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A Paper Primer: weights, finishes, and other useful Info

Khris Cochran, contributor

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If you are like most paper lovers, just looking at any collection of exquisite paper such as this one from CircleBackStudio can set your heart racing.  It helps to know some specifics about a paper’s properties to help guide you towards choosing the perfect sheet for any project.

Photo: Courtesy of CircleBackStudio/Flickr

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Choosing the right paper for a particular project can be very daunting. Especially for those who venture out buy paper online and those who buy for printing projects in which weight and thickness count, paper industry terms can be tough to decipher. Even for paper and graphics industry professionals, it’s all kind of confusing. Minds much more clever and patient than mine have made resources available online to help us crafty types make some sense of the paper code.

Paper weight chart. Paper and More offers a handy chart for an at-a-glance comparison of paper weights. This is a great tool to take along next time you go to the office-supply or art store in search of paper.

Paper jargon. Create for Less has a wonderful glossary full of common paper-related terms. It’s written in plain English for those of us not interested in getting a PhD in papermaking.

Paper finishes demystified. The Paper Mill Store generously offers this great visual reference for the different types of paper finishes. Ever curious how Bond differs from Laid? Check out the pictures for a quick answer.

Paper weights demystified. Another terrific resource from the Paper Mill Store, this is the go-to spot for a more in-depth explanation of paper weights.

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