Papers and Boards

Question 1

Stock forms

Answer 1

A0 (largest) - A8 (smallest)

Each ‘A’ is half the size of the previous one

Commercial printers use untrimmed paper sizes which are slightly larger than standard A sizes to allow for colour bleeding

Paper thickness is measured in grams per square meter (gsm)

Lower gsm = lighter, easier to bend, cut and score

Question 2

General performance characteristics

Answer 2

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

Wood pulp is the original source - grey

Bleached are added to whiten the paper

Suitable for recycling or biodegrade naturally in landfill

Question 3

Layout paper

Answer 3

Thin translucent paper with a smooth surface

Cheap
50gsm
USED TO PRODUCE SKETCH PADS - ideas can easily be traced and altered

Uses:

Sketching
Quick ink
Technical drawing
Tracing

Question 4

Cartridge paper

Answer 4

Off-White paper, usually with a slightly textured surface
120-150 gsm
Matt finish acid free

Uses:
PRINTING
Sketching
Rendering - pencil, ink and pastel

Question 5

Tracing paper

Answer 5

Translucent paper, slightly thicker than layout paper
60-90 gsm

Uses:
COPYING IMAGES
Good for fine details

Question 6

Bleed proof paper

Answer 6

Similar to cartridge paper but is bleed proof - colours don’t run
120-150 gsm

Uses:
SPIRIT BASED MARKER RENDERING

Question 7

Treated paper

Answer 7

Plain paper with a clear binder or dye layer applied to help hold the image on the surface

Used for PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING

Question 8

Watercolour paper

Answer 8

Available in absorbent, smooth, hot pressed or more textured cold pressed (enhances the coloured image by allowing more colour to be absorbed) and heavily textured rough

Used for WATERCOLOUR PAINTING

Question 9

Corrugated card

Answer 9

Composed of a flute (corrugated middle layer) and two carton board outer layers
250+ gsm

Can provide protection against impact

Uses:

PROTECTIVE PACKAGING
Model making
Prototyping ideas
Food packaging - takeaway boxes

Question 10

Bleached card

Answer 10

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

Uses:

GREETINGS CARDS
HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING

Question 11

Mount board

Answer 11

Made from compressed fine cotton fibres to produce a rigid board

Uses:

Presenting artwork
Picture mounting
MODELLING

Question 12

Duplex card

Answer 12

Made up of two layers of paper, with the exterior often coated to make it more water-resistant and to give it a glossy sheen and waxy feel

Uses:

FOOD PACKAGING - e.g. juice or milk cartons
Disposable cups and plates

Question 13

Foil-backed and laminated card

Answer 13

Card with polymer film or foil applied to provide a waterproof and/or heat-insulating layer

Uses:
DRINKS PACKAGING
Milk cartons
Take away box lids

Question 14

Metal effect card

Answer 14

High-quality card with a thin metal effect layer applied to the outer surface to enhance aesthetics

Can be embossed

Uses:

GIFT PACKAGING
High-quality metal effect business cards

Question 15

Moulded paper pulp

Answer 15

Recycled paper pulp moulded when wet and dried to a specific shape

Usually smooth on the visible inside surface and rough textured on the outer surface

Uses:

Moulded packaging products
Eco-friendly packaging
Egg boxes
Fruit packaging

Question 16

Cardboard environmental considerations

Answer 16

Manufactured from renewable and sustainable materials

Managed woodlands certified by FSC

Cardboard may include recycled and reused content due to NAPM - more commonly 70-90% recycled content

Water and air pollution is greater when producing cardboard than when manufacturing a polymer

Question 17

Papers and boards examples

Answer 17

Layout paper 
Tracing paper 
Cartridge paper
Watercolour paper
Mount board 
Corrugated cardboard
Metal effect card 
Duplex card 
Moulded paper pulp 
Foil backed and laminated card 
Treated paper 
Bleached card 
Bleed proof paper