A Complete Guide on Printing Paper Types and Sizes

No matter what you need to print, there is a specific type of paper available that will suit it perfectly. However, with such a huge variety of sheet sizes and types that can be found in the market, it can be difficult to figure out which one is right for the job and which one can be used with your printer. If there is a specific print job that you need to do, you should be aware of the types and sizes available in order to make the best choice.

Types

There are different types of printing paper available, each with its own benefits and uses. Some of the most popular types that you can find are:

1. Inkjet printer paper

As the name indicates, this type of paper is specially designed to be used with inkjet printers. There are different kinds of inkjet paper that can be used with inkjet ink, such as business card, glossy, photo and greeting card variants.

2. Laser printer paper

This printer paper is suitable for use with a laser printer. It is more commonly used in business environments for jobs, such as printing checks, documents and mailing labels.

3. Matte

This paper type is perfectly suitable for all regular printing needs due to which it is used most frequently. The ink dries faster on matte, as opposed to other paper types, because it is finished with a white coating. Hence, it is ideal for a document that’s quickly needed.

4. Bright white

These are non-textured and much smoother sheets, which make them the perfect fit for presentable and high quality double-sided printing. Since the paper is bright, it is possible to print on both sides without the ink showing on the other side.

5. Glossy

Traditionally, this paper type is chosen when image or photographs have to be printed rather than text because it is able to produce sharp images and brilliant colors. The ink is absorbed by the glossy surface thereby creating images with higher clarity than you would see on matte.

6. Card stock

This sturdy and strong paper type is used for printing business cards, postcards or for scrapbooking. This paper is a lot more durable because it is thicker than other types of paper and it doesn’t become tattered easily.

7. Resume

As compared to traditional paper, this paper is slightly heavier and off-white in color, which makes it unique from other kinds of printing paper. You will notice an ivory or cream tone in resume paper and it is mostly used for CVs and other important documents to show that the information is extremely important.

Sizes

A Size

The ‘A’ size paper is not new for anyone who has used a printer before. These are the most easily distinguished paper size and are used widely. It is simple to understand these paper sizes because they decrease and increase in successive order with A1 being the biggest and A10 being the smallest paper size.

1. A4

The most common printer paper is of A4 size and measures 210mm x 297mm. This paper can be found in a number of coatings and weights, which means that you can find an A4 paper that can work for any printing job. Not only is this paper size suitable for everyday tasks, but can also be great for special purposes.

2. A3

This paper size is approximately 297mm x 420mm, which makes it twice as big as A4. The larger size gives you the option of printing documents that have to make a strong visual impact, such as high resolution images or large graphic pieces. The versatility of large A3 printers is quite impressive because they have faster print engines and can print in A3 and also A4.

3. Other A sizes

Smaller sizes, such as A5 and A6 are also available and these are great for printing small media like flyers. You can come across sizes like A2 and A1, which can be used for printing banners and posters.

4. SRA

This is the ‘supplementary raw format A’, which is slightly bigger than A4 size paper. Therefore, it is used for commercial printing because it allows more room for gripping, bleeding and trimming. The SRA3 paper is the most common size and it can be used in numerous digital print machines.

5. C size

This range of paper is exclusively used for envelopes. The sizes range between C1 and C10 and correspond to similar sizes in the A range, although they are slightly bigger by design. The small difference in their size allows the A size sheet to easily fit inside the envelope.

Coating

You can find printing paper in several coatings as well, which give a specific finish to the sheet. This can be useful for determining its suitability for a certain job. Some common coating types include:

1. Varnish

You can find these coatings in satin, gloss or dull finishes and they can also be tinted in some colors. They are an affordable option, but provide lower level of protection. They can provide a glossy touch to the photo, which gives it a professional appearance.

2. UV

This coating enhances the printed colors and offers a higher level of protection to the sheets. The thickness of this coating varies as it is applied as a liquid and then ultraviolet rays harden it. It can be applied either gloss or matte, along with tinted finishes or specialized glitter.

3. Aqueous

This type of coating can prevent the sheet from damages or markings, such as fingerprints. Since this coating type is water-based, it dries very quickly. The best part of this coating is that it is more environment friendly as compared to other types of coating.

Apart from these factors, you can also consider the opacity of the printing paper, i.e. how transparent or opaque it is and how much light it lets through. The weight of the paper can also play an important role in your decision for choosing the best paper for certain jobs.