Topic: Board Stock / Card... help please!

Okay im trying to pick some card stock that will be used for a product that will be hung on rails at shops. Basically its a small wooden stand which will be died to the stock, the stock has a hole in the top to slide onto the stands at the shops.

Pretty standard really...


I havn't used much card stock before so i don't know much about it... but from what i can gather there are a few main things:

Thickness, measured in pt (where 1 pt = 0.001")

Weight, the weight of the stock can be different even for the same thickness, and can effect how strong, rigid the stock is etc

And of course there is finish.


So the question is am I missing anything, is the above correct, and can anyone suggest some sample stock sizes that i should be looking towards just to give me a general idea.

For example im thinking between 40 - 60pt thickness, but have no idea of the weight, at least 350gsm but probably alot more i am assuming??


Thanks all..

Ok this is one best talked through with you printer. If you need a print on it anyway.
There is literaly tons off paper and carton out there, the choice is depending on printprocess, inkt/paint, where it will be used, waterproofness etc etc. So i only could give you a few hints.

! Don't start with the choice off paper, talk to the print guy first!

First off all how is it going to be printed? One side, double sided, monocolor, duotone, full color etc.
These could be all different processes so the paper used could be different.

What kind off finish do you need, gloss, matt, satin, etc. Is it coated paper, or do you need a finishing layer after the printing proces?
Again a print guy can help wit this.


Thickness:
As i recall correct thicknes pt is used for synthetic based "paper" wich often is made from polyester and sorts.
The weight is used for real paper made from wood or cotton pulp. This is measured per square meter (could be different in the usa). Normaly the same type of paper will be thicker when the weight is higer. However 110gms satinated paper could be thinner as 90gms unsatinated paper form the same company.

Finishing:
-Satinated paper is walsed an extra time at the factory somtimes with added chalk, and has a silky feel.
-Glossy paper mostly has a n aplied coating on one or on both sides which gives a glossy effect on the paper. Sometimes paper is made glossy after the printing proces with a very thin laque or some plastic coating aplied with an press. We used somteimes 8micron thin foil to strengten the carton an protect the print. So there are mutiple choices again the printer can help with that, you could ask to feel the paper or carton/board they have and ask for a printed sample.
-Matt paper could have an extra production step but mostly it is the same as satinated paper without the extra wals step.


The print process is highly dictated by te amount of prints you need. Some printshops use digital laser printers for <100 or so prints
Some use a small press for <1000 prints. Some have both. Some will not even start the big press for less as 20.000 prints.
Newspapers with 100.000's prints are made on big rotary machines.
So you need to now the amount more or less before you visit the printer, which you need to do before you could choose the paper.

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:: Develop yourself, develop your life, develop the world ::
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Hmmm thanks for that, yeh normally i get to talk to the printer - in this case im just the 3rd party and it is getting printed overseas. My client is talking to the printers in china.... makes things more difficult unfortunately.

I asked him to talk to them and tell them what he needs, and for them to suggest some options.


The thickness seems to be different depending on the printer and the country etc also... ,making it even more difficult.

China??? o my dear god...

.........................................................................
:: Develop yourself, develop your life, develop the world ::
.........................................................................

Yeh... alot of it is sent offshore because is so much cheaper... but makes life a tad more difficult especially since i don't have a lot of experience with card printing =(

Or speaking mandarin/cantonese.


Justice 4 Pat Richard