The variety of paper used should be selected according to the specific characteristics of each printing project. The printing paper used in book printing china is directly related to the cost and the final effect of the product. Below is a brief introduction of the 7 most commonly used printing papers to help authors and self-publishers understand the paper used for publishing their books.

The thickness of paper is expressed in grams per square meter, the grams is more larger, paper is more thicker. The inner paper for book printing in china is generally 70g offset paper.

7 most common paper for printing and their usage

1. Coated paper

Coated paper, also known as printing coated paper, has a smooth surface, high whiteness, uniform distribution of paper fibers, consistent thickness, small  flexibility, good elasticity, and strong water resistance and tensile properties. The absorption and reception of ink are very good.

Usage: It is mainly used for hardcover book printing and illustrations of high-level books and periodicals, color pictures, various exquisite commodity advertisements, samples, commodity packaging, trademarks, etc.

2. Matte paper

Matte paper, the official name is matte coated paper. Viewed in sunlight, it is less reflective than coated paper. Generally, the matte paper will be thinner and whiter than the coated paper, more ink-absorbing, and more rigid, unlike the coated paper, which is easily deformed.

Usage: high-end product catalogue printing, or magazines with photos or illustrations, portfolios, etc, do not focus on showing bright effects.

3. White cardboard

Single-layer or multi-layer combined paper made entirely by bleached chemical pulping and fully sizing, generally the basis weight is above 150 grams per square meter. The characteristics of this cardboard are: high smoothness, good stiffness, neat appearance and good formation.

Usage: business card , certificates, invitations, covers, monthly desk calendar printing, etc.

4. Offset Paper

Offset printing paper is a relatively advanced book printing paper, which has higher requirements on the ratio, expansion ratio and surface strength during printing. The acidity and alkalinity should also be close to neutral or slightly alkaline.

Usage: suitable for printing single-color or multi-color book covers, text, inserts, pictorials, maps, posters, color trademarks and various packaging products.

5. Pearl paper

Pearl paper is composed of three parts: bottom fiber, filler and surface coating. The surface is very smooth, the thickness is thick, the reflection is strong, and it has pearl luster.

Usage: high-end picture albums, exquisite packaging, boxes, greeting cards, hang tags, photo book printing, etc. are widely used.

6. Letterpress paper

It is a widely used in china book printing, slightly smoother than newsprint, and has a longer shelf life, but it is prone to hair loss and powder loss.

Usage: suitable for letterpress printing of various books, stationery and the inner pages of magazine.

7. Other special paper

In addition to the above-mentioned conventional papers, some special-purpose papers include Kraft paper, super sensitive paper, sulfuric acid paper, embossed paper, patterned paper and other art paper or special paper, which is a general term for very useful paper.

There are many kinds of these papers, but they are basically the above categories, and the same kind of paper also has different gram weight grades

Usage: finely mounted box paper, book cover and even inner pages, hang tags, business cards, etc.

In short,when choosing the type of paper, it is mainly necessary to choose according to the characteristics of the printed project to be printed and the type of printing machine used.Such as:

1.For color covers, illustrations or advertising inserts in printed books and periodicals, double-sided coated paper or double-adhesive paper can be used.

2.For printing general books , you can use coated paper for the cover, and for the content, you can use offset printing paper.

3.Printing albums commonly use double-coated paper. Special paper is available for higher grades.

4.For magazine printing, magazine paper (high-white magazine) is generally selected for light and thin paper, with a glossy surface and high white color. Therefore, compared with the general yellowish paper color, the printing effect can better show the printing contrast and the vividness of the color. It is the best thin pound senior paper in the country. It is suitable for magazines, books, weekly magazines, color manuals, and mail-order color promotional materials.