Paper Type↕ | Origin↕ | Typical Weight↕ | Best For↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kraft Paper | Germany (1880s) | 40-135 gsm | Packaging, wrapping, grocery bags | Made from wood pulp via the kraft process, iconic brown color, strongest of all papers, eco-friendly darling |
Washi | Japan (7th century) | 10-80 gsm | Calligraphy, origami, bookbinding | UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, made from kozo/mitsumata/gampi fibers, translucent and incredibly strong for its weight |
Parchment | Ancient Pergamon (Turkey) | N/A (animal skin) | Legal documents, certificates, baking | Made from goat/sheep/calf skin, Dead Sea Scrolls written on it, modern baking parchment is silicone-coated paper |
Cardstock | Europe (15th century) | 150-350 gsm | Business cards, invitations, postcards | Thicker than regular paper but thinner than cardboard, backbone of scrapbooking, available in every color imaginable |
Vellum | Ancient Rome | N/A (calfskin) / 48-120 gsm (modern) | Architectural drawings, invitations, overlays | Originally calfskin, now a translucent cotton-based paper, used for wedding invitation overlays, has a buttery smooth finish |
Rice Paper | China / East Asia | 15-50 gsm | Sumi-e painting, spring rolls, lanterns | Not actually made from rice (made from pith of Tetrapanax plant), absorbent, used in both art and cooking |
Watercolor Paper | Europe (18th century) | 190-640 gsm | Watercolor painting, mixed media | Three textures: hot-pressed (smooth), cold-pressed (medium), rough; 300 gsm is the standard, made from cotton or cellulose |
Tracing Paper | Europe (1800s) | 40-112 gsm | Technical drawing, pattern transfer, architecture | Semi-transparent, made by treating paper with acid to break down fibers, every architect's drafting companion before CAD |
Newsprint | USA/Canada (1840s) | 40-57 gsm | Newspapers, packing material, sketching | Cheapest printing paper, yellows rapidly from acid content, declining rapidly with digital news, still used for packing dishes |
Cotton Rag Paper | China (2nd century) / Europe (medieval) | 90-300 gsm | Fine art prints, currency, archival documents | Made from 100% cotton fibers, acid-free and archival, US dollar bills are 75% cotton, lasts centuries without degrading |
Tissue Paper | Europe (1800s) | 10-35 gsm | Gift wrapping, crafts, protective packing | Lightest common paper, comes in every color, the crinkly sound when unwrapping gifts, surprisingly strong for its thinness |
Bristol Board | Bristol, England | 180-500 gsm | Illustration, comic art, technical drawing | Smooth or vellum finish, preferred by comic book artists, takes ink beautifully without bleeding, sturdy and erasable |
Lokta Paper | Nepal (Himalayas) | 30-90 gsm | Book arts, decorative paper, journaling | Handmade from Daphne bush bark, naturally insect and mold resistant, supports Himalayan village economies, gorgeous natural texture |
Corrugated Cardboard | England (1856) | 300-600+ gsm | Shipping boxes, displays, packaging | Fluted middle layer between flat sheets, revolutionized shipping, most recycled material on Earth, cats love scratching it |
Glassine | Europe (19th century) | 40-80 gsm | Stamp collecting, food wrapping, interleaving prints | Air, water and grease resistant, translucent and glossy, made by supercalendering paper, protects artwork from smudging |
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