Complete Guide to Common Printing Papers: Features, Uses, Grammage, Pros & Cons. Grammage is grams per square meter – cut a 10×10 cm piece, weigh it, then divide by area to calculate. Coated paper, called art paper in regions like Hong Kong, is high-quality printing paper made by coating base paper with white ink, mainly used for printing covers and illustrations of premium books and periodicals.a
Oct 9th,2025249 Views
A Comprehensive Guide to Commonly Used Printing Papers: Characteristics, Uses, Weight, Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Paper Type
The grammage of paper refers to how many grams per square meter, so you can cut a piece of paper measuring 10 * 10 centimeters, weigh it with an electronic scale, and then divide the weight by the area to calculate the grammage.
Copperplate paper, also known as coated printing paper, is called powder paper in Hong Kong and other regions. It is a high-quality printing paper made by coating white paint on the base paper. Mainly used for printing covers and illustrations of high-end books and periodicals, color images, various exquisite product advertisements, samples, product packaging, trademarks, etc. Generally, if you want rich colors and complex patterns, you choose copperplate paper.
Common classification: Copperplate paper can be divided into single-sided copperplate paper, double-sided copperplate paper, matte copperplate paper, and textured copperplate paper. According to quality, it is divided into three levels: A, B, and C.
Common weight: Copperplate paper has a weight of. 70, 80, 105, 128, 157, 180, 200, 230, 250, 300, 400, 450 grams, etc.
Advantages: The colors are very bright, the paper is very color absorbing, the color reproduction is high, it is mostly used for photos, landscapes, and some colorful postcards, it can be laminated, and after lamination, it has a more tactile feel. The original material of the paper is very smooth and textured
Disadvantage: The handwriting should not be dry because it is too smooth, so things written with a pen or ballpoint pen (gel pen) are easily erased, and the modified postmark and seal will also be immediately erased. Compared to paper of the same weight, the hardness is moderate and not considered hard. Low price. In fact, it is a thick version of the promotional and advertising flyers (usually 85-100g) posted on the street (postcards are usually around 300g), which is prone to curling and not resistant to moisture in the south wind.
matt coated paper
Characteristic: Matte powder paper, officially known as matte copperplate paper. Compared to copperplate paper, it is less reflective when observed under sunlight. Generally, matte pink paper is thinner and whiter than copperplate paper, more ink sensitive, and harder, unlike copperplate paper which is easily deformed.
Common uses: High end product catalogs, showcasing elegant and simple style products (such as instruments, calligraphy and painting, antiques, etc.) or magazines, portfolios, etc. with photos or illustrations, without emphasizing the effect of brightness.
Common weight: There are several weight options for matte paper, including 105, 128, 157, 200, 250, and 300 grams.
Advantages: Easy to color. The front is equivalent to cardboard. Low price.
Disadvantage: Very soft. 300 grams of matte paper has the same hardness as 250g cardboard. I personally don't think it's suitable for making postcards. No thick cardboard, no colorful copperplate paper.
white cardboard
Characteristics: Single or multi-layer bonded paper made entirely from bleached chemical pulp and fully coated with glue, generally with a basis weight of 150g/㎡ or more. The characteristics of this type of cardboard are high smoothness, good stiffness, neat appearance, and good uniformity.
Common uses: business card printing, certificates, invitations, covers, monthly calendars, and postal postcards.
Common weight: White cardboard has commonly used weights of 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 grams, etc.
Advantages: Thick and hard enough. The cardboard hardness is considered very high among papers of the same weight. People who like thick cards will love this type of paper very much. The color is as convenient as copperplate paper and also very colorful. The reverse writing is easily erased immediately. The price range is the best choice for selecting postcard paper. High cost-effectiveness and moderate price.
Disadvantage: It is easy to scratch, from printing to writing, and daily contact, it is very easy to make the front ugly. Generally, high-end cardboard will be covered with film to prevent scratches. Special black and dark colors will leave marks with a gentle touch. And it's irreversible. The south wind is prone to rolling and usually tends to arch upwards from the front.
Daolin Paper
Characteristics: The proper name for "Daolin paper" should be "offset printing paper" or "offset printing paper". Offset printing paper is a relatively advanced printing paper for books and periodicals, with high requirements for aspect ratio, elasticity, and surface strength during printing. Its acidity and alkalinity should also be close to neutral or weakly alkaline.
Common uses: Suitable for printing monochrome or multi-color book covers, body text, inserts, posters, maps, promotional posters, colored trademarks, and various packaging materials.
