March 2006: How Paper Selection Can Affect Binding Quality

Paper selection involves the evaluation of a project in two stages: Printing and postpress. On the printing side, paper is typically selected based on its ability to get through the press and complement the design and feel of the piece. But a paper that looks great when it’s flat may not look so hot as a finished product.

On this project, stamping is performed on an uncoated stock to create an attractive contrast.

Depending on the needs of your project, the paper you select must work well with folding, gluing, trimming, binding, foil stamping, embossing and all other finishing services it will receive. To that end, here are a few things to watch for when selecting a paper to match both your printing and postpress needs:

Uncoated stocks

For most binding and finishing production, uncoated stocks are a breeze to work with. Their high paper fiber content allows them to work well with almost any adhesive, and they offer consistent results for folding, scoring and most binding styles.

One area where uncoated stocks are not recommended is for applications requiring UV or other postpress coatings. Due to the absorbency of uncoated stocks, UV coating will simply be sucked into the stock. If your project must include UV coating, be sure to specify a coated stock.

Coated stocks

From a postpress perspective, the main factor with coated stocks is the addition of clay, which reduces fiber and pulp content of the paper. This can result in poor or inconsistent folding quality, even if the sheet has been scored first. Gloss-coated stocks, or those with heavy ink coverage, may exhibit unsightly cracking on the fold.

For adhesive binding projects, coated stocks may offer poor results if not properly prepared. Again, the high clay/low fiber content of coated papers makes it difficult for adhesives to penetrate the sheet surface and form a strong bond. For this reason, PUR adhesives are suggested for most projects printed on coated stocks.

Textured stocks

If your customer is considering a textured stock for their project, consider the pattern of the texture and how it will affect the finished product. For example, linear patterns will show any unevenness in folding and trimming, which may be a deal-breaker for your application. Also, textured stocks are not always a good fit for foil stamping and embossing. Many designers attempt to “stamp out” the pattern in a textured stock and fill the stamped area with foil. An equally attractive and more predictable alternative is to perform blind embossing on the textured stock.

The Riverside Advantage

Do you have a great stock in mind that you or your customer would like to use? Give the experts at The Riverside Group a call to be sure you won’t run into difficulties during downstream production. With a complete range of bookbinding (including perfect, PUR, Smyth-sewn and mechanical binding styles), print finishing and related solutions performed under one roof, we can help you manage the strengths and challenges of almost any type of stock. Give The Riverside Group a call today!