Paper! Paper! Paper!

There are amazing arrays of papers available for any design project imaginable. Some are smooth, colorful, shiny, dull, translucent, textured, you name it, and it’s probably available. There are recycled and recyclable options, varying in their percentage of post consumer wastes. Papers can be FSC certified, approved by Forrest Stewardship Council, or certified as SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiatives). Papers can also be produced by renewable energy resources and certified Green-e^®. There are a lot of “hoops” paper manufactures and printers must jump through to allow the use of the respective product symbols on printed pieces.

Paper has been around for ages, dating back to AD 105, invented by the Chinese Eunuch Ts'ai Lun. So a lot of centuries have passed by, and a lot of paper varieties have evolved to the point it’s almost impossible to choose. Thank goodness for paper houses like West Coast Paper Solutions (WCPS) and our paper consultant Laura Luethje who provide KAP Art with beautiful paper samples, and information on request.

Paper houses are a great resource for more than samples. We recently requested a “dummy” for one of our projects from WCPS. The dummy was created to our exact specs; size, fold, different papers (cover, translucent pages, inside pages), and even stitched.  The dummy is a tool we can show the customer to give them a visual of what the final product will look like. WCPS has an entire department devoted to creating dummies for it’s clients.

Choosing a paper to enhance a design piece is fun, albeit overwhelming. Paper choice does make a difference and can turn an average piece into a showstopper. One great thing about the paper samples we receive is they are often accompanied with examples of their use; different ink or varnish applications, embossing, foiling, and amazing folds. These beautiful art pieces provide continued inspiration.

If you frequently need to make paper choices, having a relationship with a paper consultant is priceless. Paper choice makes a difference and can also send a great message about the importance of the environment.