Paper Terminology
Paper: 10÷150 g/m² - thickness 0.03÷0.3 mm -> standard format A or B
Cardboard: 150÷450 g/m² - thickness > 0.3 mm -> custom size
Corrugated Board: 450÷1,200 g/m² - thickness up to 2 mm -> custom size
Pressed Cardboard: Grey -> standard format 70x100
Special Cardboard: Colored, embossed, satin, gilded (200÷350 g/m²) -> standard format 64x88, 71x101, or 72x102
Paper Standard Sizes
The largest UNI format is A0, which corresponds to a rectangle with an area of 1m² and an aspect ratio of the square root of 2 (= 1.414). Other sizes are obtained by folding the longer side in half.
Sheet mm
A0 841 x 1,189
A1 594 x 841
A2 420 x 594
A3 297 x 420
A4 210 x 297
A5 148 x 210
A6 105 x 148
A7 74 x 105
A8 52 x 74
A9 37 x 52
A10 26 x 37
The B series is derived from A and has the same aspect ratio, but starts from the base sheet length B0, which is 1m.
Sheet mm
B0 1,000 x 1,414
B1 707 x 1,000
B2 500 x 707
B3 353 x 500
B4 250 x 353
B5 176 x 250
B6 125 x 176
B7 88 x 125
B8 62 x 88
B9 44 x 62
B10 31 x 44
Typography Terms for Paper Sizes
Size (cm) Denomination
100x140 Double Elephant
70x100 Elephant
50x70 Half Elephant
64x88 Quadruple Protocol
64x44 Double Protocol
32x44 Protocol
58x42 Quadruple Quadrotta
46x58 Double Quadrotta
22x28 Quadrotta
46x58 Notarial
Paper in Tension
The paper placed between the waves of corrugated board, composed of 2 or 3 waves. In the absence of specific specifications, fluting paper or suede paper is used.
Cardboard Classification
Cardboard can be described by a combination of two letters or two letters and a number.
The first letter describes the type of surface treatment:
A = glossy finish
G = white finish
U = uncoated
The second letter indicates the composition of the raw material:
Z = bleached chemical pulp
N = unbleached chemical pulp
C = mechanical pulp
T = recycled fiber with white back, manilla, kraft
D = recycled fiber with grey back
The number for virgin fiber cardboards indicates the color of the back (1=white; 2=manilla; 3=kraft); for recycled fiber cardboards, it indicates the volume. (Source: www.pacservice.it)
Some common types of smooth cardboards used in the paperboard industry are:
Bipatinato and Bilucido: Coated on both sides for printing on both sides, like coated paper.
BB (White White): Coated on one side for printing; the back is whitish and not suitable for printing, usually printed with one or two colors of text (line work).
BG (White Grey): Coated on one side for printing; the back is grey and not suitable for printing but ideal for lamination. The lack of coating makes it absorbent. The quality depends on the coating applied by the paper mill.
Special Cardboard Standard Sizes
These are cardboards with particular colors, compositions, or finishes. Each paper mill has its range of special cardboards usable for any paperboard manufacturing. Special cardboards can be printed and laminated, with the only limitation being the standard sale format, which can be 71x101 cm (some paper mills 72x102 cm) or 64x88 cm.
4o mini
