A Simple Guide to Shopping for Thick, Heavy Paper
You probably landed on this article because you need thick, heavy paper for invitations, packaging, branding, or some other creative design. If you’re like many, you may be confused by all the “paper lingo” you’ve come across in your research – card stock, cover weight, points, caliper, thickness, density… the list goes on. If you’re fed up and you just want to find a nice heavyweight paper for your project, good news – the pros at LCI Paper are here to help! This article will cover the following, in simple terms:
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- Quick Paper Weight Rundown (The paper weight terms you need to know right now, defined)
- Card Stock vs. Cover Stock (Yes, there’s technically a difference)
- A Quick Lesson on how Card Stock is Made (Not all card stocks are created equally)
- How to Find the Right Heavyweight Paper(Spoiler alert – LCI Paper has lots of unique, top quality specialty papers from around the world)
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A Quick Paper Weight Explanation
We don’t want to bore you with paper weight details, so below is a quick rundown of what you need to know to choose a heavyweight paper right now. To learn more, check out the Paper by Weight section of our site or read our Paper Basis Weight & Density Explained article.
Paper Weight is Split into 2 Basis Scales – Text & Cover
At LCI Paper, we split our paper into two main scales – text weight and cover weight.
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- Text Weight Paper: Thin, flexible sheets similar to office paper or the pages of a book
- Cover Weight Paper: Thicker, sturdier sheets, commonly referred to as card stock
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Within the Text/Cover Scales, Weight is Indicated by Pounds
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- Paper weight is indicated by a number of pounds within each scale (for example, an 80lb cover, or an 80lb text)
- The higher the pound number, the heavier, and usually thicker, the paper within each scale
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However…it is important to note that:
Text & Cover Weight Scales are Separate, Unrelated Scales!
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- For example, an 80lb text paper is much lighter and thinner than an 80lb cover paper, even though they are both 80lb.
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To summarize, if you are looking for thick, heavy, paper, you are looking for cover weight paper.
Are Cover Stock & Card Stock the Same Thing?
(Basically Yes, but Technically No)
The terms cover stock and card stock are frequently interchanged by both novices and paper industry professionals alike. They both refer to heavyweight paper, and for all intents and purposes, are the same thing – thick, sturdy paper. However in technical terms, there are slight differences between cover stock and card stock:
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- Cover stock: is a specific industry term reserved for heavy weight paper of a fine, decorative nature; found in an assortment of colors, finishes, textures, and coatings. Cover stock is generally classified by paper basis weight rather than caliper (actual thickness).
- Card stock: is a more generic term for heavyweight paper of any variety. Card stock is generally classified by caliper.
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To summarize, at LCI Paper, we sell cover weight paper which is thick, heavyweight, fine quality paper for luxury invitations, packaging and branding design. Since we work with both paper novices and professionals, we interchange the terms “cover weight paper” and “cardstock”.
How is Paper Made?
To understand how card stock is formed, you must understand the materials and the process that goes into it. Both are key to the quality of the final paper that results.
Card Stock is Made with Hardwood, Softwood & Fillers
Wood pulp paper is made of a blend of hardwood and softwood fibers and fillers. Hardwood provides proper paper formation, softwood provides strength, fillers add to the opacity, brightness, and overall appearance of the card stock. The secret is in the sauce, so they say, and the final card stock that results is dependent on the quality and ratio of the fibers in the blend.
Card Stock is Made with Lots of Water
Before being formed into card stock, the fiber/filler blend is about 99% water. So how is this fibery soup transformed into card stock? Here’s the abbreviated version:
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- The fiber blend is dispersed from an opening at the bottom of the headbox – a storage container at the start of the paper-making machine
- Blend flows onto a wire – a wide, flat, porous moving screen
- Water drains from the bottom of the wire, while fibers form into a cohesive sheet above
- Sheet is guided through a series of roller presses and heat dryers until it is a flat, uniform, dry sheet of card stock
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Here’s the full version: How is Paper Made?
Why are Some Stocks Thicker than Others?
Although most machine-made papers are manufactured in the same general fashion, there are several variances in the weights and thicknesses of these papers. Variances in weight are simply due to the amount of fiber that is dispersed onto the wire at the start of the paper making process. The opening at the bottom of the headbox is adjustable, allowing for different amounts of fiber to be dispersed. In a nutshell, the more fiber that is present at onset, the thicker the paper in the end.
In some cases, thick card stock is made by adhering two thinner sheets together (double-thick cardstock), rather than placing twice the amount of fiber on the wire at onset.
Are all Card Stocks Created Equally?
Since most card stock is created generally the same way, is card stock generally all the same? Absolutely not! Each mill uses different fibers, in different ratios, and in a slightly different fashion. What is the result of these many differences? Many different card stocks of many varying qualities that are in no way, created equally.
What Determines a Quality Card Stock & How do I know which Card Stock to Choose?
If card stock is not created equally, what determines a quality card stock? Many people are under the misconception that the quality of a card stock is determined by its thickness, stiffness or weight. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Depending on personal taste and what the paper will be used for, some prefer thick, heavy stock, some prefer a lighter, softer stock. Therefore, the quality of a card stock is determined by the fiber quality and manufacturing process, not by thickness.
If you are shopping card stock from LCI Paper, you can be assured any stock you choose is of utmost quality; coming only from renowned mills that produce paper with only the highest standards of beauty, quality, longevity, and environmentally conscious paper manufacturing in mind.
If you need help deciding, contact LCI Paper to chat about the details of your project. We love all things paper and print, we offer samples, and we’re eager to get just the right paper into your hands.
Learn more about LCI Paper here.
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