Most opaque thin paper?

[Rerrock]

Anybody knows the most opaque thin paper? A thin paper that has least show through?

We're printing a religious book with lots of colored images in more than 400 pages, 5 inches by 8 inches. Not supposed to be too thick.

Would also appreciate other tricks/techniques on how to handle this.

Thanks for whatever inputs you can give!

 

[Biggs]

How thin is thin? 20# or less? Are you looking for coated or uncoated?
Is it being printed digitally or offset?

 

[Rerrock]

It can go as high as 80 gsm. Uncoated. Beige colored.
It can be printed either way, but I would like to know the best way to approach this. Thank you for helping....

 

[Rerrock]

Sorry my mistake (I'm new to this!). It should be 75 gsm max.

 

[Travis Young]

I'd say you would be looking for something in the 45-60 GSM range.
How big is the run?
To print a book with that many pages offset you would need a pretty good size run.
Are you printing it on your own equipment or using an outside printer?
If you're doing it yourself you'll need to see what your local paper merchant has available and if it's printed elsewhere it will be a case of what they have available.

 

[Rerrock]

7000 copies.

 

[Travis Young]

That's a good size run. Certainly good enough to print offset cost effectively.

A web offset printer would probably give you the best price and have lightweight paper in stock (maybe not in beige though).
If you're unfamiliar, web presses use rolls of paper and commonly print newspapers, magazines and large books.

A sheetfed offset printer would provide a better quality job but even for the largest of sheetfed presses 400 pages is a huge job. It would not be cheap.

A digital machine would be just about worn out by the time your job was finished!
They're brilliant for small jobs but yours is definitely not a small job.

Consult with whoever you intend to do the job and see what types of paper they have available.

Your choice of printing process will partially determine your paper choices.

There will inevitably be some show through with full colour on any uncoated stock that light.

Hope this helps. Please post how it goes.

 

[Rerrock]

Thank you very much for the inputs!

 

[Adil]

For a thin paper with minimal show-through for your religious book, consider looking into high-quality opaque papers, such as those with a higher basis weight (GSM) and opacity. Some options you could explore include premium coated papers or opaque uncoated stocks. Additionally, you might want to discuss your specific requirements with paper suppliers or printing experts who can provide tailored recommendations based on your project's needs.

In terms of techniques, optimizing the printing process can help. Adjusting the ink density and using a proper printing technique can enhance color vibrancy without compromising opacity. It's advisable to work closely with your printer to ensure they are equipped to handle the specifics of your project.

Lastly, requesting sample prints on various paper types before making a final decision can give you a hands-on experience of how the colors appear and how much show-through is present.

 

[Raf77]

Have you guys ever heard of bible/scritta paper?