Paper Specs

This page contains useful information on paper sizes, envelope sizes and other helpful information:-

• Available Stocks
• Paper Sizes
• Envelope Sizes
• Paper Weight Uses
• Calculating Paper Weight

Available Stocks

Matt Finish - Coated matt paper is the most popular for a silk feel. It is used for a wide range of printing from brochures and flyers to menus. It is easier to write on than gloss and does not reflect light. With the paper still being coated, it is not ideal to use for stationery.

Gloss Finish - Top choice, Gloss paper is used for colour printing and is a good choice for photo printing also. It is smooth to touch and shiny to see. However due to the reflective nature of the paper, it can show fingerprints more easily than matt paper. It is commonly used for posters, brochures and flyers. The high quality stock creates a very professional finish.

Bond Finish - A bond finish stock is usually chose for the advantage of easy writing on as this is an uncoated stock. Uncoated paper is exactly what it sounds like – paper that has no extra coating or paper finishing.

Available Finishes

Gloss Lamination - It is smooth to touch and shiny to see but this will give you glare. It is commonly used for posters, brochures and flyers. The high quality finish creates a very professional image. The lamination is wipe clean and will make the product longer lasting.

Matt Lamination - Very professional, silk feel finish. Matt Lamination is ideal for Menus, Swing Tags, Business Cards and much more. This lamination eliminates glare almost completely unlike Gloss. It gives a great finish to any printed product with the advantage of longer lasting. Like Gloss, the lamination is wipe clean.

Encapsulated Lamination - Unlike our standard lamination, Encapsulated Lamination seals the edges making the product even longer lasting and water resistant. Gives a great, strong finish to any Menu, Book, Swing Tag etc.

Paper Sizes

Listed below are some commonly used standard paper sizes which are the most economical to print but any size is possible. All sizes are in mm.

Envelope Sizes

Envelopes are available in many sizes and also can be made to order, although this is expensive. Listed above are the most commonly used sizes which will fit normal paper sizes e.g. A4 flat sheet will fit C4 envelopes. Other sized envelopes are used to fit folded paper sizes e.g. A4 folded 3 times will fit in to a DL envelope.

Paper Weight

Printable paper comes in weights of 70gms (very thin) up to 500gms (heavy card). Below are the normal uses for different thicknesses of paper stock.

Calculating Total Weight of Paper

If you need to know the total weight, i.e. 500 sheets of A4 150gms, this can be calculated by using the formular below. A simple calculation is required to get the total weight of paper for parcels to find out postages costs etc. The calculation is the weight (gms) x area/size x quantity and if printed add 10% to the overall weight for ink and moisture which adds weight. You will also need to consider the packaging weight you use and add this accordingly.
Use the formula below:
Length in metres x width in metres x weight in gsm. This gives the weight of 1000 sheets then simply x by number of sheets required
i.e. 500 sheets of A3 (297x420)130gms =
.297 x .420 x 130 = 16.2kg for 1000 sheets then x .5 (for 500 sheets) = 8.1kg