3.1.1 - PAPERS AND BOARDS

What is GSM?

‘Grams per sqaure metre’ and refers to the weight of the paper.

What are the performing characteristics of papers and boards?

• Foldable

• The ability to be scored

• Cutting

• Surface quality for printing

• Resistance to impact

• Recyclablility or biodegradability

What are the processes for papers and boards?

• Die cutting

• Laser cutting

• Creasing

• Bending

What are the treatments and finishes based on?

The type of fibre used to make the product

Any chemicals added during the manufacturing

The addition of layers, coatings or laminates

Bleaching levels

What are the advantages of sustainable papers and boards?

They are able to be recycled

They can be biodegradable

Lower environmental impact

What are the disadvantages of papers and boards?

It can cause deforestation

To produce it, it could use an extensive amount of energy and water.

Limited recycling lifespan

Coated or laminated pieces of paper is much harder to recycle

How can we improve sustainablility?

Use recycled, recyclable and certified paper

Avoid unncessary use and non-recyclable coatings

Support responsbible forest management and recycling systems

What are the common paper types?

• Cartridge paper

• Bleed proof paper

• Tracing paper

• Treated paper

• Watercolour paper

• Layout paper

What are the common types of cards/board?

• Duplex board

• Bleached card

• Mount board

• Moulded paper pulp

• Metal effect card

• Foil backed/ laminated card

• Corrugated cardboard (fibreboard/Kraft board)

What are the characteristics of bleed proof paper?

• Smooth and has special coating to reduce absorbency

• Paper keeps the ink on the surface which creates a crisper line or mark

• Resists bleeding and feathering

• Lightweight, around 70-80gsm

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What are the uses of bleed proof paper?

Drawings

Painting

What are the characteristics of cartridge paper?

• Thick, with rough texture

• Available in multiple weights, 120-150gsm

• Opaque

• More expensive than copier paper

• More suitable for acrycil painting

What are some uses for cartridge paper?

• Drawing with pencil

• Painting

What are the characteristics of watercolour paper?

• Weight is 300gsm

• Resists buckling when wet

• Smooth due to being hot pressed

• Slightly textured due to being cold pressed

• Good absorbancy

• Comes in multiple formats, sheets, pads, blocks and sketchbooks.

What are the uses of watercolour paper?

• Watercolour Painting

What are the characteristics of treated paper? (Inkjet)

• Designed for using a inkjet printer

• Special coating is applied to increase the stability of the print

• Very smooth finish = even ink coverage and absorbancy

• Ink dries on the surface to create deeper colours

• Available weights in 120-350

• Matt or gloss finish gives variety

What are the characteristics of corrugated board?

• Natural brown colour

• Made of one or two outer flat layers and a corrugated centre layer

• 1000-5000 microns

• Lightweight but strong

• Rigid perpendicular to corrugations

• Commonly used for delivery containers and packaging

• Insulator

• With a smooth finish on the surface.

What are the characteristics of Duplex board?

• Made up of two layers of cards bonded together

• Exterior layer is often white with a wax coating to provide a moisture barrier and gives a glossy finish.

• Smooth white surface makes it ideal for printing

• Lightweight and stiff

• 200-500gsm

• Ideal for folding and die cutting

• Used for packaging food, cereal, happy meals…

What are the characteristics of foil lined board?

• Stiff card lined with aluminum foil

• 200-400gsm

• Stiff

• Foil reflects heat

• Card has a waxy coating to help with resistance to water and oils

• Coating enables cartons with liquid to be safe

What is lamination?

Paper and boards are often laminated with layers of foil and plastic, creating a sandwich layer of materials

Can help make the material more durable or waterproof

Process of laminating is called encapsulation

What are the characteristics of mound boards?

• Thick and stiff

• Ideal for framing artwork or photographs

• Practical and aesthetic purposes

• Made typically from paperboard or cotton based board

• Smooth or textured surface

• Available in various colours

• Can be white, black or coloured.

What are the characteristics of metal effect board?

• Decorative presentation board that has a metallic finish.

• Mimics the look of metals like aluminium, gold, silver, bronze, or copper

• Shiny, metallic surface

• Can be smooth or textured

• Primarily used for visual impact in presentations, display work and crafting

• Finish can be glossy, matte, brushed metal or a mirror like finish

• Thickness = 1.5 to 3mm

• Lightweight and easy to handle

What are the characteristics of bleached card?

• Chemically treated to make it white and give it a clean, smooth surface.

• Made by bleaching wood pulp, removing the natural brown colour and resulting in a white bright printable surface.

• Can be coated for protection or aesthetics or can be uncoated so you can write on it.

• Medium strength , rigid but foldable

• Available in various thicknesses

• Ideal for full-colour printing and high resolution graphics

What are the characteristics of moulded paper pulp?

• Packing and product material made by shaping wet paper using moulds

• Once shaped can be dried to become rigid and durable

• Excellent for cushioning fragile items

• Biodegradable, recyclable, often compostable

• Grey or brown, can be dyed

• Usually rough or textured can be smoothed or coated

• Absorbs moisture unless treated or coated