​There are as many types of paper as there are ideas. However, there are several industry standards and typical commonly accepted types.

Types of Paper and Card stocks are commonly divided into categories such as Weight, thickness, density, brightness. Then they are modified with additional materials, textures, finishes and colors, then, finally they are treated with chemical stiffeners, coatings, laminates or treatments to add various effects. The final outcome is virtually endless. (think our new money and what makes it unique)

We pride ourselves in having direct and indirect relationships with every major paper manufacturer and most of the renowned specialty paper/print suppliers in the USA and can access just about anything you might want from cheap low cost newsprint to the finest, vellums, metallic and fiber substrates currently in use in the industry. However, nothing beats buying power and we produce print products by the tons. Due to the amazing quantities of a few of these high end premium papers and stocks we can actually sell most of them for less than our competitors can sell the cheap stuff for.

Paper Trends often change based on many factors… technology, economy and equipment being the usual driving factors. With our current digital age, the vast majority of all printing is image based and sub straight materials that provide the best images are the most sought after. Of course cool and unique are very nice but usually come with a much added price tag too. So, current trends lead to using our top selling Paper and Card stock. The fact that no other paper or card stock produces better images and the fact that we have made it our least expensive price option helps a lot.

​Thicker Paper doesn’t mean stronger or even heavier. To understand that read about density. What makes paper thickness a bit tricky is the use of the word Point or points.

In type setting (font sizes there are 72 points to an inch (almost). 12 points=1 Pica 6 Pica = .97 inches

But in scientific thickness measurements there are 1000 points to an inch exactly.

It is the latter that we measure paper thickness. So if a card stock is 10point card stock (thickness) then 100 sheets is a perfect inch. If it is 16points per sheet thick then it will only take 62 sheets to make a perfect inch. So in understanding paper and card stock thickness is a very important factor to understand.

Depending on the material that we are printing on and the method of printing that we use Total Custom Solutions is able to print on a wide range of thicknesses. Our most common card stock thickness range from 10pt – 24pt. which is twice the thickness of most other print companies. Very few printing companies have equipment that can print on anything thicker than 12pt. Our go to best priced premium card stock is 14pt. or 16pt.

​While the pre-mentioned factors all contribute to the natural difference between paper vs. card stock. For example a highly dense paper that is thick is likely to also be stiffer thus making it more suitable for card stock. But, with the use of additives and stiffening agents from glues, to starches, polymers and even china clay paper can become much more dense, rigid and stiff. Think if a high quality shipping packaging vs the card stock used on the back of a pad of legal paper. The legal paper bends and is not nearly as stiff or dense.

Most current high quality paper stocks rely on the use of starches and clay to increase density and stiffness. This is also much easier to maintain product consistency. So do not be confused just by thickness or weight in gauging if something is a good card stock. Currently there are no uniform agreed ways to measures or classify stiffness and thus card stocks do not yet have a uniformed rating system and you must rely more on the chemistry of the additives and stiffening agents than anything else. Total Custom Solutions prides itself in selecting card stocks that stay firm yet bend without cracking and which is why we have selected our 14pt c2s bright white card stock as our preferred card stock and have made sure you like it by making it also our lowest cost card stock. Our best is also our least expensive and is kept on our presses at all times to keep the cost low.

​Gloss UV coating is a liquid or film that is applied to the surface of either blank paper or can be applied after printing or even both. Gloss coating adds a smooth even hard nonabsorbent surface to the paper or card stock allowing for extreme detail and clarity to the finished process. It is perfect for photographs or art work where detail images and rich colors are desired.

Matte UV coating is similar to gloss but is designed to not have a shiny finish. Image quality is still very good and makes the print more readable. Best for text, maps or can be chosen as a style preference.

Spot UV coating is adding the gloss coating in specific areas or shapes and applied more link an ink over a matte surface giving areas or designs a very classy and elegant look which actually becomes and enhances the graphic design.

​Gloss OPP (oriented polypropylene) lamination provides a wide range of uses across the whole spectrum of printed products. The properties of good gloss and strength and the advantages of low cost make it suitable for all the following applications:Company report and accounts, Brochures, Catalogues, Carrier bags, Greeting cards, Book jacket covers, Magazines, Maps, Labels, Point-of-sale and Displays.

Matt OPP – This Matt finish coupled with its smooth texture offers a very high quality image to brochures and book covers. Matt finishes are also particularly suited to surfaces which need to be easily read such as wall maps, but can be prone to scuffing and should be handled with care.

Silk Lamination – This polypropylene film appears midway between gloss and matt OPP film lamination and imparts a smooth natural finish to brochures and book covers, giving excellent clarity to the underlying print. Like matt opp the surface can be prone to surface scuffing and should be handled with care.