How to Choose the Right Kind of Paper for Your Book

Paper makes all the difference in bringing your book to life. To ensure your paper selection is suitable for your project, it’s essential to understand everything from paper weight, color, coatings, and sustainability options. 

Perfect Bound is working with Lindenmeyr Book Publishing Papers as our preferred paper partner. With over 160 years of experience, Lindenmeyr is dedicated to helping publishers of all shapes and sizes find the right paper for any book publishing project, including New York Times bestsellers, cookbooks, educational text, and more. They are a great partner when choosing the optimal paper for your projects and efficiently managing your paper supply.

If you would like to learn more about supplying your own paper, please email Lindenmeyr Book Publishing Papers at perfectbound@lbppaper.com

Types of Paper

Groundwood

Groundwood paper is made from mechanical pulp. This paper retains more lignin during the pulping process, making it less durable and more prone to yellowing when exposed to light. This type of paper is most suitable for newspapers, catalogs, directories, and other short-lived print materials. Books that use groundwood paper include trade paperback books.

Freesheet

Freesheet paper is made from chemical pulp, which chemically removes lignin from the wood fibers. Because of this, the paper produced is typically whiter and brighter, less prone to yellowing when exposed to light, and is more durable. This type of paper is generally used for books and stationery. Books that use freesheet paper include hardcover titles and cookbooks.

Paper Weight

Your paper's weight determines how your print looks and how the page feels. Using these measurements can help determine the thickness and quality of paper. It can be measured using two methods:

• Basis Weight: Basis weight is a key metric used in the United States to define the weight of paper. It represents the weight in pounds of 500 sheets of paper cut to the basic size of a particular type of paper. Let’s say a ream of paper weighs 70 pounds. That means 500 sheets of that paper weigh 70 pounds in total. You will see it written as 70#. 

• Grams per Square Meter (gsm): This is the metric measurement of paper weight and represents the weight of paper cut to a 1x1 meter square. For example, if a sheet of paper weighs 80 grams and its area is 1 square meter, it is 80 gsm. European paper suppliers commonly use this measurement.

Converting from Basis Weight to GSM

To convert basis weight to gsm, you need to know the basic size of the paper and use a conversion factor. The formula is: 

Paper Thickness

• Caliper: The caliper refers to the thickness of a single sheet of paper. It is measured by 1 caliper point = 1/1000 of an inch. This helps determine the paper’s stiffness and bulk, which helps decide which paper is suitable for what project. The higher the caliper number, the thicker the sheet. 

• Pages Per Inch: Pages Per Inch (PPI) measures the number of pages in a 1-inch stack of paper. This measurement helps estimate a book's spine width.

• The conversion formula is 2000/caliper = PPI.

Paper Shade

Paper isn’t just one standard shade of white. There are many colors to choose from, and the right color paper depends on the project. 

• Cream: Cream is the most common paper color used in books. It has a slightly warmer tone than white, which provides a better reading experience. This color can give your book a more traditional or vintage feel. It is often used for novels, poetry collections, and other literary works.

• White: It provides a crisp, clean, and classic look, making it easy to read text and images. This color is commonly used for cooobooks and coffee table books.

Paper Coatings

Paper coatings improve readability, color enhancement, and image quality. 

• Uncoated: Typically, trade books are printed on uncoated paper 

• Gloss: This gives the paper a smooth and glossy finish. This option produces rich colors and crisp resolution, making images “pop” off the page. Children’s books, magazines, and catalogs typically use this option. 

• Matte: This option gives the paper a more subtle shine and boosts the contrast of images. This coating type is often used for art books, graphic novels, and literary journals. 

• Satin: Satin is an excellent compromise between matte and glossy. It provides glossiness for color vibrancy while maintaining a smooth texture that reduces glare.

Paper Finishes

Choose a finish to apply to your project’s cover. Finishes can mean a type (varnish or lamination) and a style (gloss or matte).

• Varnish: This is applied to seal in and protect the ink. Varnish is available in gloss, matte, and UV. 

• Lamination: Lamination provides the ultimate protection and is available in gloss and matte. The sheen and texture of lamination is much more pronounced than varnish. Gloss lamination is extremely shiny, whereas matte lamination is very smooth. If your book is perfect bound or case bound, you should always use a lamination for the covers to prevent any damage to the printed surface during the binding process. 

• No Finish: Only some books require a finish. You can forego a finish if your project is saddle-stitched without heavy ink on the finish. 

Edges

• Deckle Edges: Deckle edges resemble handmade paper's natural, irregular edges. They can give your book a unique or rustic look and are often associated with artisanal books.

• Gilded Edges: Gilded edges are coated with a thin metallic foil layer. Depending on the printer, the foil color is usually gold or silver, but you can request any. This option can add a sense of luxury or elegance to your project. Gilded edges can only be applied to perfect-bound and case-bound books.

• Sprayed Edges: Sprayed edges are achieved by applying a fine mist of paint or ink to the book's edges. This technique can create solid-colored edges or a gradient effect.

What is FSC Certified Paper? 

If a product has a label that shows that it is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified, that means that the product, packaging, or material has been sustainably sourced through the supply chain—from forest to consumer. Paper that is FSC certified contains one of the four FSC labels described below: 

• Protected Forest: Cutting is based on the size of the forest area, the local legislation, and the local FSC forest management standard. Clear-cut areas are replanted with native species to achieve zero deforestation.

• Fair Wages: Fair wage and work environment.

• Biodiversity Preservation: Plant and animal species are protected.

• Community Rights: Local communities living in and around forest areas are consulted, and their legal and cultural rights to land and forest resources are respected. 

What are Other Sustainable Options?

• SFI Certified: The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a North American organization that recognizes if the paper has been sourced and produced with an emphasis on protecting water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habit, species at risk, and forests with conservation value.

• Post-Consumer Waste Paper: This is a type of recycled paper made entirely from waste that people have used and recycled instead of discarded into landfills. Post-consumer waste can be any paper product recycled from various items, such as milk cartons, books, junk mail, magazines, etc.

What’s the Best Paper for My Book?

Here are a few guidelines you can use to determine which paper would work best for your project:

• 40-55# is typically used for trade paperback and hardcover books, with most trade paperback books being printed on cream-colored groundwood paper

• 60-80# is often found in cookbooks and art books

Purchasing Paper in Bulk

Purchasing paper in bulk is a great way to save money and time. To explore paper options and bulk pricing, please contact our partner, Lindenmeyr Book Publishing Papers, at perfectbound@lbppaper.com.