Book Printing Paper
Features of Different Paper Types: Choose the Best One for Printing Book
You’ll need to make some technical choices while printing books. After you’ve finished all of your content’s creative thinking, it’s time to make technical decisions, including what kind of paper you’ll print on.
Paper comes in a variety of weights, compositions, and finishes. Make sure you are aware of your alternatives so that you may select the paper that will best enhance your book.
You can use a wide variety of papers for your projects. In addition to weight and thickness, they differ in composition, design, and purpose. Every one provides unique design options that you can use for your print. Each variety is thrilling in its own way as a result.
The Value of Selecting the Correct Paper for Your Book
The reader’s experience with your book is significantly impacted by the printing paper you choose. It goes beyond the printed language and pictures alone. It also has to do with the reader’s experience as they turn each page.
There isn’t a set kind of paper that is used for printing. There are various paper stocks from which to pick. Because of this, be sure to limit your search for the appropriate paper type to books. Additionally, you must be precise about the content you wish to print.
As an illustration, photo books utilize thicker paper than poetry books. Additionally, you ought to pick a more expensive paper.
Additionally, a distinct kind of paper will be used for the book’s cover and internal pages.
These are just a few of the reasons why you should consider your options for the paper before beginning your printing project.
Choosing the Right Type of Paper for your Book
There is a vast variety of paper types available that have unique qualities and are appropriate for various types of printing requirements. With so many options available, making a decision may be complicated because many different variables must be taken into account. Our knowledgeable printers have created a guide to the various printing paper kinds to make it simpler for you. Examine it, become familiar with the characteristics of each variation, and then choose the one that will work best for your printing project.
Matte and Gloss Paper
Paper with a matte coating and a gloss coating are two appealing visual options. Gloss paper has a very high sheen and a silky feel to the touch. Because it brings out the colors more, it’s a common choice for pamphlets and flyers.
The opposite is matte. It has a soft surface that diffuses light evenly and discreetly, minimizing glare. Additionally, it has a smooth, textured feel.
Since gloss-coated paper is more reflective, matte-coated paper is frequently used to produce magazines, novels, and other bigger copy-based prints. Matte-coated paper is much easier to write on than glossy paper.


Silk-Coated Paper
The middle ground between glossy and matte-coated paper is silk coated. It’s a fantastic kind of paper for printing on. It features the glossy paper’s smooth texture without the sheen. Silk fibers are bound together to make it, giving it a very opulent texture.
Gloss-coated paper can occasionally be challenging to read due to the glare generated by its reflectiveness as periodicals are frequently read under electric light. However, silk-coated paper still has the quality feel that gloss-coated paper can have, therefore this problem is avoided.
As a result, tastes are evolving. Options for coated paper such as silk and matte are rising in popularity and are frequently used by small firms who want a simple design.
The silk-coated paper offers a stunning ink-to-paper contrast when used with an LED UV printing method. You won’t find this type of paper used in standard brochures because it is a true luxury good.
Bond Paper
Bond paper is a strong, long-lasting type of paper.
Because it lacks a coating, it is suitable for use with printers or pens. However, this is also a disadvantage. Because it is uncoated, it may be prone to damage such as tears, scuffs, and stains.


Coated Paper
The term “coated paper” refers to paper that has been coated with a variety of substances, including calcium carbonate, kaolinite, and bentonite. Its glossy, smooth surface is perfect for high-quality printing projects that require a glossy appearance and outstanding color rendition, such as magazines, business cards, and brochures. This kind of paper allows ink to stay on the surface rather than absorbing it. Additionally, the ink does not disperse and stays concentrated on the surface, which enhances the printing image.
Uncoated Paper
Uncoated paper, like bond paper, is commonly used in office printers. It has no coating, making it an ideal medium for ink use and absorbency.
Because it lacks a coating, it is ideal for use with printers or pens. However, because it is uncoated, it may be more susceptible to damage such as tears, scuffs, and stains.


Watermarked Paper
Watermarked paper is a type of paper that has a subtle picture permanently imprinted into it by connecting a wiring pattern to it during the production process. It is used for high-quality printing purposes. It conveys a sense of richness and stands for sincerity. Businesses, law offices, and educational institutions frequently use it as a security feature when printing essential documents with their name or emblem.
A more personalized paper type for printing, watermarked paper is a terrific method to promote your business. It has a distinguishing pattern or image that can be observed under specific lighting conditions.
Type of Paper Used for Book Covers
Before printing a book, you need to decide on the book cover as well. The cover should ideally be heavier than the interior pages.
Coated paper that is 240gsm thick is used for the bulk of the book covers. After printing, it is frequently laminated once again. The paper stock is thicker and heavier than 240gsm due to lamination.
For coated paper, 115gsm is sufficient if a dust jacket is required. This is laminated as well, much like the book cover.
There are two types of book cover lamination: matte and glossy.
An Overview of Paper Weights
Paperweights might differ. The technical term for how much a sheet of paper weighing one square meter in surface area weighs. It is expressed as grams per square meter (gsm). It serves as a means of identifying various papers on the market in addition to distinct paper types.
Although the thickness of the paper frequently determines its weight, other characteristics, such as:
- The weight and thickness of paper can be increased by a high wood fiber content.
- Some paper manufacturers mix additives into the pulp to produce specific aesthetic and tactile effects.
- The density of the paper can vary depending on the type of processing, with pulps with higher and lower densities producing thicker and thinner paper, respectively.
Weight is crucial in printing since the wrong paper weight might cause problems with the final product. For instance, choosing a particularly light paper for leaflets may allow you to see through it, ruining the appearance of the print on both sides.
Let's examine the various paper weights and their uses in more detail:
- 90gsm: This paper is uncoated and has not undergone any chemical processing. It works well for lengthy texts, making it the ideal font for books, printed materials, and headed paper.
- 130gsm: This weight ages quite well and is best utilized with a matte or gloss finish. For posters, magazines, brochures, and flyers, it is the ideal weight of paper.
- 170gsm: Thin paperboard is used with this sort of paper weight. It is a flexible form of paper because it comes in coated, recycled, matte, gloss, and even satin versions. It’s mostly used for posters, certifications, presentations, and catalogs.
- 350gsm: Due to its semi-rigid nature, this particular paperweight is perfect for invitation cards, covers, and business cards.
- 380gsm: With a weight of 380gsm, one of the heaviest paperweights, folders, packaging, hard book covers, product tags, and display covers are some of its greatest uses.
The best course of action is to engage the expertise of a professional print supplier when dealing with any of these varieties of paper.
Do You Require a Recommendation for a Book Paper? Allow Best4U Manufacturer to Assist You.
Consider the paper characteristics discussed in this blog and select the one that best fits your vision for your book.
You should also consider the number of editions and the number of copies you will print. This should give you an idea of how much you can spend on book printing.
Allow Best4U Manufacturer to assist you if you require assistance, particularly in calculating the costs involved. Please provide us with the specifics of your book so that we can provide you with an accurate quote.