Paper Selection
This is a binder with literally thousands of paper options. As you can see, this isn’t an easy topic to cover.
So let’s keep it as simple as A – B – C.
A. Stock Type
Cover Stock
Cover Stock is thicker and heavier than text weight stock. It's generally used for the Covers of Books or Booklets, Brochures and Direct Mail Pieces.
Text Stock
Text weight stock is lighter and used for everything else.
B. Stock Weight
As a general rule Cover Stock is divided into three weight categories – light-weight 80# Cover – like the cover of Time Magazine; medium weight 100# Cover that you might use for a brochure; and heavy weight 120# - 130# Cover that you sometimes notice with particularly thick business cards.
Text Weight Stocks come in four varieties: super-light-weight 60#text, medium-light-weight 70# text, middle weight 80# text, and heavy weight 100# text. Make a point to stop by Riverside to see and feel these stocks to get a full understanding of the difference in weight.
C. Stock Finish
In the simplest terms there are four finishes for both Cover stock and Text stock:
Gloss
No surprise, it's glossy...
Dull
This has a flat, smooth finish...
Matte
Matte or Silk or Satin stock provides a flat finish in areas where you have written copy, and a glossy finish wherever you have graphic images...
Texture
Particularly for letterhead, you may choose a textured finish like Classic Crest, Classic Linen, or Classic Columns.
This just scratches-the-surface of paper stock options. You really should stop in and spend some time going through our paper sample books.