Archival
Acid Free, permanent lasting paper.

Basis Weight
The paper industry has categorized paper into seven categories of paper. The seven categories, with their seven basic established sizes, represent the foundation upon which all paper is related, one grade to the next. The seven categories are as follows; Book, Bond and Writing, Cover, Postcard and Bristol, Printing Bristol, Index and Tag. The basis weight is the weight of 500 sheets (a ream) of paper in the basic size for that grade. An example would be 500 sheets of sub. 80 cover paper in the basis size of 20 X 26 which would weigh 80lbs.

Book Weight
Same as “text” – generally heavier than writing weight, lighter than cover weight.

Caliper
Caliper is the thickness of a single sheet of paper measured with a tool called a micrometer. The Measurement is expressed in thousandths (1/1000 of an inch).

• Carbonless
  Paper with ink encapsulated on the surface. When pressure is applied to the first layer, an image appears on the second layer (up to 6 layers).
• Cover
  Heavy, durable paper, sometimes called “card stock.”
• Cut Stock
  8.5” x 11” (letter), 8.5” x 14” (legal), or 11” x 17” (tabloid)
• Finish
  Surface of the paper (texture). Some common finishes:
  • Cockle
    Basically flat, but with a little bit of tooth, usually on a cotton bond
  • Felt
    Rough, looks like the texture of speckled walls
  • Laid
    Rough, linear pattern
  • Linen
    Embossed pattern, looks like fabric
  • Smooth
    Just what it sounds like
  • Vellum
    Basically flat, but with a little bit of tooth
  • Wove
    Smooth
  • Folio
    Any paper that is 17” x 22” or larger
• Grain
  Paper is made up of many different types of fibers: wood, rag, plant, cloth and pulp. As the paper is made a combination fibers, pulp, chemicals and water flow through the paper making machinery. The fibers align themselves with the flow.
• Grain Direction
  The Direction or predominant orientation of the paper fibers, parallel to the flow on the machine is what makes up the grain direction of the paper. Direction of the fibers in the paper. “Grain long” is when the grain runs in the same direction as the longest side of the sheet. Grain direction is usually indicated by second number, or underlined number. Important for runnability and folding.
• Gummed Paper
  Paper that has a gum on one side (lick and stick, like on old-fashioned postage stamp).
• Opacity
  Opacity is the ability of paper to prevent print from Showing through on the unprinted side. Usually the lower the basis weight, the lower the opacity, the more the print will show through.
• Parent
  Any paper that is 17” x 22” or larger
• Pressure Sensitive
  Paper that has an adhesive on one side, and a liner covering that adhesive (Starliner, Crack & Peel).
• Rag
  Cotton Content, usually 25%, sometimes 100%.
• Ream
  500 sheets. Some board and cover stocks are available 125/package or 250/package, but a “ream” is still 500 sheets.
• Smoothness
  The smoothness of the paper is partially determined by the type of fibers used in making the paper. Generally, the shorter the fibers are, the more level or “smoother” the paper will be. Other considerations For making paper smooth include the way the paper is made on the machine, the amount of other products (such as fillers) are in the paper and the degree to which the sheet is pressed between steel rolls at the end of the manufacturing process (also known as calendaring). The types of coatings and additional calendarings (supercalendaring) also add significantly to the smoothness. A smoothness tester called an air-leak tester is used to measure the rate of air flow between a gauge or test plate and the paper surface.
• Text
  Same as “book” – generally heavier than writing weight, lighter than cover weight.
• Watermark
  A design imprinted into paper at the wet end of the machine
  • ? Customark
    A patented process owned by Fox River. Creates a chemical watermark after the paper is already made. Can be purchased in quantities as small as 2 cartons of 8.5” x 11”.
• Writing
  Usually 20#, 24#, or 28#, used for letterhead. Can be watermarked, some have cotton content.