The 16 types of paper: features and functions

The paper is, without a doubt, one of the most used articles. It is not only used to write on it, as is the case with the paper we find in books and magazines, but it is also used to pack, print photographs and paint pictures.

Of course, paper is one of the most versatile materials that human beings have created, having as many as there are needs in the market, changing and adapting to everything.

Next we are going to talk about the different types of paper, what are they used for and what are their characteristics that differentiate them from each other.

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Characteristics of the paper

There are many different types of paper on the market, varying according to their characteristics and function. It is thought that this material was invented in Ancient Egypt, around 3000 BC. C., a civilization that knew how to take advantage of the papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) to transform it into parchments in which they wrote all kinds of medical and mythological treatises. With the passage of time and, especially, thanks to the cheaper production, paper has been converted and adapted to different contexts and uses.

Not all papers have the same function, since, depending on their properties, they are used for one thing or another. Among the most important properties of paper we find:

1. Grammage

The grammage is, in short, the weight of the paper per square meter. To find out this property applied to a specific paper, the thickness is divided by the volume. Depending on the grammage, it is possible to obtain a higher quality in different types of functionalities but, above all, in prints.

2. Volume

Volume is the amount of air in the paper. The more air it contains, the lighter it will be, but it must be taken into account that it will also take up more space.

3. Paper thickness

The thickness refers to the rigidity and stability of the material. It is established by multiplying the grammage by the volume. This thickness, as can be assumed, is what determines the width of the paper between the two sides. The thicker a paper, the more useful it will be for applying different varieties of aqueous paints.

4. Rugosity

Roughness is a fundamental property when selecting the type of paper. This property affects the tracing of the ink in the process of printing or writing on the surface of the paper.. Therefore, the roughness and the type of ink that is going to be placed on the paper must be taken into account if you want to have a good quality print or drawing.

5. Opacity

Opacity has to do with how light the color of the paper is, affecting how visible the ink is applied on it. Depending on its opacity, the color applied in the print may vary, causing what is seen on the monitor and the final printed result to differ greatly or not.

As its name suggests, the opacity of the paper is related to the amount of light that is projects onto this material and the higher the opacity, the greater the contrast with the print obtained.

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Types of paper and their functions

Once the properties of paper are understood, we can proceed to explain the types of paper that exist.

1. Repro paper

Repro paper is also called offset or printing paper. It is the most common type of paper on the market and is manufactured in large quantities.

Generally, repro paper folios are made with little cellulose and a lot of load, something that facilitates printing and, especially, color printing. It can be produced in runs of 9 or 10 meters wide and at a speed of 2,000 meters per minute.

The most common grammages are between 70 and 90 grams, although it can reach 100 grams. When making them, we try to find the greatest possible whiteness, this being their main advantage. However, as it is not intended for uses in which great manipulation is required, it only has the necessary resistance to be able to pass through the printer and be folded.

2. Glossy paper

Satin paper has a very well defined and aesthetically pleasing finish and is characterized by its gloss. It is a type of paper that stands out for being really soft, with a matte glossy final result. It is expensive, and is often used for printing very high-quality images and photos.

3. Adhesive paper

As its name suggests, adhesive paper has the peculiarity that it can be hooked. This is because has one side that has characteristics similar to that of printer paper, while the other has an adhesive side that serves to be able to stick easily. It is a paper that stands out for its firmness and elasticity, being used to make labels, rolled ribbons, wrapping paper and stickers.

The glue used is made from resins or synthetic rubbers and can be glued to different surfaces. In recent decades, more environmentally friendly adhesive papers have been invented, made with glues that do not leave a trace of substances.

4. Recycled paper

Actually, the purpose of recycled paper can be very diverse. This kind of paper It is made from the remains of other papers and its use has been growing in recent years due to greater concern for the environment. The percentage of recycled paper to make it is usually indicated on the packaging, since it can be made completely or partially from waste paper already used.

Although its main advantage is being a good ecological option, this material does not have great qualities for printing nor does it have good final finishes. Normally it resembles repro paper, although it has a less attractive tone, rather than white it is dirty white and has different resistance.

5. Bond paper

No, it is not named in honor of James Bond, although agent 007 surely used it on more than one occasion. It is the letter type paper, which presents great resistance and can be manufactured in colors or white, normally having a grammage between 60 and 130 gr. It is often used to print letterheads, envelopes, and book interiors. It is a paper that can be used for both inkjet, laser and photocopiers.

6. Glossy paper

Glossy paper is the one used especially for printing photos, although it is also used with other types of images and texts. It is of great quality and good consistency, but it has the disadvantage of having a much higher price than other papers. Glossy paper can only be used in inkjet printers, since laser printers can melt the paper due to their high temperatures.

7. Bio or ecological paper

It may be thought that bio and recycled paper are the same, but they are not. While they share the fact that they are made with the environment in mind, bio paper is because It is done in compliance with certain manufacturing requirements. Usually it is done without cutting down natural forests or, if this is the case, it is reforested afterwards. In addition, the use of chemicals harmful to the environment is avoided.

