Paper Surface

In addition to its weight, brightness, and opacity a distinguishing characteristic of a paper is its surface pattern.
• COATED PAPERS - The surfaces of all coated papers are smooth and glossy. They do, however, come in a range of glossiness. For instance, matte coated paper is not very glossy, with dull, velvet, gloss and cast coated papers the next steps up in shine and cost.
• OFFSET - With few exceptions, the surfaces of offset (or UNCOATED BOOK) papers have no surface patterns. Though they come in both smooth and slightly roughened (or “vellum”) finishes, the differences are subtle enough that few people can tell which is which.
• BOND AND TEXT - Bond papers are those typically used for laser printers and copiers, as well as both ordinary and fine letterhead. Text papers are those with a surface pattern which is often an important part of a printed piece’s design. Among the various surface patterns for bond and text papers, the following are the most popular. WOVE finish papers are smooth. Indeed, in practice the word “wove” means the same as smooth. Some wove papers, however, receive special treatment to make them smoother than others. LAID finish papers have a grid of lines on the surface which makes them resemble hand made paper. The horizontal lines are close together and run against the grain. The vertical lines (also called “chain” lines) are spaced further apart and run with the grain. LINEN finish papers also have a grid of lines running horizontally and vertically on the sheet, but the lines are much finer and closer together than on Laid papers. This pattern is embossed onto the paper after it is fully dry. To visualize the finish on linen paper, think of the look and feel of a fine linen napkin. FELT papers have a soft, random, dimpled pattern. Think of how paper would look if it went through rollers covered with felt fabric before it was dry. For indeed this is one of the methods used in the manufacture of felt papers.