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Paper Glossary

Exlore the terminology of paper, especially as it applies to desktop publishing. Get definitions, examples, and tutorials. Learn about paper measurements, paper finishes, and paper folding.

Alpha Index of All Desktop Publishing Terms

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Q X Y Z

Also See: Printing & Finishing Glossary

A sizes - A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 (ISO Sheet Sizes)
International paper sizes with A4 being roughly equivalent to letter size paper used in the United States...

Absorbency
The ability of paper to absorb and hold ink...

Accordian Folds
Zig-zag folds with 6 panels and two parallel folds...

Acid Free Paper
Paper which has had the acid removed from the pulp...

AQ Coating
Wet paper?

Archival Paper
Acid free (neutral pH) and lignin free paper...

Basic Size
Basic size - The customary standard sheet size of paper used to determine the basis weight...

Basis Weight
Basis weight - the weight, measured in pounds, of 500 sheets of paper cut to a standard size...

Bible Paper
Bible Paper - A thin, lightweight, opaque printing paper...

Bleed-through
Bleed-through - When paper is too thin or the ink applied too heavily the color comes through to the other side...

Blind Embossing
Blind embossing - An embossed image without ink or foil that is the same color as the paper...

Bond Paper
Bond paper - A strong, durable paper especially suitable to electronic printing and use in office machines...

Book Paper
Book Paper - A general term for printing paper other than newsprint and bristol...

Bristol Board (Bristol Paper)
A heavyweight paper with a bulk thickness of .006" or higher...

Bristol Paper
A heavyweight paper with a bulk thickness of .006" or higher...

Brochure Folds (C Folds)
A common type of fold for tri-fold brochures...

Bulk
The actual, physical thickness of a piece of paper...

Business Letterfolds (C Folds)
A common type of fold for tri-fold brochures and business letters...

C Folds
paper and finishing term

Calendering
paper term

Caliper (Bulk)
paper term

Card Stock (Cover Paper)
paper term

Cast-coated Paper
paper term

Catalog Paper
paper term

Coated Paper
Better ink holdout because of a clay coating...

Cockle Finish
paper term

Cold Pressed
paper term

Combo Embossing (Foil Embossing)
printing term

Cover Paper
paper term

Crossfolds
paper and finishing term

Cut Sizes
paper term

Debossing
A process of creating depressions rather than raised impressions as in embossing...

Deckle Edge
The ragged edge of the paper as it comes from the papermaking machine...

Double Folds (Double Parallel Folds)
Fold it twice in the same direction...

Double Gatefold
Three parallel folds and edges that meet in the middle...

Double Parallel Folds
All folds run the same direction...

Double-faced (Duplex Paper)
paper term

Dull Finish
Smooth paper with a low gloss finish ...

Duplex Paper
paper term

Eggshell Finish
Uncoated, uncalendered paper with a fairly rough texture...

Embossed Finish
A design or pattern pressed into paper during the manufacturing process...

Embossing
A three-dimensional design or image on paper... Simulated three-dimensional look done in graphics software...

English Finish
A smooth, uniform, uncoated book paper...

Feather Edge (Deckle Edge)
paper term

Felt Finish
paper term

Felt Side
paper term

Flood Coating
Coat the entire page...

Foil Embossing
printing term

Foil Stamping
printing term

French Folds
This cross-folded pattern has uneven panel sizes...

Gatefolds
paper and finishing term

Glazed Finish
paper term

Grammage
paper term

Granite Finish
paper term

Hot Pressed
Smooth surfaced paper...

Index Paper
A stiff, not too thick, inexpensive paper with a smooth finish...

India Paper (Bible Paper)
A thin, lightweight, opaque printing paper...

Ink Absorbtion (Absorbency)
The ability of paper to absorb and hold ink or other liquids...

Ink Holdout
The ability of paper to resist penetration of the ink and not absorb it into the fibers...

ISO Sheet Sizes
Common sizes of sheets of paper used in the graphic arts and printing industry outside of North America...

Laid Finish
paper term

Lignin
paper term

Like-sidedness
paper term

M Weight
The weight in pounds of 1000 sheets of paper...

Machine Coated (Machine Finish)
Paper that may be coated by machine on one or two sides...

Machine Finish
Smooth finish paper that gets its surface texture during the papermaking process rather than as a separate manufacturing operation...

Machine Glazed
paper made by machine... that has a high-gloss finish on only one side...

Manifold Paper
A lightweight, dense and durable paper often interleaved with carbon paper to make carbon sets for typing duplicates...

Matte Finish
Coated paper with a dull, no-gloss finish without luster...

Mottled Finish
An uneven finish characterized by both dull and glossy areas...

Natural Finish
A type of paper with a fuzzy surface...

North American Sheet Sizes
Paper sizes used in the graphic arts and printing industry in the United States and Canada...

Offset Paper (Book Paper)
A type of paper suitable for printing, (except newsprint and bristol), especially offset printing...

Onionskin Paper
A lightweight, durable rag paper normally with a cockle finish...

Opacity
The measure of how opaque or see-through a graphic or a piece of paper is...

Overprint Varnish
Clear coating...

Paper Grade
paper term

Parallel Center Folds (Double Parallel Folds)
paper and finishing term

Parallel Folds
A common fold for letters, brochures, and more...

Parchment Paper
paper term

Parent Sheet Size
Larger size sheets of paper used by commerical printers...

Picking
paper term

Rag & Rag Content
The amount of cotton fiber relative to the other materials in the paper pulp...

RC Paper
Resin coated paper commonly used for photographic prints and some types of prepress proofs...

Ream Weight
The weight in pounds of 500 sheets of paper...

Ream
500 sheets of printing paper...

Reprographic Paper (Bond Paper)
A strong, durable paper especially suitable to electronic printing and use in office machines including copiers and desktop printers...

Right Angle Folds (Crossfolds)
Two or more folds going in different directions, typically at right angles...

Roll Folds (Spiral Folds)
Two or more parallel folds that fold in on each other...

Safety Paper
paper term

Satin Finish (Dull Finish)
paper term

SC Paper (Supercalendered Paper)
paper term

Spiral Folds
Fold a panel in, in again, and again...

Spot Varnish
A clear coating in just a spot or two...

Substance (Basis Weight)
paper term

Suede Finish (Dull Finish)
paper term

Supercalendered Paper
paper term

Tabloid
paper term

Tag Paper
paper term