Book Paper

A book paper (or publishing paper) is a paper which is designed exclusively for the publication of printed books. Traditionally, book papers are off white or low white papers (easier to read), are dense to minimise the show through of text from one side of the page to the other and are (generally) made to tighter caliper or thickness specifications, particularly for case bound books. Typically, books papers are light weight papers 60–90g/m² and often particular by their caliper/substance ratios (volume basis). For example, a bulky 80g/m² paper may possibly have a caliper of 120 microns (0.12mm) which would be Volume 15 (120×10/80) where as a low bulk 80g/m² may have a caliper of 88 microns, giving a volume 11. This volume basis then allows the calculation of a books PPI (printed pages per inch) which is an essential factor for the design of book jackets and the binding of the finished book.

Generally, higher bulk papers are more obscure and rougher than lower bulk papers, although lower bulk papers, with their smoother outside, will be capable of reproducing finer printed images.