Filed In:
Paper Glossary
From Jacci Howard Bear, About.com Guide
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.
All the Glossaries: Full Glossary | Layout & Design | Prepress | Printing & Finishing | Software | Type & Fonts | Business | Graphics
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.
All the Glossaries: Full Glossary | Layout & Design | Prepress | Printing & Finishing | Software | Type & Fonts | Business | Graphics
A4
Letter size paper, except in North America...
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...
Antique Finish
Rough textured offset papers...
AQ Coating
Wet paper?
Archival Paper
Acid free (neutral pH) and lignin free paper...
Basic Size
The customary standard sheet size of paper used to determine the basis weight...
Basis Weight
Weight of 500 sheets of paper cut to a standard size...
Bible Paper
A thin, lightweight, opaque printing paper...
Bleed-through
When paper is too thin or the ink applied too heavily the color comes through to the other side...
Bond Paper
A strong, durable paper especially suitable to electronic printing and use in office machines...
Book Paper
A general term for printing paper other than newsprint and bristol...
Bristol Board
A thick paper that originated in Bristol, England...
Bristol Paper
A heavyweight paper with a bulk thickness of .006" or higher...
Broadsheet
A standard size for newspapers in the US...
Bulk
The actual, physical thickness of a piece of paper...
C Folds
Paper fold with 6 panels with two parallel folds in a spiral fold configuration...
Calendering
Smoothing the paper with rollers...
Caliper
How thick it is...
Carbon Paper
For making duplicates on a typewriter...
Card Stock
Often teamed with book paper...
Cast Coated Paper
High gloss finish achieved by casting agains a hot, metal drum...
Catalog Paper
Strong but light in weight...
Coated Paper
Better ink holdout because of a clay coating...
Cockle Finish
A puckered paper made by air drying...
Cold Pressed
Smoothing with cold cylinders...
Cover Paper
Also known as card stock...
Crossfolds
Folds at right angles, usually...
Cut Sizes
Common pre-cut paper sizes...
Debossing
Heat pressing a design into paper...
Deckle Edge
Rough or torn edge on paper...
Double Gatefold
Three parallel folds and edges that meet in the middle...
Double Parallel Folds
All folds run the same direction...
Dull Finish
Smooth paper with a low gloss finish ...
Duplex Paper
Each side is intentionally different...
Eggshell Finish
Eggs aren't really all that smooth...
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
Is that UK or American English?
Felt Finish
Paper pressed with felt...
Felt Side
The printing side of paper...
Finish
A paper surface or an end process to a printing project...
Flaws
Those little blips and smudges that can make a printing job less than perfect...
Flood Coating
Coat the entire page...
French Folds
A cross-folded pattern with uneven panel sizes...
Gatefolds
Paper fold where left and right meet in the middle...
Glazed Finish
High shine paper...
Grammage
Metric measure of paper weight...
Granite Finish
Paper that looks like granite...
Hot pressed
No, not paper pressed with a hot iron...
Index paper
Not paper for an index...
India Paper
Thin but durable paper suitable for large books to avoid excessive bulkiness...
Ink Holdout
Resisting ink absorption...
ISO Sheet Sizes
Common sizes of sheets of paper used in the graphic arts and printing industry outside of North America...
Laid Finish
By machine but looks like handmade...
Letter Size
The usual size of paper for letters and letterhead...
Lignin
Often removed during paper manufacturing...
Like-sidedness
More or less the same on both sides of the paper...
Linen Finish
Like cloth, but it's paper...
M Weight
What 1000 sheets of paper weigh...
Machine Coated
Machinemade paper finish...
Machine Glazed
Machinemade paper with high gloss...
Machine Finish
Smooth paper finish...
Manifold Paper
A lightweight, durable paper...
Matte Finish
Coated, no gloss paper...
Mottled Finish
Dull and glossy finish on the same paper...
Newsprint
What you're newspaper is probably printed on...
North American Sheet Sizes
Paper sizes used in the graphic arts and printing industry in the United States and Canada...
Onionskin Paper
Lightweight paper...
Opacity
Degree of transparency...
Opaque
Can't see through it...
Overprint Varnish
Clear coating...
Paper Grade
Classification of paper based on how it is made and used...
Papeterie Paper
Used for greeting cards...
Parallel Folds
A common fold for letters, brochures, and more...
Parchment Paper
No longer made from animal skins...
Parent Sheet
Paper sizes used by commercial printers...
Picking
Little fibers that need picking from paper...
Rag
Stuff in paper or how type is aligned on paper...
RC Paper
Resin coated paper commonly used for photographic prints and some types of prepress proofs...
Ream
500 sheets of paper...
Ream Weight
Weight of 500 sheets of paper...
Safety Paper
Paper that helps deter alterations...
Spiral Folds
Fold a panel in, in again, and again...
Spot Varnish
A clear coating in just a spot or two (added after printing)...
Supercalendered Paper
Very, very smooth paper...
Tabloid
Not necessarily the news, it's half a broadsheet...
Tag Paper
Paper for hanging tags...
Tooth
More tooth, rougher touch...
Transparency
How much can you see?
Transparent
I can see right through you...
Trim Size
Paper size after printing and cutting...
Two-sidedness
Paper differences on each side due to the manufacturing process...
Uncoated Paper
Paper with no type of coating applied...
UV Coating
Finish cured with ultra-violet light...
Vellum Finish
A paper finish and a book cloth...
Paper Weight
A measure of the tonnage or poundage of paper is the weight and there are several ways to weigh paper...
Wire Side
The side of a sheet paper that is next to the wire in paper manufacturing...
Wove Finish
A type of bond paper...
Writing Paper
Paper you write on... or copy to, or print on...
Xerographic Paper
Paper for copy machines and laser printers...
Zig Zag Fold
Fold it this way, then that way, in a Z or M pattern...