Did you know that the term GSM is about paperweight or thickness? Well, if you think it's about cellphones, we think you better read this article. You can also create your own PDF before printing on different papers here: https://deftpdf.com

1. GSM – Different
thick papers

2. 2
What is GSM?
it’s short for “Grams per Square Meter” and this
acronym is used often in paper or in the printing
industry. Basically, GSM determines the thickness or
thinness of paper that reveals its weight per area of a
standard paper. GSM is important for the printers so
they know how to process the project. Quality is also
known when GSM is identified. In an equation, GSM
is the weight of reel over the length of paper on a
meter.

3. Formula
GSM = (Weight of reel in kgs * 100000) / (Length of
paper on meter * reel width in cms)
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4. GSM samples
In a gist, higher GSM means heavier paper or
perhaps thicker in size. The usual paper used is
often only 80gsm. These are often found in copier
machines and offices. Letterheads are often thicker
with 100-120gsm while flyers or business cards are
much thicker at 350gsm. As you can see, each
type of paper suits different needs and different
projects so higher GSM doesn’t always equate to
better.
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5. Different types of
paper and GSM

6. Thin papers
Weight Samples and highlighted benefits
10-35GSM Tissue paper
40GSM Tracing paper
35-55GSM
Newspaper, paper mats, Bible pages
Made for projects that are one-time use or should be disposable. Saves
resources because it's so thin.
6
Beginning with the thinnest available paper, we will find the newspapers who incredibly
have a 35-55GSM but more than 4x the length of a letter paper. Some other industries
also use similar paperweight, including fast food who uses paper mats on their
restaurants. This type of paper may be too thin for your reports but it will do the job for
something easily disposable.

7. Common papers
80-90GSM
Everyday paper, your usual letter, office printer paper a.k.a. offset paper
Great in absorbing color ink
100-120GSM high-quality letterheads, premium stationery,
100-180GSM
Posters, promotional materials, visual marketing, flyers, brochures
UV resistant and great for outdoors
Often has a coating with a smooth surface
80-90GSM
Everyday paper, your usual letter, office printer paper a.k.a. offset paper
Great in absorbing color ink
7
On the photocopy machine, a4 or letter-sized papers can be found in forms of bond paper. These types have around
80-90GSM in weight and can also be found in mid-market magazines. Certainly, this has been the most popular weight
for paper as it has been a standard use for school, work and home.
If you’re running for mayor, trying to gain brand recall, or creating a poster ad, the best weight to fit these projects are
papers at 100-180GSM. These thicker stocks can become good quality letterheads or promotional materials. Flyers,
some brochures, and leaflets can also fall into this weight.

8. Thick papers
250-300GSM
Magazine cover, photo paper, sturdy paper, premium
brochures, banners, greeting cards
350-400GSM
Calling card, wedding invitations, menu cards, postcards,
folders, door hangers,
Great for projects that need to stand up on its own.
>1000GSM Hardcover book
250-300GSM
Magazine cover, photo paper, sturdy paper, premium
brochures, banners, greeting cards
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Not so satisfied with 180? Try 250 instead and imagine your work printed on the
magazine cover – because that’s usually how thick 250GSM feels. If you’re familiar
with a photo paper, that’s exactly the sample for that. If you’re still not satisfied with
that, the last and thickest one available in the market is 350GSM. Though they’re not
really ideal for simple homework, rather, it was made to fit something like a business
card, invitations or menu card.

9. Why is it so important
to know your GSM?

10. “Knowing the right kind of paper for your project means
having a great output. Plus, it’s more likely that your printer
will be able to understand what you want to achieve. Being
specific on the GSM eliminates the miscommunications, the
errors on all trials and makes everyone efficient.
10

11. So how thick
should I pick?
11

12. “With the guide we’ve set, we hope you’ve already got an
idea of how each kind of paper is used in the everyday life
but of course, don’t limit your creativity to what’s usual. You
can use any kind of paper that you see fit to your creation.
This is just a guide to help you decide and picture how it
may look like using existing print outs.
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13. What else should I consider
in the paper?
VARNISH
Varnish coatings are usually
glossy, satin or dull but it can vary
in color and are useful for photos.
More often available to the public,
this type of coating is cheaper than
laminates as it does not provide
much protection.
UV
The second common type is the UV
coating, which we often find in
outdoor projects. Why? Because it
offers better protection than normal
gloss and can be as thin or thick as
you prefer. It can even be in matte,
gloss, or tinted varieties that will
provide texture and enhanced color to
your project.
AQUEOUS
The last type of coating is called
Aqueous. These environment-friendly
coatings are water-based, applied to
the printout for the distinct purpose of
fingerprint protection. Mostly used to
important artwork, this coating shields
it from markings or imprints that may
damage the material.
13
Other than the weight and thickness, there is also the factor of paper coatings and opacity. With paper
coatings, there are only three common types – Varnish, UV, and Aqueous. These different coatings
affect the visibility, vibrancy of the color and the impact on the finish.

14. Have other needs? Look
through our free tools in
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details!
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