Coated paper has become one of the fastest-growing segments in China’s paper market over the past decade. As a high-performance printing substrate, it is considered an advanced product within the cultural printing paper category. It is produced by applying a coating layer—comprising pigments, binders, and other additives—onto a base paper, followed by finishing processes. Understanding the printability of coated paper, especially how its characteristics change during printing, holds significant practical value for both manufacturers and printers.
Coated paper can be categorized into types such as coated whiteboard paper and gray-bottom coated paper. Over the years, low-basis-weight coated papers have gained popularity internationally due to their low weight (typically under 60g/m²), cost-effectiveness, and excellent printability. These papers are widely used in magazines, newspapers, advertising inserts, and promotional catalogs, making them highly appealing to commercial and publishing sectors.
In the last ten years, the production of coated paper and machine-pressed coated paper in China has grown by 8.8% and 25%, respectively. With increasing demand for quality printed materials and greater public access to information, the use of coated paper is expected to rise rapidly. This makes it even more important to thoroughly understand the printability of coated paper, particularly how its properties affect the final output.
Coated paper is created by applying a coating mixture—containing pigments like kaolin, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, and titanium dioxide, along with adhesives and chemical agents—onto the surface of the base paper. After drying, the paper may undergo additional treatments to enhance its performance. This process results in a smooth, high-quality surface ideal for printing.
Pigment-coated paper is the most common type of coated paper, known for its brightness, opacity, and excellent ink absorption. It is often referred to as "copperplate paper," a term that originated from the early use of copper plates in letterpress printing. Today, it is widely used for high-end publications such as calendars, picture books, and product brochures.
Printability of coated paper involves two key aspects: workability and quality adaptability. Workability refers to how well the paper performs during the printing process, while quality adaptability relates to the final appearance of the printed material. Factors such as tensile strength, flexibility, flatness, and compressibility influence workability, whereas whiteness, opacity, smoothness, and ink receptivity affect quality.
Compressibility is an important characteristic of paper, referring to how much it deforms under pressure and how quickly it recovers. For coated paper, compressibility is generally lower due to the presence of a coating layer. However, low-coated papers—those with minimal coating—tend to have higher compressibility, which can improve print clarity. This is especially true when using soft calendering techniques and machine pulp-based base papers.
Another critical factor is the surface strength of the paper, which determines how well the coating adheres to the base and how resistant the paper is to flaking or powdering during printing. If the coating is not properly bonded, it can lead to issues like hair loss or powder loss, especially when using high-viscosity inks in offset printing. Ensuring strong adhesion between the coating, fillers, and fibers is essential for maintaining print quality and reducing defects.
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