Papers which have a pH value above seven. These do not contain acid which causes premature aging.

A pigment coating method used for top quality coated papers. The coating is applied to the bed of paper by a roller and the surplus coating is metered off and smoothed by an air doctor. Often referred to as "triple coated".

Paper with a basis weight of about 30gsm. It is used for airmail communications.

Papers which have a pH value above seven, may be referred to as acid-free. These do not contain acid which causes premature aging.

Antique finish paper has a toothy, open texture created by felts or dandy rolls that leave a hand-crafted look.

Quality mineral coated paper with full fibre coverage, has good smoothness, high brightness and opacity with even ink absorption.

Papers used for stationery forms and other documents with a basis weight of more than 45gsm and less than 60gsm.

A thin low-grammage paper, with a basis weight of about 40gsm. It has good opacity and is used for bibles, hymn books or other books of high pagination.

A general term for paper with a basis weight of more than 200gsm.

Uncoated paper used for stationery, forms etc., having a base weight of above 50gsm.

Bulk is the thickness of paper relative to its basis weight.

The process of smoothing the paper by passing through a series of roll nips.

The caliper is the thickness of a single sheet of paper, expressed in thousandths of a millimeter <microns).

Bond paper chemically treated to release minuscule ink capsules when pressure is applied <with a pen or typewriter etc.l. It is used where multiple copies are required e.g. invoice books, application forms.

Uncoated paper with a base weight of more than 80gsm and less than 135gsm.

Top quality paper and board with excellent smoothness and the highest paper gloss. It is made by pressing the paper against a hot metal drum while the coating is still wet.

Distribution of the paper fibres to form a pattern similar to a chain or rope, which run parallel to the paper machine.

The process of reducing a vegetable source of fibre to its component parts <fibres) during a cooking phase with various chemical liquors, such as sulphate, sulphite, etc.

Usually one side coated, having a heavy coating weight and containing the best types of mineral pigments.

Art paper coated with Kaolin clay on one or both sides. The coating adds smoothness and whiteness. It fills the valley and allows the ink to set on top, rather than be absorbed, which results in sharper, brighter image

A wire mesh roll used to close the sheet on the papermaking machine when the paper is still in a wet state. The pattern of the wire mesh is left in the paper forming a watermark.

The maximum width that paper or board can be made on a particular paper machine.

The feathered edges of a sheet of paper, made by hand or in a mould.

Two sheets of stock either the same, or different, are laminated together to form a two-ply board.

Elemental Chlorine Free. This pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine gas. However, some chlorine dioxide is used, plus other non-chlorine based compounds such as oxygen.

A plain paper containing a relief image which can be of different patterns. These embossings may resemble linen, slate, felt, tweed or other natural or manufactured materials.

Felt marked papers have an elegant, toothy texture which is formed at the wet end of the paper machine by patterned wool or synthetic felts. These redistribute but do not crush fibres, so felt marked papers retain a uniform surface structure.

The whole range of fibres used for making paper, consisting of coniferous softwood, deciduous hardwood and certain grasses and synthetic fibres in a few grades.

Mineral pigment such as china clay which is added to the fibre content of paper to improve print quality by making the paper smoother with improved opacity and brightness, and also giving it a greater affinity with printing inks.

The surface characteristics of a sheet of paper.

Forest Stewardship Council certified, indicates that forests are well managed according to strict environmental, social and economic standards.

Gloss is the surface reflectance value at a given angle.

Predominant direction in which the paper fibres become aligned during manufacturing.

The basis weight of the paper expressed in grams per square meter (gsm).

Paper made from pulp created when wood is ground mechanically, rather than refined chemically.

A single or twin wire pulp board in white or colours that are smooth with good formation and have been hard sized for writing as they are used for filing systems.

Were once ivory coloured, but now often white with a smooth finish and even formation, used for invitations, greetings and visiting cards.

Strong paper used for wrapping and envelopes.

Light Weight Coated grades have a low basis weight and are used for printing magazines and brochures.

Laid finish papers feature a subtle linear pattern called "laid lines" which are created by a dandy roll with wire running parallel to its axis. These wires are attached by chain wires which often leaven "chain lines" at right angles to the laid lines.

