Correct Paper Terminology Prevents Printing Errors
(Montreal, Canada, 08 August 2016) The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one is known as a malapropism. Baseball legend Yogi Berra intentionally turned these phrases and other word play into humorous nonsense. For example, he once quipped, “I’m not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.”
While the intentional misuse of words can be funny, it’s not so funny when a mistake ends up costing someone money or making a person look inexperienced. In the world of printing, paper terminology is often misused or confused with disastrous results.
“I’ve found when it comes to paper lingo, even well-known industry peeps get it wrong sometimes,” wrote longtime specification representative Jill DiNicolantonio in her article “When it Comes to Paper, The Correct Terminology is Critical,” [to read article Go To: http://domtarblueline.com/2016/03/comes-paper-correct-terminology-critical/] which was published on Domtar’s Blueline blog [http://domtarblueline.com/blog/]. DiNicolantonio is the founder of Parse and Parcel, an online resource for print and paper inspiration.
DiNicolantonio shared some of the most commonly misused terms.
Matte
For printers, the term matte doesn’t mean uncoated paper. Rather it refers to the least glossy and most tactile of the coated paper finishes. Uncoated paper, by contrast, comes in super smooth, smooth and vellum finishes. DiNicolantonio noted that she has heard many designers refer to uncoated paper — including Domtar’s Cougar brand — as matte over the years. Why is this important? There’s a huge difference in price, paper characteristics and print quality between matte and uncoated paper.
Vellum
Many designers mistakenly think that vellum is interchangeable with translucent. Translucent paper has a see-through characteristic, usually found in a clear shade. Vellum, on the other hand, refers to a finish for uncoated paper.
Recycled
DiNicolantonio also goes into some finer points regarding recycled paper. While the public generally assumes that recycled paper means post-consumer waste, it can actually contain pre-consumer or post-consumer waste. The pre-consumer waste is paper that has been discarded before consumer use, often scraps from the manufacturing process. Also, the amount of post-consumer waste in recycled paper varies. If post-consumer waste is an important factor in a purchase, designers should specify the minimum amount required.
Learn more about these and other misused terms on DiNicolantonio’s blog post. You’ll also want to study up on other common paper terminology. You don’t want to get to the end of a printing project and find, in Berra’s words, that you “made too many wrong mistakes.” (Source: Domtar Newsroom)
Image: Courtesy Domtar
