When considering the cost to print books during the book printing process, it is important to know and understand your options. There are many different categories of paper, and therefore each has its own unique standard size.
Understanding Paper Thickness and Caliper
Measurement of paper thickness is also known as a “caliper.” It is measured as a point size in thousandths of an inch, so one point would equal 1/1000 of an inch.
How Is Paper Weight Measured?
The type of stock is key when determining the weight, as each type has a different standard size called a “folio.” Base paper weight is measured in pounds per 500 sheets for its type.
For example, if 500 standard sheets weigh 100 pounds, then the base weight for that type of paper would be 100 pounds.
Different Types of Paper Stock
Types of paper include light-weight paper, such as book pages or standard copy paper; medium-weight paper, which is good for things like greeting cards; heavy-weight paper for a thicker style card; and extra-heavy-weight paper.
Each type of book has standard go-to weights. For example, 50 lb uncoated stock is commonly used for novels, while 60 lb uncoated stock and 80 lb matte stock can be used for comic books. Children’s books and cookbooks may use 100 lb coated stock, while yearbooks typically use heavier stock.
These options can also come in cream paper, which is a great choice for memoirs, novels, and story books.
Choosing Between Matte and Gloss Stock
Matte stock is often a popular choice for larger quantities of printed materials such as booklets and articles. It is also resistant to smudging and fingerprints and provides good color contrast and text clarity.
Gloss stock is ideal for projects featuring vibrant colors and can produce high-quality photo prints, but it has more limited uses depending on the project.
Matte stock remains a popular option because it can be used for a variety of projects and provides durability over time.
Need Help Choosing the Right Paper?
If you are still unsure which stock is the right option for your project, just contact us. One of our team members will be more than happy to assist you and recommend the best paper option for your book!