A Brief Outline of Specialty Papers

Creativity is a tricky endeavor. To get the right look, you need the right materials. As any artist knows, anything can serve as a canvas, but for the truly exquisite look, you need something special. In this short guide, we’ll explain some of the art and craft products available and some possible applications for these products.

Curious iridescent paper is certainly one of the oddest products on the market today. Normally, embossed iridescent paper is not so much a paper, but more like plastic or a thin, flexible and colorful metal, and as such, is well suited for sculpting and other crafts. Iridescent paper is often made by foil stamping and lasers on light-sensitive chemicals, and can only be used as a writing media with dry-erase or permanent marker. Curious iridescent paper, however, will absorb ink and can be used for any variety of projects from drawing, painting and writing to crafts such as collages, paper mache sculptures and scrapbooks with a little extra flair and texture.

Vellum makes a unique, translucent, and slightly iridescent paper for accenting crafts. Originally made from animal skin for scrolls, vellum has remained in common use to this day, especially in England, where British Acts of Parliament are still printed on nothing but vellum paper. Most modern vellum imitation is made from acid free cotton and is perfect for calligraphy and other projects requiring an antique or rustic look. Thin vellum paper and glue make a beautiful laminate for crafts such as scrapbooks and leaf catalogues.

One of the medium vellum cardstocks of note is Bristol paper, a smooth, heavy pasteboard of fine quality. Originally made from pasted rag paper in Bristol, England, this hard stock is often the choice paper for technical drawings, but offers intriguing creative possibilities. Bristol is unique in that it is thick enough to have two working surfaces – front and back – that will not interfere with each other and each side can serve as its own writing or drawing surface. Artists working with friction-based media, such as crayon, chalk, or charcoal will want to use a rougher texture board, while smooth finishes are generally more suited to other types of media, such as inks and watercolor.

For a breathtaking and unique look, silk paper provides a strong yet soft alternative to more mainstream options. Silk crafters have been making paper since the 2nd century, B.C.E., and it has stood the test of time. Originally a product of China, it is the oldest of all luxury papers and is still in major use today throughout the world. It is truly amazing to witness the limitless creative uses artists and craft persons have found for silk paper. Machine embroidery, three-dimensional sculpture, jewelry, quilting, book coverings, collage, and mixed media are just a few of the possibilities, and the list is limited only by the artist’s imagination.

Globalization and increased efficiency in paper production opens up a whole new world of possibilities to today’s artist. While at times the sheer bewildering array of new papers may seem overwhelming, for the professional artist or graphic designer who is willing to take the time to explore such oddities as McCoy silk papers, Curious iridescents, or Springhill vellum bristol, the results can be quite gratifying.

By Ice and Ink Staff Writer Steven R. Ice

Copyright 2008 All rights reserved by Ice and Ink Freelance

A Short Guide To Business Presentation

Everything about how your business looks reflects on how your business works. From resumes and daily information management to proposals and presentations, your business needs to look its best in today’s marketplace. In this short guide, we’ll explain the products we offer and the applications for these products.

Bond paper is a high quality durable writing paper similar to old style bank paper. It gets its name from having originally been made for documents such as government bonds. In the modern business place, it is most often used for letterheads and other stationery as well as paper for electronic printers. For day to day operations, building presentation guides on a budget, and hard copies of large data, bond paper is the paper of choice. Because bond paper is in high demand, the selection comes in many sizes, colors and textures.

Paper made of linen can be very strong and crisp, which is why the United States and many other countries print their currency on paper that is made from 25% linen and 75% cotton. Most wedding invitations and commencement announcements are printed on linen paper. For an executive and exquisite look and feel, linen paper is a time-tested favorite. Irish linen paper is a pH Neutral, recycled content, chlorine free paper made from wood certified and audited to ensure it complies with environmentally sustainable practice and principles known as “Well Managed Forest Standards.” It is manufactured to resemble and mimic traditional linen paper while being environmentally conscious.

Offset printing is most often used for large quantity, single run documents such as tests and newspapers. In this process, an inked image is transferred from a plate to a blank cylinder, which in turn transfers the image to the printing material as it passes between the blanket and the impression cylinder and pressure is applied. This is also called “offset lithography.” Offset paper is paper that has been manufactured with properties that make the paper suitable for this process. Some of the properties include dimensional stability, resistance to curling, high surface strength, a surface free from and/or resistant to foreign particles and a high level of resistance to moisture penetration.

Finished paper is most commonly used in magazines and other publications as well as in the office as specialty printer paper for sleek, stunning presentations. Gloss Finish is a coating on paper that provides a higher reflection of light which results in a shiny appearance. Gloss coatings reduce ink absorption, which allows excellent contrast and color definition. Matte finish is a coated paper finish that is flat, not shiny like a gloss, but still keeps much of the ink from being absorbed by the paper and produces an excellent image. Dull finish is a flat finish that has been supercalendered when manufactured. Supercalendering is an additional papermaking process where the paper runs through a set of alternating steel and fiber covered rollers. Supercalendering produces a very smooth thin sheet. It is slightly smoother that a matte finish. Kromekote is a premium glossy coating. It provides an extremely flat, ultra-rich high gloss and a highly absorbent surface. Kromekote coating is most often used on digital photo paper of all densities from light bond paper to heavy, rigid cardstock.

Of course, as in other areas of business, there are some brand names that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Some of the best include Strathmore bond, Mohawk Irish linen, Springhill offset,Beckett cambric, Kromekote coated paper, Lustro dull, McCoy matte paper, Opus dull paper, Cougar opaque, Valley Forge paper, and Fox River Select. When it comes to such delicate matters as presentation, it’s best to go with the tried and true producers. By paying attention to all details, even such as these, your business will grow to unprecedented heights.

By Staff Writer Steven R. Ice

Copyright 2008, All rights reserved by Ice and Ink Freelance