Offset or offset printing paper is a wood-free paper used in offset lithography for various printed materials. It is compatible with both sheet-fed and web-fed printing machines.
Standard uncoated paperweight notebooks range from 50 to 80 lb. 50 lb uncoated paper is around the same weight as a 20 lb copy paper home sheet. There are several elements to consider when deciding which paper weight is appropriate for your notebook.
Minimizes spine size and thickness, ideal for 600+ pages
Perfect balance, most common, sturdy yet flexible
More opaque, ideal for color-heavy publications
Suitable for image-heavy, modest-page notebooks, stiffer feel
Coated or gloss paper has a polymer or mixture of materials to modify its characteristics, such as thickness, surface gloss, smoothness, and ink absorbency. Coated paper types include glossy, semi-gloss, and matte papers, with various coating ingredients like kaolinite, calcium carbonate, bentonite, and talc.
High shine, vivid colors, thinner and more transparent
Non-glossy, dull, increased bulk, opacity, and cost
Softer sheen, vibrant colors, glossier than matte but less than gloss
Flat, matte surface, varies between matte and glossy
Coated one side means C1S, while coated two sides mean C2S. The coating on C1S paper is applied on only one side. The C2S coating is double-sided. The glossiness usually only occurs on the coated side. Postcards are the most common application for this paper type. It makes the front of the card shiny, while the uncoated back may be used for mailing addresses.