Stock forms, types and sizes

Certain papers and boards are selected for their different and applications. They are supplied in different stock forms, including sheet, 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.

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).

Paper	Properties	Uses
Layout paper	Lightweight, thin, cheap, smooth surface	Graphic drawings, animations
Bleed proof (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

Paper	Layout paper
Properties	Lightweight, thin, cheap, smooth surface
Uses	Graphic drawings, animations

Paper	Bleed proof (marker) paper
Properties	Contains more chalk, smooth, hard, doesn’t absorb ink, doesn’t bleed
Uses	Creating special effects for designers or artists

Paper	Tracing paper
Properties	Good transparency, expensive
Uses	For seeing an image underneath

Paper	Grid paper
Properties	Covered with continuous square grid
Uses	Used in many maths contexts

Paper	Cartridge paper
Properties	Heavier weight, good quality, opaque
Uses	Writing and sketching

Floor plan grid drawn out with blue pen over tracing paper. — Image caption,
Tracing paper over grid paper

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 , referring to the number of pieces of paper that have been glued together to make a sheet of board.

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

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.

Board	Duplex board
Properties	Cheaper than white board, available with different finishes (metallic, holographic etc.)
Uses	Food packaging, eg biscuit boxes or containers

Board	Solid white board
Properties	Top quality, range of thicknesses, excellent to print on
Uses	Hardback books

Board	Foil-lined board
Properties	Expensive, good quality, aluminium foil lining, excellent barrier against moisture
Uses	Pre-packed food packages, cosmetic cartons

Board	Inkjet board
Properties	Expensive, printable, photo quality
Uses	Posters, photography, art reproductions

Board	Foam-core board (foam board)
Properties	Strong, lightweight, paper face, foam core
Uses	Model making, mounting photographs

Papers and boards - AQAStock forms, types and sizes