Common weight: Dorian paper has commonly used weights such as 70, 80, 100, and 120 grams.
Advantages: Dorian paper has low elasticity, uniform ink absorption, good smoothness, dense and opaque texture, good whiteness, and strong water resistance. PEPA
Characteristics: Pearl paper consists of three parts: bottom fiber, filler, and surface coating. The surface is very smooth, thick, highly reflective, and has a pearl luster.
Common uses: High end picture books, periodicals, exquisite packaging, packaging boxes, greeting cards, hang tags, and other widely used items.
Common weight: Pearl paper has commonly used weights of 120, 250, 280 grams, etc.
Advantages: Pearl paper has a light weight, good waterproof toughness, tear resistance, corrosion resistance, folding resistance, sun resistance, no discoloration, unique patterns, strong three-dimensional sense, and bright printing.
Disadvantage: The disadvantage is that the color printing effect is average (although pearlescent paper is used for printing black and white drawings, and the effect is acceptable when encountering a few color parts, so it doesn't matter much). Another disadvantage is that it is not particularly easy to bond, requiring the help of small tweezers to clamp for a while before fixing, but it is still very firm after bonding.
newsprint
Newsprint, also known as white newspaper, is the main paper used for newspapers, magazines, and books. Suitable for newspapers, magazines, textbooks, comic strips, and other main text paper.
Features: The paper is lightweight and has good elasticity; Good ink absorption performance ensures that the ink can adhere well to the paper surface. After calendering, both sides of the paper are smooth and lint free, resulting in clear and full imprints on both sides; Has a certain mechanical strength; Good opacity performance; Suitable for high-speed rotary printing.
Common weight: The national standard for the quantitative weight of news paper is 51g/m2, 48g/m2, and 46.5g/m2, respectively. But there are also different quantities, because the lighter the weight, the more cost savings.
linerboard
Also known as hemp cardboard, it is a sturdy cardboard used for shipping books, department store items, radios, televisions, machine parts, and food. The quantification is 200 grams per square meter, 310 grams per square meter, 420 grams per square meter, and 530 grams per square meter. Smooth surface with good mechanical strength.
typographic printing paper
Relief paper is the main paper used for printing books and magazines using relief printing. Suitable for main text paper of important works, scientific books, academic journals, and textbooks for colleges and universities. Convex paper can be divided into four grades based on the composition ratio of paper materials: No.1, No.2, No.3, and No.4. The paper number represents the quality of the paper, and the larger the number, the worse the paper quality.
The quantification is 52 grams per square meter and 60 per square meter, with two types of paper: roll paper and flat paper. The smoothness is 30 meters and the opacity is not less than 88%. Convex printing paper is a widely used paper for books and periodicals, with slightly higher smoothness and longer shelf life than news paper. However, it is prone to shedding hair and powder, making it unsuitable for printing books and periodicals using offset printing methods. This type of paper is prone to bleeding when writing.
Straw board
Also known as yellow cardboard or horse manure paper, it is a yellow packaging cardboard. It is mainly used for packaging goods, making paper boxes, and lining the covers of book boxes and books. Quantify from 200 grams per square meter to 860 grams per square meter. The commonly used ones are 420g for size 8, 530g for size 10, and 640g for size 12. Grass cardboard requires tight and sturdy quality, flat paper surface, and certain mechanical strength and toughness.
White Board
Whiteboard paper is a type of cardboard with a white and smooth front and a gray background on the back. This type of cardboard is mainly used for single-sided color printing to make paper boxes for packaging, as well as for design and handmade products.
Binding cardboard
The important materials for book box packaging include white cardboard, yellow cardboard box cardboard, etc., which are mainly used to make hardcover book shells and covers. The hardcover book case with cardboard as the skeleton has the advantages of being sturdy, beautiful, and conducive to long-term preservation.
Calcium coated paper
Calcium plastic paper is a high-quality packaging material mainly made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is beautiful, non-toxic, odorless, lightweight, moisture-proof, has high compressive strength, corrosion resistance, and good hand feel. The product has no limit on length and can come in various colors. It is widely used in pesticides, machinery, chemicals, food and other industries, as well as internal and external packaging. It is currently the most ideal packaging material to replace wood and paper with plastic.
kraft paper
It is a tough and water-resistant packaging paper that is brown yellow in color and has a wide range of uses. It is commonly used to make paper bags, envelopes, record covers, files, and sandpaper. The quantitative range is from 40 grams per square meter to 120 grams per square meter, and there are differences between roll paper and flat paper, as well as single-sided light, double-sided light, and striped paper. The main quality requirements are flexibility and strength, high burst resistance, and the ability to withstand large tensile and compressive forces without breaking.
cellophane
Fiberglass paper is a thin film made from natural fibers such as cotton pulp and wood pulp using the adhesive method. It is transparent, non-toxic, and odorless. Because air, oil, bacteria, and water are not easily permeable through glass paper, it can be used as food packaging.
