4. Performance characteristics of paper and boards

Question 1

What are the stock forms for papers and boards?

Answer 1

• standard sizes of paper stock forms are from A0 to A8
  
  • each ‘A’ size is half the size of the previous one (A4 is half the size of A3)
• ‘paper - untrimmed sizes’
  
  • raw format (A - RA)
  • supplementary raw format (A - SRA)
  • slightly larger than standard sizes to allow for colour bleeding from printing
    
    • paper is trimmed after printing
• paper thickness is measured is grams per square metre (gsm)
  
  • lower gsm = lightweight, easier to bend, cut ans score

Question 2

Papers and boards are…?

Answer 2

Compliant materials
- can be scored, folded and cut with basic tooling

Question 3

What is the original source of paper

Answer 3

Wood pulp

Question 4

What happens during manufacture of paper to make it white?

Answer 4

Bleaches are added

Question 5

What are papers and boards suitable for and why?

Answer 5

Due to the natural source, paper and boards can be recycled and will biodegrade if left in landfill

Question 6

What are the properties of layout paper?

Answer 6

• thin
• translucent
• smooth surface

Question 7

What are the uses of layout paper?

Answer 7

• sketching
• quick ink
• technical drawing
• tracing

Question 8

What are the properties of cartridge paper?

Answer 8

• off-white
• usually slightly textured surface

Question 9

What are the uses of cartridge paper?

Answer 9

• sketching
• rendering in pencil, ink and pastel

Question 10

What are the properties of tracing paper?

Answer 10

• translucent
• slightly thicker than layout paper

Question 11

What are the uses of tracing paper?

Answer 11

• copying images when sketching

Question 12

What are the properties of bleed-proof paper?

Answer 12

• similar to cartridge paper
• colours do not run

Question 13

What are the uses of bleed-proof paper?

Answer 13

• spirit-based marker rendering

Question 14

What are the properties of treated paper?

Answer 14

• plain paper with clear binder or dye layer applied to help hold the image onto the paper surface

Question 15

What are the uses of treated paper?

Answer 15

• photographic printing

Question 16

What are the properties of watercolour paper?

Answer 16

• available in absorbent, smooth, hot-pressed, cold-pressed (more texture), rough (heavily textured)

Question 17

What are the uses of watercolour paper?

Answer 17

• watercolour painting

Question 18

What are the properties of corrugated card?

Answer 18

• carton board outer layers
• corrugated middle layer
  = ability to provide protection against impact

Question 19

What are the uses of corrugated card?

Answer 19

• protective packaging
• model making
• prototypes
• food packaging (takeaway boxes)

Question 20

What are the properties of bleached card?

Answer 20

• chemically treated to brighten the surface to make it suitable for high quality printing

Question 21

What are the uses of bleached card?

Answer 21

• greetings cards
• high quality packaging

Question 22

What are the properties of mount board?

Answer 22

• made from compressed fine cotton fibres to produce rigid board

Question 23

What are the uses of mount board?

Answer 23

• presenting artwork
• picture mounting
• modelling

Question 24

What are the properties of duplex card?

Answer 24

• two layers of paper
• exterior coated to make it more water resistant, give a glossy sheen and waxy feel

Question 25

What are the uses of duplex card?

Answer 25

• food packaging (juice or milk cartons, disposable cups, plates)

Question 26

What are the properties of foil-backed and laminated card?

Answer 26

• card with polymer film or foil applied
  
  • to provide water resistant and/or heat insulating layer

Question 27

What are the uses of foil-backed and laminated card?

Answer 27

• drinks packaging
• milk cartons
• takeaway box lids

Question 28

What are the properties of metal effect card?

Answer 28

• high quality card
• thin metal effect layer applied to outer surface for enhanced aesthetics
• can be embossed

Question 29

What are the uses of metal effect card?

Answer 29

• gift boxes and packaging
• high quality metal effect business cards

Question 30

What are the properties of moulded paper pulp?

Answer 30

• recycled paper pulp moulded when wet and dried to a specific shape
• usually smooth on visible inside surface
• rough textured outer surface

Question 31

What are the uses of moulded paper pulp?

Answer 31

• moulded packaging
• eco-friendly packaging
• egg boxes
• fruit packaging