What are the grades of paper and the basis weight of each?
The standard weight of a paper is defined by the weight of 500 standard-sized sheets in pounds. These are the different grades of paper and their respective basis weights.

Bond: Usually reserved for letterheads, business forms, and quick printing jobs. 16# for forms, 20# for copying, and 24# for stationary.

Text: A high-quality sheet with a lot of texture. Ranges in weight from 60# to 100#, but the most common weights are 70# or 80#

Uncoated Book: The most common sheet for offset printing. Usually a 50# to 70# stock.

Coated Book: A glossy sheet that yields vivid colors and excellent reproduction. Generally goes from 30# to 70# for web, 60# to 110# for sheet fed.

Cover: Used for book covers, postcards, and business cards. Coated or uncoated. Come in 60#, 65#, 80# or 100# weights.

What are the different types of bindings I can use for my multi-page projects?
1. Perfect binding: Gluing the outside edge of the signatures to create a flat edge.

2. Saddle-stitch binding: Uses one or more staples on the fold of the signature.

3. Side-stitch binding: Stapling the signatures together on the side rather than the fold.

4. Case binding: Signatures are sewn together and attached to the hard cover.

5. Plastic comb binding: Plastic teeth are fitting into a stack of pages.

6. Three-ring binding: Holes are punched into the pages and fitted into a binder.

What's the difference between "spot colors" and "four color process?
Spot colors are not blends of colors that create other colors but individual colors that can be assigned PMS (Pantone Matching System) numbers.

What are the common sizes for catalogs and booklets?
Most commercial printers will offer your catalog or booklets in these standard sizes 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", 8-1/2" x 11", 8-1/2" x 11, or 11 x 17.

What is cover stock?
A term used by paper manufacturers for a heavy paper that is suitable for catalogs and other folders. Cover stock can come in "coated" which has a smooth surface, or "uncoated" in its original rough surface.

How long will your catalog or booklet be used?
If your catalog/booklet is to be used for a year or more, think about omitting prices and phrases that will date the contents. If prices are important, include them on a price sheet that can be quickly updated and reprinted.