Stock forms, types and sizes
Certain papers and boards are selected for their different The characteristics of something. In chemistry, chemical properties include the reactions a substance can take part in. Physical properties include colour and boiling point. and applications. They are supplied in different stock forms, including sheet, Flexible material wrapped around a tube or turned over and over on itself without folding. and ply.
Ply refers to the number of layers used. For example, one-ply paper is made of a single layer of paper, whereas two-ply has two layers.
Calculating area of shapes
It is important to be able to understand the amount of material that a product or idea might use. If the material size needed can be calculated, then the waste material can also be calculated. Since all material costs money, it is important to know the value of what it used and not used when designing and making.
Image caption, Area of a square = length × width
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Papers
Paper is selected by its thickness, measured in grams per square metre (gsm). This is the weight of one square metre of the paper. Paper is available in many sizes, with A0 being the largest and the most common size being A4. Each is half the area of the one before, ie A4 paper (297 mm × 210 mm) is half the size of A3 paper (297 mm × 420 mm).
| Type of paper | Properties | Uses |
| Layout paper | Lightweight, thin, cheap, smooth surface | Graphic drawings, animations |
| Bleedproof (marker) paper | Contains more chalk, smooth, hard, doesn’t absorb ink, doesn’t bleed | Creating special effects for designers or artists |
| Tracing paper | Good transparency, expensive | For seeing an image underneath |
| Grid paper | Covered with continuous square grid | Used in many maths contexts |
| Cartridge paper | Heavier weight, good quality, opaque | Writing and sketching |
| Type of paper | Layout paper |
|---|---|
| Properties | Lightweight, thin, cheap, smooth surface |
| Uses | Graphic drawings, animations |
| Type of paper | Bleedproof (marker) paper |
|---|---|
| Properties | Contains more chalk, smooth, hard, doesn’t absorb ink, doesn’t bleed |
| Uses | Creating special effects for designers or artists |
| Type of paper | Tracing paper |
|---|---|
| Properties | Good transparency, expensive |
| Uses | For seeing an image underneath |
| Type of paper | Grid paper |
|---|---|
| Properties | Covered with continuous square grid |
| Uses | Used in many maths contexts |
| Type of paper | Cartridge paper |
|---|---|
| Properties | Heavier weight, good quality, opaque |
| Uses | Writing and sketching |
Boards
Board is selected by its thickness, measured in microns. One micron is 1/1,000th of 1 mm. Sometimes the thickness of board is given in sheets, referring to the number of pieces of paper that have been glued together to make a sheet of board.
| Type of board | Properties | Uses |
| Corrugated cardboard | Strong, lightweight | Packaging protection in transportation of products and used to package some hot food such as a pizza due to its insulating properties |
| Duplex board | Cheaper than white board, available with different finishes (metallic, holographic etc.) | Food packaging, eg biscuit boxes or containers |
| Solid white board | Top quality, range of thicknesses, excellent to print on | Hardback books |
| Foil-lined board | Expensive, good quality, aluminium foil lining, excellent barrier against moisture | Pre-packed food packages, cosmetic cartons |
| Inkjet board | Expensive, printable, photo quality | Posters, photography, art reproductions |
| Foam-core board (foam board) | Strong, lightweight, paper face, foam core | Model making, mounting photographs |
| Type of board | Corrugated cardboard |
|---|---|
| Properties | Strong, lightweight |
| Uses | Packaging protection in transportation of products and used to package some hot food such as a pizza due to its insulating properties |
| Type of board | Duplex board |
|---|---|
| Properties | Cheaper than white board, available with different finishes (metallic, holographic etc.) |
| Uses | Food packaging, eg biscuit boxes or containers |
| Type of board | Solid white board |
|---|---|
| Properties | Top quality, range of thicknesses, excellent to print on |
| Uses | Hardback books |
| Type of board | Foil-lined board |
|---|---|
| Properties | Expensive, good quality, aluminium foil lining, excellent barrier against moisture |
| Uses | Pre-packed food packages, cosmetic cartons |
| Type of board | Inkjet board |
|---|---|
| Properties | Expensive, printable, photo quality |
| Uses | Posters, photography, art reproductions |
| Type of board | Foam-core board (foam board) |
|---|---|
| Properties | Strong, lightweight, paper face, foam core |
| Uses | Model making, mounting photographs |
