15 Common Types Of Printing Paper
1. Coated Paper
Characteristics
Coated paper has a smooth and glossy surface that delivers vibrant printing colors. It is divided into single-sided coated paper and double-sided coated paper. Double-sided coated paper is the most common type and usually has moderate stiffness.
Common Applications
Widely used for offset printing, including catalogs, calendars, advertising flyers, magazines, color boxes, and paper bags.
Common weights
80gsm, 105gsm, 128gsm, 157gsm, 200gsm, 250gsm, etc.
2. Woodfree Paper
Characteristics
Woodfree paper is produced by applying sizing materials to both sides during papermaking to improve surface performance. It features good dimensional stability, even ink absorption, smoothness, opacity, and strong water resistance.
Common Applications
Mainly used for book covers, text pages, inserts, manuals, posters, maps, promotional materials, color trademarks, and various packaging products.
Common weights
60gsm, 120gsm, 150gsm, etc.
3. Ivory Board
Characteristics
Ivory board is a thick and rigid white paperboard made from high-quality virgin wood pulp. It offers excellent stiffness, toughness, smoothness, and good ink absorption. Usually, one side is coated while the other side remains uncoated.
Common Applications
Commonly used for business cards, book covers, menus, packaging boxes, shopping bags, desk calendars, and hang tags.
Common weights
210gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm, 400gsm, etc.
4. Gold and Silver Card Paper
Characteristics
Gold and silver card paper is produced by laminating or coating standard ivory board with metallic gold or silver ink. Its metallic surface creates a luxurious and elegant appearance after printing. The material has strong metallic gloss and relatively higher cost.
Common Applications
Widely used in color printing packaging industries such as cigarette boxes, wine packaging, food packaging, cosmetic boxes, toothpaste boxes, pharmaceutical packaging, and gift boxes.
Common weights
125gsm, 250gsm, 270gsm, 320gsm, 370gsm, 420gsm, etc.
5. Matte Art Paper
Characteristics
Matte art paper, also called matte coated paper, has lower reflectivity than glossy coated paper. It produces more delicate printing results with a premium texture and usually costs more.
Common Applications
Mainly used for premium catalogs, matte magazines, and luxury printed materials.
Common weights
105gsm, 128gsm, 157gsm, 200gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, etc.
6. Lightweight Coated Paper
Characteristics
Lightweight coated paper, also known as LWC paper, provides printing quality close to coated paper while maintaining lower production cost and lighter weight.
Common Applications
Commonly used for magazines, advertising materials, and product catalogs.
Common weights
48gsm, 50gsm, 58gsm, 64gsm, 70gsm, 80gsm, etc.
7. Pearlescent Paper
Characteristics
Pearlescent paper features a very smooth surface, thicker texture, strong reflection, and pearl-like gloss. Special pearlescent particles are added to the coating layer to create its unique appearance.
Common Applications
Used for premium catalogs, books, luxury packaging, greeting cards, packaging boxes, and hang tags.
Common weights
120gsm, 250gsm, 280gsm, etc.
8. Dowling Paper
Characteristics
Dowling paper is an uncoated printing paper regarded as a high-grade paper for books and publications. It is also called offset printing paper and is suitable for both offset and letterpress printing. It has low expansion and contraction properties.
Common Applications
Commonly used for photo printing, wedding albums, notebooks, and premium publications.
Common weights
70gsm, 80gsm, 100gsm, 120gsm, etc.
9. Glassine Paper
Characteristics
Glassine paper, also known as sulfuric acid transfer paper, is a semi-transparent paper material. It offers high purity, strength, transparency, heat resistance, aging resistance, and dimensional stability. It also resists grease and water penetration, although its ink absorption and color reproduction performance are relatively weak.
Common Applications
Widely used for book front pages, garment tags, and archive records.
Common weights
70gsm, 80gsm, 100gsm, 120gsm, etc.
10. Specialty Paper
Characteristics
Specialty paper refers to paper designed for special purposes or artistic applications. Different specialty papers provide different functions such as water resistance, light blocking, or liquid absorption.
Common Applications
Mainly used for luxury brochures, premium catalogs, and high-end business cards.
Common weights
80gsm, 105gsm, 128gsm, 157gsm, 200gsm, 250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm, etc.
11. Kraft Paper
Characteristics
Kraft paper is a strong and water-resistant packaging paper with very high durability. It is usually brown in color but can also be bleached white. Compared with other papers, its color printing performance is relatively less vivid.
Common Applications
Widely used for packaging paper, envelopes, and shopping bags.
Common weights
100gsm–400gsm, etc.
12. White Kraft Paper
Characteristics
White kraft paper is a type of kraft paper with white surfaces on both sides. It is produced from softwood sulfate bleached pulp and is available in natural white, standard white, high white, snow white, and extra white grades. It offers excellent tensile strength, stiffness, and a wide range of grammages.
Common Applications
Mainly used for paper bags, envelope bags, file bags, handle bags, and shopping bags.
Common weights
80gsm–200gsm, etc.
13. Grey Back Duplex Board
Characteristics
Grey back duplex board is also known as grey-backed white board or grey coated board. The front side is white-grey, the back side is grey, and the core is also grey. It offers moderate stiffness and relatively low cost.
Common Applications
Commonly used for folding cartons, corrugated boxes, paper cards, and hang tags.
Common weights
250gsm, 300gsm, 350gsm, 400gsm, 450gsm, etc.
14. Grey Board
Characteristics
Grey board is manufactured entirely from recycled pulp. It has low density and a fully grey appearance. It is generally unsuitable for printing but provides strong support and rigidity.
Common Applications
Widely used for hardcover book inserts and gift box inner structures.
Common Thicknesses
1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, etc
15. Corrugated Paper
Characteristics
Corrugated paperboard is produced by bonding liner paper with corrugated medium through corrugating rollers. It is generally divided into single-wall and double-wall corrugated board. The material offers low cost, light weight, easy processing, high strength, excellent print adaptability, and convenient storage and transportation.
Common Applications
Mainly used for cartons and industrial packaging.
Common Thickness Types
Corrugated liner paper is available in both yellow and white types. The flute medium and inner liner thickness can also be customized according to packaging requirements.
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