On the other hand, in recycled paper, although the remains of papers are recycled to avoid having to manufacture moreover, the paper already used does not necessarily have to be bio, or to have respected the environment at all. In other words, recycled paper may have traces of papers with chemicals that are harmful to the environment and that were manufactured damaging the forests.

8. Coated or coated paper

Coated or coated paper has a low resistance, because it is composed of a large amount of charge and it is made of short fibers rather than long fibers. However, it has a high print quality. Calcium carbonate is usually used as a binding agent and it has high roughness, which makes the ink retain more quickly and remain more homogeneous.

On the cellulose a layer of stucco is applied that serves as a coating, which generates better results in printing and definition. When applying the ink, it stays on the surface of the paper, making the result after printing more brilliant and colorful. Coated paper is used to make brochures, magazines, or books.

Normally, white coated paper is preferred since, in case the coating cracks, the background color will not be seen. There are also options with matte or semi-matte finishes, but although the ink will also stay on the surface, the gloss of the ink will be lower. It is produced in sheets 7 to 8 meters wide and at a speed of 1,000 meters per minute.

9. Tissue paper

Tissue paper is characterized by its high absorbency and softness. Its resistance to water varies depending on its purpose, which is usually domestic.. For example, tissue paper is what we can find in napkins and kitchen paper, made to withstand water and not dissolve when absorbed.

Different treatments are used during its production and, normally, it is produced with virgin fiber. Its production is usually done in 4 meter wide rolls at speeds of 2,000 meters per minute, then cut to size to make handkerchiefs and napkins.

10. Newsprint

Newsprint is the one that It is used to make newspapers and it makes sense, since this material has a very early expiration date. As newspapers are publications whose use does not exceed the day, it is not profitable to use materials that are resistant or withstand the passage of years, as would be the case of books and magazines.

Newsprint is made from mechanical pulp, which contains scraps of recycled paper and the like that make it slightly white, rough and smelling bad. Although in recent decades the coloring of these publications has become popular, as they were not originally intended for it, the impression is usually unclear and defined. Its resistance is very low, the one necessary only so that when turning the page it does not break.

11. Paperboard

The paperboard is made from paper with different thicknesses. In its preparation, raw and unbleached pasta is used, making it maintain its characteristic brown color. As its aesthetic part does not matter much, it is usually made with recycled paper.

The cardboard is made with three layers of paper, two smooth exteriors and a corrugated interior that is what gives the box strength. It is thanks to this wavy layer that the material is strong, but, nevertheless, as its aesthetic part is barely treated and opacity is not concerned, it is a very bad material to use in printing.

12. Cardboard

It can be related to cardboard, although it is used for smaller products. It is the cardboard that we can find in cereal or cookie boxes. It is made from very short fibers, which are rarely virgin fibers, which is why it usually has a rather grayish or brown color that is usually the internal part.

However, on the outside there is an impression. This is because it is a product and, like any other, your cover letter is essential for it to be purchased. The outer part usually has a coating layer on which the brand of the product, images of it and its name are printed.

The weight varies depending on what it is intended for or the specific application and the product. It must have the necessary resistance to withstand the openings and closings of the product, from the time it is released until its completion.

13. Cardboard

The cardboard is a type of paper thicker than repro, with greater rigidity and volume.

It is similar to cardboard paper, but it differs from it because, in principle, no coating layer is applied to it and its visual properties are taken care of, especially opacity. Card stock is the best material for printing on which to apply finishes and varnishes. It is used to make folders, packages and advertising material.

14. Fine art paper

Fine art paper is the name given to various types of papers whose purpose is to be used in the world of plastic arts. Thus, there are different fine art papers depending on whether they are intended for techniques such as watercolor, tempera, acrylic paint, making sketches ...

15. Craft paper

Although it could be included in the role of fine arts, craft paper is rarely painted.

It is a paper used a lot in children's crafts, being manufactured in different colors and presenting a high degree of roughness. It is also the same paper that can be used as wrapping and wrapping paper.

16. Carbonless and vegetable paper

Carbonless paper is a material that, when applying pressure to it, it can stain. It has a low grammage, of about 55 g / m2. Its surface is prepared so that, when writing, the mark of the used instrument is marked on it and, therefore, it is used in copies for delivery notes, checkbooks, invoices ...

Vegetable paper is not carbonless paper, but its function and characteristics are similar. It is a paper also called onion paper and is used to carry out tracing tasks, since it is totally translucent. Carbonless paper is placed under the sheet that is being written on, while the vegetable paper is placed on top of the sheet to be copied.

Bibliographic references:

• Hunter, Dard (1978). Papermaking, The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft. New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-23619-6.
• Göttsching, Lothar; Gullichsen, Johan; Pakarinen, Heikki; Paulapuro, Hannu; Yhdistys, Suomen Paperi-Insinöörien; Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (2000). Recycling fiber and deinking. Finland: Fapet Oy. pp. 12–14. ISBN 978-952-5216-07-3. OCLC 247670296.