<h2 style="color: #c24d00;">Thickness</h2> <p>Paper comes in different thicknesses. Generally, thicker stocks are called cover weight (aka cardstock) and thinner stocks are called text weight. The weight, or thickness, of stock determines the name of the stock.</p> <h2 style="color: #c24d00;">Common Paper Weights:</h2> <p><strong>Book Text: </strong> 20#, 24#, 60# text weight</p> <p><strong>Invitations: </strong>80#, 100# cover weight</p> <p><strong>Business Cards: </strong>110# cover weight</p> <p><strong>Letterhead: </strong>Uncoated paper of various text weight</p> <h2 style="color: #c24d00;">Paper Grain</h2> <p>Paper contains fibers. The direction of the fibers run is the grain of the paper. Paper grain is identified as short or long grain depending on whether the grain runs parallel to the long edge or the short edge of the paper. Grain is important to note when paper must be folded. A cleaner fold will run with the grain, whereas folding the paper against the grain tends to make the fold look curved or jagged and can also make ink flake off the paper. Grain can also affect the way paper lays in a book and how thick the stock can feel.</p> <h2 style="color: #c24d00;">Coated Papers</h2> <p>Coated paper is coated with a surface sealant on it in order to add qualities to the paper. Uncoated paper, which has no such coating is more porous/absorbent. Uncoated paper is often called "bond" paper/stock. Paper coatings allow cleaner and crisper printing due to the reduction of dot gain, which means that the ink dots stay on the surface of the stock better and therefore look brighter and crisper. Some common coatings are gloss, matte, satin, and dull.</p>

<h2 style="color: #c24d00;">Uncoated Papers</h2> <p>Uncoated is, as its name suggests, an uncoated paper. It absorbs ink and therefore may not appear as bright as other stocks. There are many ranges of textures available.</p>