Performance characteristics of paper and boards

Question 1

What are the standard sizes of paper stock form?

Answer 1

The go from A0 (the largest) to A8. Each “A” size is half of the previous one (i.e. A4 is half of A3)

Question 2

What is meant by “paper - untrimmed sizes”?

Answer 2

It is paper which may be used by commercial printers. This is slightly larger than normal A paper and allows any color bleeding.
They are then trimmed to size after printing

Question 3

How is paper thickness measured?

Answer 3

In grams per square meter (gsm)

Question 4

What does it mean that paper and board are compliant materials?

Answer 4

It means that they can be scored, folded and cut with basic tooling to form items such as nets for packaging

Question 5

What is the original source of paper?

Answer 5

Wood pulp (grey in colour)

Question 5

What is Layout paper and what is it used for?

Answer 5

• Thin translucent paper with a smooth surface
• Used for sketching, quick ink, technical drawing, tracing

Question 5

What is used to make paper white (from the grey wood pulp)?

Answer 5

Bleaches

Question 6

What is Cartridge paper and what is it used for?

Answer 6

• Off white paper usually with a slight texture surface
• Used for sketching, rendering in pencil, ink and pastel

Question 7

What is Tracing paper and what is it used for?

Answer 7

Translucent paper slightly thicker than layout paper
- Used for: copying images when sketching

Question 8

What is Bleed proof paper and what is it used for?

Answer 8

Similar to cartridge paper but bleed proof so colours do not run

Question 9

What is Treated Paper and what is it used for?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is Watercolour paper and what is it used for?

Answer 10

Available in absorbent, smooth, hot pressed or the more textured cold-pressed and heavily textured rough
- Watercolour painting

Question 11

What is CORRUGATED CARD and what is it used for?

Answer 11

Usually with carton board outer layers and a corrugated middle layer, giving it the ability to provide protection against impact
- Protective packaging, model making, prototyping ideas, food packaging such as takeaway boxes

Question 12

What is Bleached Card and what is it used for?

Answer 12

Chemically treated to brighten the surface to make it suitable for high quality printing
- Greeting cards, high quality packaging

Question 12

What is Duplex Card and what is it used for?

Answer 12

Made up of two layers of paper (the exterior one is usually coated to make water resistant and give it a glossy sheen and waxy feel)
- Used for food packages such as juice or milk cartons, disposable cups and plates

Question 13

What is Mount Board and what is it used for?

Answer 13

Made from compressed fine cotton fibres to produce a rigid board
- Presenting artwork, picture mounting and modelling

Question 14

What is FOIL BACKED and LAMINATED CARD and what is it used for?

Answer 14

Card with polymer film or foil applied to provide a water resistant and/ or heating insulating layer
- Drink packaging, milk cartons, take away box lids

Question 15

What is METAL EFFECT CARD and what is it used for?

Answer 15

High quality card with a thin metal effect layer applied to the outer surface for enhanced aesthetics. Can be embossed
- Gift boxes and packaging, high quality metal effect business cards

Question 16

What is Moulded paper pulp and what is it used for?

Answer 16

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
- Moulded packaging products, eco friendly packaging, egg boxes, fruit packaging