Printing is more than reproducing words and images on paper. It is physical experience itself - holding the piece, feeling the paper, the interplay of ink and paper - that printing is concerned with. As such, paper - the vehicle of the message, as well as the biggest cost item in a printing job - is of prime importance. Understanding paper and picking the right sheet for your job can make or break your project.

Papers are defined by finish, grade and basic weight. Understanding these concepts is the key to specifying the right paper.

Finish - refers to the texture of the sheet as well as being ' coated' or 'uncoated'. Smooth, woven, ribbed, gloss, matte, etc... are all common finishes.

Grade - is the classification of different types of paper based on: the type of pulp, treatments, and the end use of the paper. Some common paper grades include bond, book, bristol, cover, and newsprint

Basis Weight - the weight, measured in pounds, of 500 sheets (a ream) of paper cut to a standard size is it basis weight. The major paper grades such as bond or cover have their own standard (basic) sizes which determine the basics weight for that grade of paper regardless of the final size of the paper (aka: basic weight, substance).

Examples: Bond paper (such as used in laser printers and copy machines) typically has a basis weight of 13-15 lbs. while papers for many offset printing projects range in basis weight from 22-150 lbs., cover weight from 60-130 lbs., and board weight from 6-24 point.