Paper Weight Explained

120gm? 300gm? Need Help?

When it comes to printing, there are lots of different wights and stocks. Below are a few helpful guides to explain the difference.

Product Paper Weight Guide

Paper Stock Explained

Bond, gloss, matt? Let’s talk paper stock.

You’re probably thinking, not more choice! Don’t worry, heres is a guide guide to the difference

Product Paper Weight Guide

Matt Finish – Coated matt paper is the most popular for a silk feel. It is used for a wide range of printing from brochures and flyers to menus. It is easier to write on than gloss and does not reflect light. With the paper still being coated, it is not ideal to use for stationery.

Gloss Finish – Top choice, Gloss paper is used for colour printing and is a good choice for photo printing also. It is smooth to touch and shiny to see. However due to the reflective nature of the paper, it can show fingerprints more easily than matt paper. It is commonly used for posters, brochures and flyers. The high quality stock creates a very professional finish. Great for Flyers, Booklets, Posters.

Bond Finish – A bond finish stock is usually chose for the advantage of easy writing on as this is an uncoated stock. Uncoated paper is exactly what it sounds like – paper that has no extra coating or paper finishing.

Product Paper Weight Guide

Paper Size Explained

A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6? Need Help?

The A standard paper size is based on each A size being half the size the previous A size. For example, A2 is half the size of A1.

Most people know the size A4. Think of a standard sheet of paper – an A4 foolscap page, a bill in the post, a letter – it’s the most common size.

Now put two A4 pages side by side in an upright portrait orientation. This is A3.

Now stack 2 more A4’s on top of these two, that’s A2.

Now put 4 sheets to the side of these 4, that’s A1 and so on till you get to A0.

The A4 range keeps doubling.

2 A4’s = A3
2 A3’s = A2
2 A2’s = A1
2 A1’s = A0

Same applies in reverse. If you halve or fold your A4 page into two, its now A5. Fold again, and it’s A6. Fold again, A7.
We’re confusing you! Enough of the words. See below for a good visual diagram to explain.

Product Paper Weight Guide

A Series Paper Sizes Definition

  • The length divided by the width is 1.4142.
  • The A0 size has an area of 1 square metre.
  • The standard length and width of each size is rounded to the nearest millimetre.

Click Here to download the PDF Size Guide.

ISO A Series Paper Size