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Content: Most papers are matted sheets of fiber composed of cotton or a blend of cotton and wood pulp. The finest papers consist of 100 percent cotton fibers.
Stock: The thickness and weight of a paper. Lighter papers are best for offset or laser printing, heavier ones for engraving and letterpress.
Finish: The surface texture and appearance are known as a paper's finish. The most common examples:
• Felt: Highly tactile and soft; ideal for techniques such as embossing and foil stamping.
• Laid: Pressed with a special roller to create subtly ridged horizontal and vertical lines that simulate the look and feel of handmade paper.
• Linen: Embossed with a pattern resembling its namesake fabric, resulting in a grainy texture.
• Metallic: Offset printing is best for this paper; when it's engraved, a pronounced halo surrounds the text or images.
• Smooth: No special texture, just a hard, uniform surface that provides crisp resolution.
• Woven: Features a mesh pattern so subtle, paper appears smooth but not slick.
See More Stationery
Finishes 101
Before you head to the stationer, read up on your paper finishes.
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