Materials: Papers, Cards & Boards

Paper and Boards

  • Paper and boards are compliant materials.
  • They can be scored, cut, and folded.
  • Suitable for creating packaging, etc.
  • Original source of paper: wood pulp (grey).
  • Bleaches are added during manufacturing to whiten the pulp.
  • Paper and boards can be recycled.
  • They biodegrade naturally in landfill.

Different Types of Paper

  • Layout paper
    • Thin, translucent, smooth surface.
    • Uses: sketching, quick ink, technical drawing, tracing.
  • Cartridge paper
    • Off-white, slightly textured surface.
    • Uses: sketching, rendering in pencil, ink, and pastel; can be used for printing.
  • Tracing paper
    • Translucent, slightly thicker than layout paper.
    • Uses: copying images when sketching.
  • Bleed-proof paper
    • Similar to cartridge paper, bleed-proof layer on one side.
    • Uses: Spirit-based marker rendering.
  • Treated paper
    • Plain paper with binder/dye layer.
    • Enhances image retention and brightness.
    • Surface sheens: high gloss or matt.
    • Uses: Photographic printing.
  • Watercolour paper
    • Available in absorbent, smooth (hot-pressed), cold-pressed, or rough textures.
    • Uses: Watercolour painting.
  • Corrugated card
    • Carton board outer layers, corrugated middle layer.
    • Impact protection.
    • Uses: Protective packaging, model making, prototyping ideas, food packaging (take-away boxes).
  • Bleached card
    • Chemically treated for high-quality printing.
    • Uses: Greeting cards, high-quality packaging.
  • Mount board
    • Compressed fine cotton fibres, rigid board.
    • Uses: Presenting artwork, picture mounting, modelling.
  • Duplex card
    • Two layers of paper, exterior coated for water-resistance and glossy sheen.
    • Uses: Food packaging (juice/milk cartons), disposable cups/plates.
  • Foil backed and laminated card
    • Polymer film or foil layer on one or both sides.
    • Water-resistant and/or heat insulating.
    • Foil/laminate must be removed before recycling.
    • Uses: Drinks packaging, milk cartons, take-away box lids.
  • Metal effect card
    • High-quality card with thin metal effect layer.
    • Enhanced aesthetics, can be embossed.
    • Uses: Gift boxes/packaging, high-quality metal effect business cards.
  • Moulded paper pulp
    • Recycled paper pulp moulded when wet and dried.
    • Smooth inside, rough outside.
    • Uses: Moulded packaging, eco-friendly packaging, egg boxes, fruit packaging.

Stock Forms

  • Paper sizes: A0 (largest) to A8 (smallest).
  • Each 'A' size is half the size of the previous one (e.g., A4 is half of A3).
  • Commercial printers use 'paper - untrimmed sizes' (raw format A - RA and supplementary raw format A - SRA).
  • Untrimmed sizes are slightly larger than standard A sizes to allow for bleed during printing.
  • Papers are trimmed to size after printing.
  • Paper thickness is measured in grams per square metre (gsm).
  • Standard photocopying paper: 8080 gsm.
  • Mount board: 1,0001,000 gsm.
  • Lower gsm = more lightweight, easier to bend, cut, and score.

Polymer-based Sheet and Film

  • Manufactured from polymer materials.
  • Produced in sheet form of varying thicknesses.
  • Purposes: model making to packaging.
  • Sustainability varies: some biodegrade (cellulose acetate), others can be recycled (fluted PP).
  • Foam board recycling is difficult due to the foam core and card sheets; more likely to be reused than recycled.

Different Types of Polymer-based Sheet and Film

  • Foam board
    • Two outer layers of card with a foam middle core.
    • Available in various thicknesses.
    • Uses: Mood board backing, presentation boards, modelling.
  • Fluted PP sheet
    • Extruded sheet with integral 'flutes' or corrugations.
    • Lightweight and easily bent along the flutes.
    • Uses: Signs (construction site, estate agents), storage box construction, portfolio cases, small models.
  • Translucent PP sheet
    • Extremely tough polymer sheet.
    • Can be scored before bending to produce a plastic hinge.
    • Virtually impossible to tear, water-resistant.
    • Uses: Packaging products, folders, boxes
  • Styrofoam
    • Dense, closed cell foam, commonly blue.
    • Can be cut, shaped, and sanded.
    • Uses: Product modelling, formers for moulding and laminating.
  • Low density polyethylene (LDPE) sheet
    • Tough, thin sheet, transparent, good chemical resistance, flexible.
    • Uses: Food wrapping, air pillow packaging, bubble wrap, carrier bags.
  • Plastazote foam
    • Closed cell polyethylene foam.
    • Tough, flexible, good impact resistance, impermeable to liquids.
    • Uses: Protective packaging, swimming floats, gym/exercise mats, sound/pipe insulation, stage props.
  • Cellulose acetate
    • Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades.
    • Uses: Packaging film, membranes, photographic film.
  • Polylactide
    • Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades.
    • Uses: Biodegradable packaging film.