Commercial Printing Paper: Brightness, Weight, and Coating

The commercial printing industry has a language all to itself. For anyone diving into their first commercial printing project, this language barrier can be intimidating at best. For example, the type of paper you choose to print on has a number of key descriptors: brightness, weight, and coating. Each of these describes the different aspect of the paper and will help you choose which kind of paper you need for your printing project.

Brightness
In commercial printing, the term “brightness” refers to how much light is reflected off of the paper. Paper brightness is on a scale from 0-100, with 100 being the brightest paper. The brighter the paper, the more vibrant your colors will appear. Do not confuse brightness with the whiteness. Whiteness refers to the shade of your paper and has little to nothing to do with brightness.

Weight
Commercial printing firms refer to the weight of the paper based on how much 500 sheets of paper weighs in pounds. If 500 sheets of paper weighs 120 pounds, then the paper will be referred to as having a 120 pound weight. As precise as this may seem, paper weight is not an exact science. Treat weight as a ballpark term with the final decision being made only after examining the paper yourself. For instance, don’t assume that 120 pound paper, typically considered a heavier stock paper, will actually meet your needs. When in doubt, ask your printer and don’t be afraid to request a sample.

Coating
Coating or coated paper refers to a film that improves how light reflects off of the paper. Coating can either be on both sides or only one side of the paper. The most common type of coating is called glossy paper, and is used for pictures and other graphics that really need to stand out.

Now that you know a little bit more about paper attributes, dealing with a commercial printing firm will be that much more painless. But don't stop here. There is a whole language to be learned and the more you know, the better you will be able to communicate your needs.

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Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of the developments in the commercial printing industry and its benefits for small to medium-scale businesses.

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