Paper (or board) coated on one or both sides with a mixture of china clay, latex and other loadings to fill up surface pits and improve the printing surface. There are a variety of coating methods, the most common on-machine coating method being roll coating. Off-machine processes include blade coating, air-knife coating, the traditional brush coating, or combinations of these types. A very high quality form of off-machine coating is cast coating.

Also know as Satin. A smooth, delicately embossed finished paper with sheen – probably the most common of paper types.

A dull, clay-coated paper without gloss or lustre.

A glossy coated finish, which allows ink to dry quickly.

Also know as Offset. Paper that has not had a final coating applied for smoothness. Uncoated paper is absorbent; hence the printed appearance is flatter than on coated stocks.

There are different definitions of the term “recycled” within the industry, so it is important to check the fibre detail of any material. It is quite normal, for example, for a paper to be called ‘recycled’ when only a small percentage of the fibre is actually recycled.