Our Paper Range
We provide quality paper material for your book
Paper brings your designs from a screen and into the physical world. So it is essential you make the right choices for your print work.
Paper Types
Gloss
Gloss is a coated paper with a high shine. Printed colours appear bright and vivid on gloss paper, making it ideal for displaying striking graphics and photographs in colour.
Matte
Matte paper has a muted surface that subtly and evenly refracts light, reducing glare. It also has a soft, textured feel to it. Matte-coated paper is popular for creating books and other large copy-based prints. As well as words being easier to read on matte paper, it’s also easier to write on.
Uncoated
Unlike gloss or silk, this paper does not have a coating, which gives it a very soft finish. This paper stock is very absorbent, and colours have a more understated appearance. Uncoated paper is particularly suitable for items like Postcards since it makes them easy to write on.
Natural
Natural paper is an uncoated paper with all the characteristics of uncoated paper. However, it has a natural off-white colour because it has not undergone the same treatment to appear the same shade of white. Natural paper is a perfect choice for those wanting a more vintage or rustic look.
Recycled
As the name suggests, our recycled paper stock contains 100% recycled fibres. Recycled paper is better for the planet and saves more than 70% of the energy and water used in traditional paper production. It has a natural look but is still very white.
Paper Weights
What is gsm?
The term gsm is an acronym for grammes per square metre. The higher the paper gsm range, the heavier the paper.
90-115 gsm
This range of paper stocks is lightweight and budget-friendly. If you plan to send your prints by post, the light paper means you could pay lower postage fees!
130-170 gsm
This popular paper weight range offers little to no show-through – meaning if you opt for double-sided printing, print work on the other side of the page will not be as obvious. It’s also strong enough to support thread-sewn binding for items like Hardcover Books.
250-450 gsm
Paper in this range is thick and offers a premium look and feel. Perfect for Book covers, Product Catalogues, high-end Flyers and Leaflets, paper stock in this range can be laminated, providing the paper is scored first.
Paper Sizes
We display our products in standard A sizes with other popular sizes available. You can learn more about them here. If you cannot see your preferred print specifications, you can contact us and get a free quote for a custom size.
Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) |
|---|---|---|
A0 | 841 | 1189 |
A1 | 594 | 841 |
A2 | 420 | 594 |
A3 | 297 | 420 |
A4 | 210 | 297 |
A5 | 148 | 210 |
A6 | 105 | 148 |
A7 | 74 | 105 |
Special Sizes
We display our products in standard A sizes with other popular sizes available. You can learn more about them here. If you cannot see your preferred print specifications, you can contact us and get a free quote for a custom size.
Size | Width (mm) | Height (mm) |
|---|---|---|
DL | 99 | 210 |
Square - 210 | 210 | 210 |
Square - 148 | 148 | 148 |
Square - 120 | 120 | 120 |
Square - 105 | 105 | 105 |
Custom size | 105 | 297 |
Custom size | 210 | 280 |
Cover Papers
Cover papers add a front and back cover to bound items and cover the spine. To add a cover, select Add Cover on our Instant Price Calculator and choose your print specifications.
The heavier the cover paper weight, the more rigid your item will be. Please avoid adding a thick cover to bound items with low page counts, as it forces the pages to stay open.
You may want to choose a thinner cover to give your bound items more flexibility, but you can also forgo a cover entirely. This option is known as a self-cover or floppy cover due to the bendable nature of the item.
IMPORTANT: Only cover papers can be laminated, not inner pages. Read more about our cover paper finishes and laminations here.
Suitability
We offer a range of paper weights, but not all options are suitable for every product. But don’t worry – our Instant Price Calculator will not let you choose any unsuitable options.
The method we use to print your order (offset or digital) can also affect what options are available. Our advanced online system will ensure your print specifications correspond to the best printer for your print job.
For example, business stationery is printed often on uncoated paper, similar to the paper stock you might use with a desktop printer. However, you cannot produce the quality of work using digital, uncoated paper, so we would print all business stationery using an offset press.
Upgrading
Occasionally, the paper weight you request for your prints goes out of stock. Instead of delaying your order, we will upgrade the paper weight and print your work on the next weight up. This is a standard procedure in the printing industry, and we will not charge you extra. Plus, we will never downgrade your paper either.
While not an issue for most, it can affect postage costs if you plan to send your prints in the post. If you must have a specific paper weight, let us know before your work goes to production.
Variations in paper production
Paper is a natural material supplied by paper mills in batches. Therefore, there can be weight or thickness variations between batches, resulting in a paper up to 10gsm heavier or lighter.
We may also buy our paper from different merchants, which can sometimes lead to variations in our paper stock.