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Press Papers
Typically paper weights are characterized by a pound (#) sign along with Bond, Cover or Text. A paper’s weight equals the actual weight of one ream (500 sheets) of the standard size for that type of paper. Each paper type (Bond, Cover or Text) uses a different standard sheet size for measurement. Which explains why 100# Text and 100# Cover differ in thickness, even though they’re both designated as 100#. A more universal measurement is gsm (Grams per square meter). GSM is an absolute measurement of a paper's weight, regardless of type.

Card and Cover Stocks

  • Smooth Cover - This smooth, coated paper offers an excellent white allowing for vibrant color rendition. It’s weight is 100# Cover/270 gsm. It contains no recycled content; however, it is FSC certified. For more information, check out http://www.fscus.org/faqs/what_is_certification.php.
  • Fine Art Watercolor - The acid free paper offers a richly textured surface very similar to artist’s watercolor paper. This paper is not recommended for printing delicate type and fine details. It’s weight is 80# Cover/216 gsm. It contains 50% recycled content.
  • Fine Art Linen - This paper has a subtle, yet traditional and luxurious linen pattern. This fine linen pattern presents exceptional print clarity and accepts delicate type well. It’s weight is 80# Cover/216 gsm. It contains 50% recycled content.
  • Pearl - Pearl Paper offers a subtle shimmer to any design. This rich, luminous effect is achieved by combining natural minerals with organic pigments. This paper is not recommended for printing delicate type and fine details, the luminous effect and paper surface make reading small text difficult. It’s weight is 107# Cover/290 gsm. It contains no recycled content; however, it is FSC certified.

Book and Brochure Stocks

  • Semi Gloss - This paper offers a high quality, extremely smooth semi-gloss surface providing for excellent contrast color reproduction. It’s weight is 100# Text/148 gsm. It contains 10% recycled content.
  • Matte - This acid free paper is chosen by designers for it’s archival quality and timeless appeal. It’s soft, smooth surface provides for velvety solids and natural-looking prints. It’s weight is 100# Text, It contains 30% recycled content.
  • LayFlat Smooth - This bright white paper utilizes a patented built-in “hinge” that allows for the book pages to lay flat when opened. It’s weight is 300 gsm. It contains no recycled content; however, it is FSC certified.
  • LayFlat Pearl - This paper is the same as our Pearl Cover stock however is manufactured with the built-in hinge. It’s weight is 107# Cover/290 gsm. It contains no recycled content; however, it is FSC certified.

Coating Options

We offer two different types of coating for press-printed items. If you’re printing on Smooth Cover stock you have a choice of either Gloss or UV. Pearl, Linen, and Watercolor papers can be UV-coated only. Both Gloss and UV-coating add protection to your press-printed pieces, however, they differ in both how they look and how the coating is applied in the production process.

Gloss coating is applied at the time of printing and provides the highest level of shine that can be applied to the paper. NexPress is the only digital press that offers a built-in clear protective coating, utilizing their specialized Clear Toner. When applied to the printed piece, the clear toner is fused at a high temperature which results in a hard, smooth, mirror-like high gloss shine. This high gloss shine is primarily applied for aesthetic reasons, but also provides additional wear protection for the image. Because of how NexPress toners are processed during recycling, the gloss coating is the eco-friendliest option available.

UV coating is a coating that is applied as a secondary step in the production process, once printing is complete. The coating is applied as a thin layer on the surface of the printed piece. This liquid is then cured through exposure to high intensity UV light. During the process, the coating follows the contour of toners on the page so in areas of high toner density, there is a higher degree of shine.