMAS carries out |
| letterheads and compliments slips. | | | | environmental surveys, formulates an environmental |
| Coated sub types Paper which has received a coating | | | | policy, implements an environmental management |
| on one or both sides. Paper may be single, double or | | | | system (for example ISO 14001), does environmental |
| triple coated. The more layers of coating, the better | | | | audits and publishes the results in an ecological annual |
| quality. The finish may be gloss, silk or matte. | | | | report. These accounts are monitored by independent |
| These papers are typically more used for Flyers, | | | | assessor. |
| Catalogs, Brochures and Magazines. | | | | ISO 14001 - ISO 14001 is a voluntary, international |
| How the print interacts with the different types of | | | | standard; |
| paper | | | | It provides business management with a framework |
| Aside from the tactile feel of the different types of | | | | and tools for a systematic approach to environmental |
| paper, the way printers ink interacts with the paper is | | | | management. This certification standard is set by the |
| also extremely important to take into consideration | | | | International Organisation for Standardization in |
| when planning your next print project. Your print | | | | Switzerland. |
| advisor should be able to provide you with printed | | | | Around the same time a number of other |
| samples of the main different types of paper to | | | | organisations were created to enable consumers to |
| demonstrate how they will interact with the ink when | | | | identify that the products they were buying or using |
| printed. I have attempted to give a very brief and | | | | were coming from environmentally sound sources and |
| simplified explanation of what you should expect to | | | | these were known as the FSC and the PEFC. |
| see with regards to ink interaction on the main types | | | | FSC - FSC stands for Forests Stewardship Council; |
| of paper discussed earlier in this document. | | | | An alliance of environmentalists, industry, foresters and |
| Uncoated ordinary calendared paper absorbs ink. This | | | | indigenous and social groups. Together these groups |
| means that the printed image sits within the paper so | | | | have collectively set principles and standards to define |
| to achieve a good printed image the printer will need to | | | | exactly what is involved in good forest management. |
| use a greater amount of ink than in comparison to a | | | | Products carrying the FSC logo are made from wood, |
| coated sheet to achieve the same quality of image. | | | | which has been independently certified as coming from |
| Uncoated paper sends out a message of being | | | | well-managed forests. |
| conscious of the environment and also about being | | | | PEFC - The PEFC Council (Program for the |
| budget conscious. These types of paper are often | | | | Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) |
| used by charities when using print for fundraising | | | | Is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental |
| materials or reports to their supporters. A key | | | | organisation, founded in 1999 which promotes |
| downside to using this type of paper is that due to the | | | | sustainably managed forests through independent third |
| amount of ink needed to achieve a good image, it can | | | | party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance |
| take longer than normal to dry sufficiently enough | | | | mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper |
| before it is converted from a flat sheet to the finished | | | | products that they are promoting the sustainable |
| product thus makes these types of material not very | | | | management of forests. |
| well suited to quick turnaround work. | | | | These days the difference in cost between accredited |
| Uncoated Super calendared paper has similar | | | | and non accredited paper is ever diminishing as |
| properties to that of normal uncoated paper but with a | | | | demand increases so does supply. It is not difficult to |
| few important exceptions. Firstly this material tends to | | | | foresee a time when all paper will be either FSC or |
| be more expensive than using coated materials and | | | | PEFC accredited. |
| will be substantially more expensive than ordinary | | | | Any printer can supply you with either FSC or PEFC |
| uncoated paper. Whilst it still uses more ink than | | | | paper which is produced by ISO14001, EMAS |
| coated paper, due to the glaze imparted on the sheet | | | | accredited mills. But only by using FSC and PEFC |
| during the manufacturing process, the printed image | | | | accredited printers can you then use the respective |
| seems to sit more on the paper as opposed to in. | | | | logos from these two organizations on your printed |
| Again this paper tends to take longer to dry before it | | | | material. It is these logos that consumers recognize for |
| should be handled for finishing. This paper is commonly | | | | the environmental credentials and therefore by |
| used in corporate reports and exclusive product | | | | association your company is seen to be |
| catalogs as it is perceived as being expensive but also | | | | environmentally conscious. |
| environmentally conscious. | | | | A reputable and quality print business should be |
| Matt or Silk papers are coated papers but the coating | | | | ISO14001 and FSC, PEFC accredited. This is your |
| is porous so the ink is absorbed into the coating. The | | | | guarantee that your print is being produced in an |
| resultant effect is that of an image that sits on the | | | | environmentally sound manner. |
