Uncoated Paper
Everything you need to know about uncoated paper to help you make the best choices for your print project
What Is Uncoated Paper?
Uncoated paper—also called offset paper or wood-free paper—is paper that hasn’t been coated with mineral clay or polymers to fill the gaps between fibers. Because of this, it has a more natural texture and a slightly rougher feel compared to glossy or matte coated papers.
Uncoated paper absorbs more ink and light, which makes it great for printing text. However, detailed or full-color images will appear softer and less vibrant. It’s usually lighter in weight than coated paper and less resistant to moisture.
Uncoated Paper Type: Thickness and Weight
As with all papers, we estimate the thickness of uncoated paper by reference to its weight. Lighter paper is often thinner, while heavier paper is usually thicker. With us, you can choose from a wide range of uncoated paper weights, including:
| GSM | LB (Cover paper) | LB (Text paper) | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 30 | 54 | 0.097 mm |
| 100 | 37 | 68 | 0.118 mm |
| 120 | 44 | 81 | 0.140 mm |
| 140 | 52 | 95 | 0.160 mm |
| 160 | 59 | 108 | 0.183 mm |
| 180 | 66 | 122 | 0.200 mm |
The Pros and Cons of Uncoated Paper
While uncoated paper could be the perfect option for your print project, you’ll need to weigh up the pros and cons before you decide. To help you, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of uncoated paper.
The Advantages of Uncoated Paper
1. Uncoated paper has a slightly rougher texture and is more absorbent, so it is better for any product that needs to be written on, such as a journal, calendar, or a coloring book, for example.
2. Uncoated paper is more eco-friendly compared to coated paper. If you want to make your printing products look more natural, uncoated paper is a great choice.
3. At the same weight, coated paper is thicker than uncoated paper.
4. The post-printing resilience of the ink surface to scuffs and scratches is higher on uncoated paper.
5. Several uncoated papers have a softer, more natural look and are easier to read from without eye strain than ultra-white coated papers.
The Disadvantages of Uncoated Paper
1. It is not good for printing high quality photos.
2. The ink may “bleed” into the surrounding paper
Generally, we choose the uncoated paper is higher price than the coated paper. So, it is not economical to compare with coated paper.
What Is Uncoated Paper Usually Used for?
Uncoated paper is typically used for print projects in which the text is central and art or photographic reproduction is less important. So, for example, the interior pages of novels and other text-based books, leaflets and flyers, black-and-white comic interiors, disposable catalogs, certain brochures, will all work well with uncoated paper. And because of its absorbency and slightly rough surface, it’s ideal for any print project which needs to be written on such as workbooks, coloring books, and diaries or journals.
The lighter offset papers — 70 gsm, 80 gsm, and 100 gsm — would be used, for example, to print student workbooks, coloring books, and the interior pages of some comics; whereas, 120 gsm offset paper would be a good option for printing envelopes, coloring book interior pages, or brochure covers.
As far as hardcover end sheets or catalog covers go, 140 gsm, 160 gsm, or 180 gsm offset paper could be a perfect choice. Much depends on the book’s size. Larger books need heavier paper.
At QinPrinting, we also provide custom offset paper weight options for large quantity orders. Contact us now to get your free uncoated paper sample manual.
