You have spent weeks, months, or even years writing or designing your own book! It is finally finished, and now it is time for the next step: having your book produced. When converting your digital book into a paper version, all sorts of questions will arise. One of these is the choice of paper type. For the most part, this is a matter of taste, but there are a number of things you need to consider. We are happy to help you get started!
Personal taste
As mentioned earlier, the choice of paper type is primarily a matter of taste. Do you like white paper, or would you prefer a cream color? Do you want a matte or a glossy version? The paper type is very important for the atmosphere of your book. For example, if you are writing a novel without illustrations and want a somewhat “more romantic look,” people often choose the matte/rough paper type (very aptly named) “novel print.”
Images or no images
Perhaps one of the most important questions is whether many images, illustrations, or photos have been used in the book. These are displayed sharpest on a smooth, coated paper type. Images are displayed less sharply on a rougher paper type. This is because ink flows less on smooth paper than on rough paper. For books with many images, a coated paper type such as Silk MC or Heaven 42 is often chosen. Silk MC is frequently used for books containing both text and images. Heaven 42 is our whitest paper type, making it highly suitable for photo books and special editions, for example.
Grammar weight paper
In addition to the type of paper, the weight of the paper is a choice that must be made. It goes without saying that a thicker type of paper results in a thicker book. Furthermore, you must realize that thinner paper shows through more than thicker paper. Officially, this is called the opacity or page formation of the paper.
Sewn bound
When requesting information or Googling the considerations involved in choosing a type of paper, you often read that the binding method is a determining factor, among other things. When finishing a glued (perfect bound) book, you must choose a type of paper to which the glue adheres well. Since we at Bookadew only produce sewn-bound books, this is not relevant!
Our paper types
The paper types listed below are the paper types we offer at Bookadew.
| Paper type | Weights | Characteristics | Type of books |
| Silk mc | 135 g/m2
150 g/m2 170 g/m2 | Warm white (CIE 102)
Shiny | Books with a combination of text and images |
| Novel print | 100 g/m2 | Cream-colored
Rough | Reading books, novels, and paperbacks without illustrations |
| Wood-free offset | 100 g/m2
140 g/m2 | Pleasant white (CIE 150)
Matt | Dissertations, theses, textbooks, notebooks, diaries, etc. |
| Silk MC True White (Heaven 42) | 170 g/m2
200 g/m2 | Absolute white (CIE 155)
Shiny | Photo books and books with a luxurious look |
For more detailed information per paper type, click here. If you would like to judge our paper types with your own eyes, request our free sample book!