Printing Stock
How do you know which printing stock is best for your project?
For our paperboard boxes, your artwork will be printed directly onto the material that the box is made from. Our corrugated boxes, however, are printed onto a paperboard and then laminated on the corrugated material.
For paperboard boxes, you have a variety of options for the weight of your box. The weight can make your box sturdier or more rigid depending on your selection. The needs of your box should determine how heavy a weight is necessary and if a backing stock is required.
Our coated paperboard stock comes in four weights. Here are some notes to help with the more jargon-y language used to talk about paperboard stock:
- Paper weight is measured by both weight and thickness. When a paper is designated with poundage (ex. 60 lb), this is the weight of 500 pieces of the full-size press sheet of that given stock. Therefore a 60 lb sheet of paper weighs 60 lbs for 500 full-size press sheets.
- When a point size is designated (ex. 14 pt) this is a measure of the thickness of a stock as measured by a pair of calipers. Each point represents 1/1000th of an inch.
- GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter and is the metric version of paper weight. Thus the weight of the paper again is designated by the larger size rather than the cut dimension.
- C1S is an industry term that simply stands for Coated 1-Side. This means that only one side of the sheet has a coating that is specially formulated to give bright and vivid colors. The other side is uncoated and flat.
Standard Paperboard Stocks
Flex Weight
14 pt 250 GSM C1S
This weight is specially designated for our Pillow Box geometry. Its lighter weight allows for the flexibility needed in this particular design.
Value Weight
16 pt 350 GSM Liner stock
Value weight stock is our most economical option and is the same weight stock that is used for our liner material. This stock is coated white on the exterior and uncoated raw brown paperboard on the interior.
Standard Weight
16 pt 300 GSM C1S
This weight is the standard because of its heavy nature and all-purpose usage. This is a great choice if you need your packaging to be durable without being overly bulky.
Premium Weight
18 pt 350 GSM C1S
Our premium weight is a great option for when you really want to impress your customers with top of the line quality. A sturdy and rigid material, this stock is a great choice for your premium product.
Kraft Paperboard Stocks
Standard Weight – Kraft
14 pt 300 GSM – Kraft
Like its standard paperboard counterpart, this kraft stock is standard because of its heavy nature and its all-purpose usage. This raw natural looking stock can communicate an eco-friendly aesthetic for your brand. Bear in mind that CMYK inks will look flatter and more dull printed on a kraft stock compared to the standard coated paperboard. To remedy this, we can add a special layer of white ink beneath the parts of your packaging that you want to pop.
Premium Weight – Kraft
18 pt 350 GSM – Kraft
Much like our Premium Paperboard C1S stock, this heavy kraft stock is rigid and hearty and a great choice for a high-end look and feel. Bear in mind that CMYK inks will look flatter and more dull printed on a kraft stock compared to the standard coated paperboard.To remedy this, we can add a special layer of white ink beneath the parts of your packaging that you want to pop.
