| Machine Finished Paper | |
| Machine Finished is an uncoated mechanical printing paper, often referred to as Improved Newsprint. Its main characteristic is its high bulk combined with a low weight. Most MF papers are 'tailormade' grades, which are characteristically light and have surfaces meeting particular requirements. Their information capacity (ie ability to show fine printed detail) is limited due to the ink-absorption of this grade. Due to the almost entirely mechanical fibre content, the MF will discolour when subjected to sunlight. MF is intended for use in web-offset presses which do not have external ink-drying (coldset) equipment. However there is a growing demand for printing by heatset web-offset, BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
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| Machine Finished Coated Paper | |
| Machine-finished coated is a mechanical paper featuring very high bulk. This makes it ideal for printed products in which good rigidity is desired. Its matt surface and high brightness factor make for very readable printed text. The relative smoothness of this paper and its low ink absorption facilitate a glossy image; this is an important advantage in colour printing, because it ensures excellent intensity and gloss contrasts, especially in pictures. Speciality magazines and advertising products are among the main uses for MFC. Heatset is the most suitable printing method with this grade. BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
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| Medium-Weight Coated Paper | |
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Sometimes called Double Coated Mechanical, MWC is a medium-weight coated paper grade with a medium-thickness coat and a basis weight in the over-80gsm range.
Its double coat gives this paper a consistent surface texture and excellent smoothness, ensuring high gloss colour printing. This good surface ensures low dot-gain in offset printing and explains why MWC is so popular for demanding full-colour applications. MWC boasts the highest information capacity of all the mechanical-pulp-based grades. It is most suitable for perfect-bound speciality magazines and advertising articles in which quality demands are exceptionally high. BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
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| Supercalendered Magazine Paper | |
| Supercalendered magazine paper is an uncoated grade containing mechanical pulp and fillers. It is probably the most economical magazine paper if its price-to-information-capacity ratio is taken as the yardstick. This grade is made for HSWO and Gravure Presses. SC is particularly suitable for mass-circulation and full colour magazines. SC offset is used for TV programme magazines, direct advertising products, newspaper supplements and other printed articles in which high information capacity is an essential requirement. Another of SC's outstanding features is its good brightness. Powerful supercalander rolls give this paper a dense, smooth and glossy finish. BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
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| Light-Weight Coated Paper | |
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Light-weight coated printing paper combines low-freeness mechanical pulp with ,long fibre cellulose fibres to achieve superior strength. Often called 'Blade Coated Mechanical'.
Excellent printability is then added by coating both sides of the paper to give it a high degree of smoothness and gloss. LWC is intended for printing applications in which high information capacity is needed. Its main uses are for catalogues and magazines with a high advertising content. The higher the basis weight, the higher the brightness level. LWC comes in different versions suiting heatset web offset printing. A matt-surfaced version is very popular for offset printing of textbooks. A hybrid grade is available in the 60-75gsm range commonly called LWC Hi-Brite. These offer a higher brightness level than conventional LWC, whilst retaining opacity which MWC (Double Coated Mechanicals) cannot match. BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
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| Woodfree Art Paper | |
| Woodfree Art Often called 'Standard Art', this grade is a chemical-pulp-based variant of MWC known for its strength and brightness. Premium and Speciality Art Commonly called 'Real Art'. These heavy-weight coated (HWC) papers are triple coated. Their main use is for printing art books, high quality brochures and annual reports. Woodfree Art The best features of this paper are its strength, brightness and suitability for long-term archive storage. In the lighter weights opacity falls short of the MWC. It is available in matt, silk and gloss versions. Premium and Speciality Art Because of the high gloss level achieved through the triple-coating this grade can be used as an alternative for covers which would normally be UV varnished (the printed gloss would be slightly down from a UV coating and it would not be sealed, but the saving can be substantial) BACK TO TOP OF PAGE |
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