Also known as transparent paper, it is a high-end packaging and decorative paper that is as transparent as glass. It is used to package grains, fruits, food, shirts, cigarettes, cosmetics, and other goods.
Quantification is 30 grams per square meter. In addition to being transparent and colorless, there are also various colors such as golden, peach red, and emerald green. Fiberglass paper is impermeable to air, oil, and water, soft and strong, colorless and transparent, and has a glossy appearance. After sealing, it can prevent moisture and rust, but it can crack at the slightest crack. Due to its high longitudinal strength, it can create paper ropes. Waste glass paper cannot be recycled.
Sulphite paper
It is a very thin single-sided optical writing paper with a basis weight of only 20 grams per square meter. It was originally mainly used as a sealing paper for postage stamps and insured letters. Nowadays, it is mostly used for packaging cosmetics, fruits, and food, as well as cigarette lining. After printing and waxing, it can be used as candy packaging paper, and can also replace typing paper and copy paper to print documents, vouchers, or multi page copy paper. The quality requirements are thin yet strong, with good transparency, high tension, and low breathability.
Chinese calligraphy and painting paper
It is a type of paper used for writing and painting with a brush, including Yuan Shu paper, Xuan paper, Mao Bian paper, etc.
Yuanshu paper is made from plant fibers such as bamboo, bark, torn cloth, old hemp, and straw. After soaking, steaming, natural bleaching, and grinding, it is made into pulp. It is then manually made into paper on bamboo curtains, pressed dry, and pasted on a fire wall for drying. The resulting paper is white (or slightly yellow) in color, uniform and soft, easy to absorb ink, and long-lasting.
Xuan paper is a type of calligraphy and painting paper made from the bark of sandalwood trees and a small amount of rice straw slurry through meticulous processing. Raw Xuan paper is suitable for freehand painting and calligraphy, while cooked Xuan paper made from it is suitable for meticulous painting with white, soft and tough colors, long-lasting and not easily damaged by insects. Known for its origin in the Xuancheng area of Anhui province.
Mao Bian paper is a brush writing paper made from tender bamboo as raw material, with a light yellow color and a pure white color for historical paper. Both are made from bamboo curtains and used for printing ancient books, stone tablets, letters, fans and other products. glazed paper
It is a single-sided glossy paper used for writing, office, and promotional slogans. It can also be used for pasting paper boxes, packaging goods, printing calendars, letters, invoices, etc. It has a wide range of uses and is a commonly used thin paper.
This type of paper used to be called office paper or snow lotus paper. Divided into three types: special grade, grade 1, and grade 2, with a quantitative range from 18 grams per square meter to 40 grams per square meter. Quality requirements include uniform thickness, flat paper surface, light glue application for easy writing, and certain water resistance. Colored glossy paper, also known as slogan paper, is mainly used for writing slogans!
calendered paper
Raw paper often uses wood pulp, but can also be paired with some straw pulp. Wax paper is divided into white and bleached versions. Different colors can be dyed according to product requirements. Using silica (quartz powder) as a white pigment, with some high melting point wax added. It is advisable to use animal glue as the adhesive. After coating, it is repeatedly polished on a grinding stone grinder to make it. There are also papers that are not coated and only achieve a waxing effect through friction with flint. Mostly used for decoration, exquisite packaging, and other occasions.
Cast coated paper Also known as glass powder paper, it is a high-grade coated printing paper with a particularly smooth surface. It is applied twice or once with a thick coating amount (20 to 39 grams per side) on the base paper. When the coating is in a wet state, the coated surface is tightly attached to a highly polished chrome plated dryer and heated and dried at a speed of about 100 meters or lower to obtain a glossiness of about 85, without the need for calendering. The coated paper can be embossed using a patterned roller to produce cloth paper or chicken skin paper. Cast coated paper is mainly used for printing covers, inserts, and high-end paper boxes, while textured paper and chicken skin paper are mostly used for printing calendars and business cards.
Other special papers
In addition to the above-mentioned conventional paper types, some special demand paper types include super sensitive paper, embossed paper, patterned paper, highly calendered paper, painted newspapers, etc. There are too many classifications of special paper to introduce them one by one.
