Product Tips
            Paper Terminology 101

Weight:
Papers can be as light as newsprint or as heavy as cardboard. Usually, standard business papers range between 20 and 24 lbs. Greeting card and cover papers fall anywhere in the range of 60 to 79 lbs.

Thickness:
The thickness of the paper affects its handling characteristics and is most applicable to photo papers. Generally, thicker media is stiffer: it resists creases and tears. Thickness is most often expressed in "mil." A mil is one  thousandth of one inch or 0.001 inch.

Brightness:
Brightness refers to the amount of light reflected from the surface of the paper. The more light, the higher the brightness value. Higher brightness value means you get a crisper text and a better background for vivid images and colors photos.

Opacity:
Opacity describes how well the paper blocks the passage of light through it.  The more opaque a paper, the less it shows what has been printed on the other side. Opacity is particularly important when selecting paper for brochures, newsletters, calendars, and other applications where you need to print on both sides.

Finish:
Finishes are becoming more and more sophisticated. Choosing the right finish dictates how the printed piece looks. For example, many people opt for the mirror-like finish of high gloss for color photographs, and the matte finish for black and white photographs.

Scoring:
A scored line makes it easier to fold greeting cards and brochures, for a more consistent and professional-looking result.