Printing Related Terms

PAPER and PAPER SIZES

Art paper
See coated paper

Coated paper
A paper that has a coating applied to the body of the paper that results in a shiny surface. Otherwise know as an art paper.

Crown
Old Printing paper size 20" x 15". Still used today.

Foolscape
Old Printing paper size 17" x 13.5"

48 sheet
A standard poster site size measuring 120" x 480"

Grain (in paper)
The direction the fibres lie in paper.

GSM
Stands for grammes per square metre or the weight of paper. This is often used when specifying paper. As a general rule of thumb the following is applied

Flyers / mailers
Lightweight paper 100 - 120gsm
Mediumweight paper 130-150gsm
Heavyweight paper 170gsm

Reply paid card
Minimum weight 230gsm

Folders
Lightweight 250gsm
Mediumweight 280-300gsm

Ream
500 sheets of paper

Royal
A paper size 25" x 20".

Web
A roll of paper.