Know The Paper Types Before You Print Your Magazine

By Elsa Noel


Printing magazines is not an easy job. It requires sufficient knowledge about the best printers and the type of paper to use. When we speak of paper in the printing industry is one of the hardest aspects in the preparation. Papers have variety of textures or what they call finishings, weights, colors, and types.

A beginner would normally ask about the right paper best for magazines and printing works. People usually have different responses since it will vary as to their own experience, knowledge, and opinions. They will refer you to a particular paper product, brand, or type and discourage you to use one paper from another. Print your magazine can be tedious but it is best to determine the special finishing or paper type you desire.

Paper finishing refers to the coat that is applied to the paper sheet during reproduction. The most common paper finishing is the uncoated sheets, glossy, and matte sheets. Cast coated papers offer the highest glossiness of the boards and papers. It is perfect for labels, cards, and covers.

For the magazines, use the popular lightweight coated papers. It is well-known for printers due to its thin, light weight, and well coated surface. Most publishers use this paper for brochure making and printing catalogues. Its weight usually is forty grams.

Next is the matte finished paper has a relative roughness texture that averts light's reflection. Matte papers can either be coated or uncoated. Printers choose this kind of paper finishing when they need high quality colored paper jobs.

The paper types are composed of the coated paper, uncoated, and recycled sheets. The first one contains enamel coating permitting it to appear glossy and shiny especially when colored pictures are printed. The ink is not absorbed by the paper and applying the UV coat would enhance its durability. But this paper is unrecyclable and expensive.

The second is the uncoated sheets. These appear not glossy and flat. The ink penetrates into the paper fibers that will not work well for high-resolution magazine pages. But the good side of it is that is can be used again. Thirdly, the recycled paper that is by its name eco-friendly since it came from used papers. It is quite popularly used nowadays but the price is not that friendly.

The last thing to examine is the weight of paper. It refers to its physical weight. This is essential in this business because the reader must be comfortable holding the magazine without difficulty and that it will not tire their arms and hands. Normal magazines have fifty-, seventy-, or sixty- pounds in total weight while for the inside pages have one hundred-, or eighty- pounds.

For paper grades, the paper is able to react with light reflections. Paper grades can either be five will be ultra-bright, four will be extra-bright, and three as bright. With these things in mind, you will avoid loses and just enjoy high daily sales.




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