Paper Tigers
In its earliest forms, paper came in one finish - rough - and one weight - heavy. Today, you can chose from a multitude of paper types for your project.
First, there's the coating. You've seen uncoated paper in books, as well as copy and fax machines. You turn coated pages when you read a magazine.
Coated paper has a clay or similar outer layer on one or both sides, to prevent ink from being absorbed into the paper's fibers. Coated papers can be dull, gloss, or matte, and are almost always white. They allow sharper, brighter images, on a more reflective surface.
Uncoated paper is available in many finishes, colors and weight and is generally more absorbent than coated papers. Letterhead, envelopes and books are always printed on uncoated paper.
You have probably heard references to a paper's weight in pounds. That weight is the designated fixed weight of 500 sheets in the paper's basic sheet size. Since the basic sheet size is not the same for all types of paper, papers with equivalent weights may not weigh the same amount per cubic foot. For example, 80 lb. cover stock comes in oversized sheets, so it would actually be a lighter stock than standard-sized 80 lb. text paper. Yes, it is confusing.
Here are some types of paper and their typical uses:
Bond: Uncoated. Twenty-pound bond is the standard for copy machines.
Opaque: An economical paper, used for newsletters and direct mail pieces because there is little or no show-through from the front to back of a page. Available in cover and text weights, and always uncoated.
Text: A high-quality paper used for books, magazines and annual reports. Text papers can be coated or uncoated, and weigh in the range of 70 to 80 lbs.
Cover: Cover stock is typically used for postcards, business cards, brochure and annual report covers. Cover stocks can be coated or uncoated, and usually weigh between 60 and 100 lbs.
Writing: Used for stationery, these papers are manufactured with special surface treatments to make sure the ink from pens and printing devices is not spread out by absorption. High quality writing paper includes a percentage of cotton. Writing papers are always uncoated, and are generally 20 to 24 lbs.