Bond paper made especially smooth and dry to run well through laser printers.

Substance in trees that holds the cellulose fibres together.

Paper that has been embossed with a pattern resembling linen.

Paper whose fibres run parallel to the long dimension of the sheet.

Paper or board which is pigment coated as a continuous operation at the end of the paper making machine. Usually low quality grades with light coating weight.

Inks are added to the paper during the paper making process to resemble marble.

Paper that has not been calendared.

The process of reducing wood to its component parts, fibres and fibre bundles, by mechanical means - done either by grinding wood against an abrasive stone or as is the more recent development, refining wood chips in a specially designed refiner.

Uncoated paper calendered on the end of the paper machine with a stack of metal rolls. Has good bulk but is not particularly smooth.

Paper that is dried on the papermaking machine with a single very large drying cylinder. The side of the paper in contact with the drying cylinder is given a high gloss finish, the reverse side remains rough.

Papers with variegated effects achieved by a mixture of dyed fibres or drip colour on the wet pulp.

A good imitation of hand-made paper. It is made on a cylinder mould. Different sized sheets of paper can be produced with four deckle edges.

One method used to reduce the rate at which water penetrates the sheet. It is non-acid and prolongs the life of paper and is used for acid free paper as opposed to the traditional rosin sizing which is acidic.

Paper made from ground wood pulp and recycled pulp. It is used for printing newspapers.

{Process Coated) Body paper which is coated as a separate operation from the actual papermaking of the body paper.

Originally this was a strong paper with a fairly rough surface which printed well, it now means strong, surface sized uncoated paper reasonably even-sided supplied in a range of finishes.

Opacity is determined by the amount of show-through. The less the show-through, the greater the opacity.

An almost colourless substance used in paper to improve brightness by converting ultra-violet light into visible light.

Paper which has a variegated surface that simulates the colour and translucence of original parchments.

Paper designed to last hundreds of years without deterioration.

A measure of the Hydrogenion cencentration of a solution. A pH of seven is neutral, below seven is acid and above seven is alkaline.

The rupture of the paper surface during printing.

The rate at which ink penetrates a substrate, directly affecting print density, print gloss and ink strike-through.

Printing performance of paper with respect to its appearance, including the ease with which the quality is obtained.

Twenty five sheets in fine paper and twenty four in wrapping.

These are high quality papers made from stock containing at least 25% rag. Rag content contains cotton and/or linen fibres which makes the paper strong and durable.

Top quality. coated paper with at least 30gsm coating per side. Many coating pigments are used, not only clay.

500 sheets of paper.

New paper made entirely, or in part from waste paper.

Self Adhesive Label Paper. Coated or non-coated paper with one side adhesive, used for labels.

Ink capsules and clay are mixed and applied to one surface of paper. This will yield an image when pressure is applied, writing or typing on a normal uncoated sheet placed on top of the S.C. sheet.

Indicates that the shortest direction of a sheet of paper or board is in the substrate's cross direction, and is expressly written, e.g. 900 x 640.

What is seen of the printed image on the reverse side of a sheet due to low opacity.

Additional materials added to paper fibers in order that they resist the spontaneous penetration of aqueous liquids.

Smooth finishes ranges from the perfectly smooth to the barely textured.

A finish between gloss and matt. Not as flat as a traditional matt.

Grains are added to the sheet to create a speckled look. May also be a result of ink in recycled papers.

(SC) Paper calendered using alternative chrome and fibre roller to produce an ultra smooth sheet.

Totally Chlorine Free. This pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine chemicals.

Board consisting of three layers run together on the board machine.

Paper that has not been coated with clay, calcium carbonate etc.

A vellum finish is imparted by special felts, giving it a "tooth" similar to but smoother than an antique finish.

Ultra smooth matt finish.

Watermarks are imprinted by dandy rolls into the paper. A design or word is impressed into the paper as it passes through the wet end of the paper machine. This can only be seen when the sheet is held up to the light.

Paper that is primarily made from chemical wood pulp, with no more than 10 % mechanical wood pulp, which is used for the best grades of paper.

May also be referred to as smooth. The wove surface is imparted by ordinary "wet felts". These leave no distinguishing visual feature.