Printing Paper Types: Text Vs. Writing

Selecting printing paper for a project can be overwhelming. There are a nearly limitless number of  variations available. Even seasoned commercial print veterans can get confused. Today we look at two types of paper that are an easy source of misunderstanding. Text and writing paper.

Often our customers have two types of printing paper in mind; thick and thin. Of course, this doesn’t even begin to describe all of the possibilities that are available. Different papers are designed with different purposes in mind. Manufacturers carefully select the materials, the process, and the extra flourishes they will use to match a paper to its purpose. We can see these differences very clearly in the making of writing and text papers.

Writing Paper

Writing paper is a high quality sheet for important pieces of stationery like letterhead. Stationery is a symbol of the company it represents. It needs to be made with a printing paper that reflects this importance. Writing papers are a lightweight paper that is of a higher quality than average. Often it contains cotton fibers to improve both its strength and the feel of its surface.

Paper companies include watermarks in writing papers as well. Although it isn’t visible unless held up to a light source, this watermark should be face up and in a readable position on any printed stationery. This means that if you hold up a company’s letterhead to the light you should see the watermark, and you should be able to read it.

Text Paper

Text paper on the other hand is more of a daily-use paper. It is lightweight and versatile, and it is available in coated and uncoated varieties. Manufacturers also use the term Book paper to describe certain text papers. This isn’t a special type of text paper, it’s simply another name that indicates its history as paper for the interior pages of books.

One of the great things about text paper are  the many types available. Text papers come in all sorts of colors, textures, and finishes. This makes text papers the go to printing paper for mailings, pamphlets, posters, catalogs,  and just about anything on a thin sheet.

Key Takeaways

• Writing paper is a lightweight, high quality sheet for letterhead and other high-end stationery.
• Text is also a lightweight printing paper. It is available in many different varieties for many different purposes.

As we always like to point out, paper is an idea. Each project has its own unique needs and peculiarities. If you need help picking a paper for your next print project, then please stop by or contact our CSRs.