What Is a Paper Card?

What Is a Paper Card?

Card makers often incorporate stamping, die cutting and other paper crafting techniques into their handmade projects. This helps them express their creative flair and meet personal or business needs.

Manufacturers create cardstock paper using a blend of hardwood and softwood fibers and fillers. The right balance of these elements ensures proper formation, strength and opacity.

Size

Traditionally, paper card was measured in terms of weight and thickness. In the US, this is often referred to as “pound” or a value followed by a number like Paper Card 80lb. However, this is not the case in the UK or Australia where it is typically described using GSM (Grams Per Square Metre). The higher the number the thicker and sturdier the card.

For a high-quality look and feel, most cards are made from at least 350gsm paper stock. This is a good option for most card designs, but thinner options are also available if you’re going for a light and simple design.

Most of the paper card stock used for cards is a little thicker than the standard business card size, and it’s also ideal for stamping and die-cutting. It’s also suitable for embossing, if you’d prefer to give your card a more luxurious finish. Thicker cards, however, may not be as easy to fold, and they won’t fit well in most business card slots in wallets or organisers. This makes them less practical for handing over in person, but are great for sending as a gift. They’re also a wonderful way to share your message with friends and family!

Thickness

If you’re interested in paper crafting, you may have noticed that cardstock isn’t just thicker than standard copier paper but also has a different feel to it. This difference is due to the thickness of the paper, known as the gsm or grammage. The gsm is the standard way that paper and card weight are measured, and it refers to how much the paper weighs per 1 square meter of sheet.

This differs to the lbs system that most people are used to, where the weight is determined by how much 500 sheets of a particular type of paper weighs. The gsm is more accurate in terms of measuring thickness, and you’ll find that a card stock with a higher gsm will be thicker than one with a lower gsm.

There are different categories of gsm, each with their own uses and characteristics. The lower gsm classes are similar to standard printer or office paper. They are thin enough to print on but not so thin that they will show through the other side.

The mid-gsm classes are a popular choice for cards as they have a nice thicker texture but still have some flexibility. This makes them ideal for paper crafts and card layers. They can often be folded multiple times without losing shape and are suitable for many types of stamping and die-cutting techniques.

Coatings

Coatings are added to paper to have an impact on certain qualities like shine and ink absorbency. Paper can be coated on one side or both sides, and the coating may be glossy, matte or dull. The more sheen a paper has, the more vibrant and vivid the ink colors appear when printed on it.

Gloss coating is a highly reflective, shiny finish that makes photos and graphics pop off the page with exceptional clarity. However, it is not as durable as uncoated stock. It can be prone to scratching and corner bending.

Aqueous (water-based) coating is a very clear, protective coating that helps make smudges and fingerprints less visible on your printed piece. It also enhances the look and feel of your piece, and it dries faster than varnish. It is also eco-friendly.

UV Coating is a solvent-free, ultra-shiny finish that is applied over aqueous coating and cured in a special machine using ultraviolet light. It gives your finished product a stunning, wet appearance and makes the color and details of your design really pop. UV is smudge and scratch resistant, but it can’t be used on the addressed side of your mailer.

Printing Options

A paper card is printed on one or both sides and can be coated mifare desfire ev3 with different finishes, which protect it from damage and add to its overall appearance. This includes UV coating, which makes it more durable and reduces glare, and soft touch coating, which gives it a smooth feel that is pleasant to the touch. These coatings also make the card waterproof, making it easy to write on and more resistant to stains.

Depending on the design and printing options you choose, a paper card can also be embossed or foiled. Foil stamping is the process of applying a thin layer of metal to the surface of a piece of paper using heat and pressure. This creates a raised effect that adds texture and depth to the printed image. Embossing is another option that adds an elegant look to a card, and can be used on both glossy and matte finishes.

A paper card can be a great way to market your business or brand. They are lightweight, affordable, and can be mailed to local customers through programs like Every Door Direct Mail. They can also be used to promote sales, special events, and other promotions. The paper card can be printed with your logo, contact information, and other essential details to help you get noticed.