What Is Cardstock? Specifications And Applications
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January 29, 2025 Box Material
Cardstock is a popular paper in the packaging industry and is mostly preferred by wholesale and retail businesses. In the global paper market, cardstock was valued at 10.5$ Billion in 2022 and is expected to surge 15.2$ billion by 2030. The market rate is growing at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2030.
Cardstock serves various industries and has diverse applications. So, if you are tired of using flimsy paper that breaks down easily then, go for cardstock paper which is sturdy enough to pack your products securely and elegantly. This is a durable choice for packaging and offers unlimited customization facilities. In the following blog, we are going to discuss everything about cardstock, its types, uses, and printing methods. So, stay with us and learn about cardstock to add quality to your packaging.
What Is Cardstock?
Cardstock is a thicker, more durable, and heavier material used in packaging, art & craft projects, business cards, and many other purposes. Cardstock is sturdier than regular paper and thicker than cardboard. It offers a smooth surface for various printings and coatings. It is differentiated due to its thickness ranges. It also acts as an excellent material for the packaging of custom packaging boxes.
Cardstock is often confused with coverstock. But they slightly differ from each other. Cardstock is used generally for various purposes but coverstock comes with a decorative glossy finish that makes it perfect for book covers and other design projects.
What Is Cardstock Paper Used For?
According to the increasing market growth rate of cardstock, the uses of cardstock are also increasing. This paper consists of outstanding properties and serves in various industries. From craft projects to card making, restaurant menus, invitations, brochures, and the packaging industry. Cardstock is an excellent material for every business.
Uses of Cardstock | Functions |
Invitation Cards | Cardstock is widely used for invitation cards. Whether you are looking for a wedding, birthday, anniversary, or any other special event invitation, cardstock is the most preferred material. It gives a sophisticated look to your cards and creates a lasting impression on the recipients. |
Greeting Cards | You can design personalized cards for any occasion with your desired customizations from printings to add-ons. |
Scrapbooking | With cardstock, make scrapbooks to gather your childhood memories, family pictures, or any other collections. |
Paper Craft | For origami or paper quilling lovers, cardstock offers a smooth and tactile surface to showcase their skills for art projects. |
Home Decor | You can make shadow boxes, wall hangings, or other picture frames with cardstock for your home decor. |
Business materials | You can create your business cards or brochures with cardstock to promote your brand or products in the markets. |
Art Projects | For art projects, paintings, drawings, or mixed media. cardstock is a good choice. |
Packaging | Cardstock is used in food, retail, cosmetics, or pharmaceutical packaging. |
Manufacturing Process Of Cardstock
The manufacturing process of cardstock involves various steps from raw material selection to paper formation, coatings, and die cutting. Packaging companies carefully manufacture cardstock and use advanced machinery to produce the best resulting material. The steps involved in the cardstock manufacturing are given below:
- Raw Material Preparation: the raw materials are obtained from pure recyclable wood. That is FSC-approved. The wood fibers are broken down into pulp.
- Paperboard Production: the wood pulp is mixed with water to form a slurry and fed into the paper-making machines.
- Sheet formation: The slurry is then spread onto to mesh screen where the sheet formation starts.
- Pressing: The wet sheet is pressed with moving rollers to remove excess water and compress the fibers.
- Drying: The sheet is then dried with heated rollers.
- Calendaring: the dried paper is treated with smooth rollers to reduce the thickness and get a smooth finishing.
- Coatings: Different coatings are applied to make the paper smooth for printing.
- Diecutting: Large sheets of cardstock are cut into different shapes and sizes to get the desired one.
Types Of Cardstocks
Due to the versatile uses of cardstock, it comes in different types. So, selecting the right type of cardstock will help you in achieving your desired results. Given below are the unique types of cardstock that you can use for your projects.
Smooth Cardstock
As indicated by the name, it has a smooth surface that offers a polished look to the materials that is highly suitable for various printings and coatings. You can use it for painting, drawing, or writing. This paper is suitable for embossing and die cutting. Smooth cardstock is available in a wide range of colors, and weights to meet all design needs.
Matte Cardstock
This cardstock consists of a subtle or non-glossy appearance. Matte cardstock offers an elegant look to your invitations, announcement cards, and other presentations. These cardstocks reduce glare, and fingerprints and make them perfect for quality printings.
Textured Cardstock
These cardstocks have a tactile surface and add depth to the projects. Textured cardstock is available in different types such as linen, canvas, or felt. You can use them for scrapbook or card making to add a touch of quality.
Glossy Cardstock
This cardstock has a sheeny or reflective surface that enhances the images or colors on the material while making them pop. If you want to add a polished look to your promotional items, photo albums, or brochures then go for glossy cardstock without any second thought.
Watercolour Cardstock
This is an ideal cardstock choice for various artistic purposes specifically for watercolor cardstock. This is designed to handle the wetness and pigmentation of the watercolors. This is heavy-weight paper with a rough surface and texture to perfectly adhere to the color pigments.
Metallic Cardstock
The metallic cardstock offers a luxury touch to the artwork or packaging. You can use them for custom boxes using the latest packaging trends. The metallic foil is available in different colors from silver and gold to black, blue, or bronze to produce attention-grabbing packaging or invitation cards.
Kraft Cardstock
This paper offers a natural brown and rustic look. It is made up of unbleached wood pulp that is 100% recyclable. These are perfect to use in eco-friendly packaging. They also offer a polished surface for different customization services, from printings to coatings along with logos and brand themes.
Mirri Cardstock
This cardstock offers a mirror-like appearance. If you want to add a touch of opulence to your designs or packaging then Miri cardstock is the perfect one. It also offers durability and adds a sheen to the products.
What Is Cardstock Paper Weight?
The right cardstock weight matters because it directly influences the thickness and quality of the paper. For instance, lighter cardstock is easier to fold, and heavier cardstock is non-bendable and tear-resistant. So, choose the right paper weight according to your product. The paper thickness is classified into “lb” which is the weight of paper in pounds. “Pt” is the point of paper thickness. However, “gsm” is the grams per square meter weight of the paper. Here are the thickness ranges to determine the paperweight.
Cardstock Paper Weight |
|||
---|---|---|---|
pt | lb | Gsm | Uses Of Cardstock According To Weight |
12 | 100 | 271-291 | Perfect for business cards, brochures, and lightweight covers. |
14 | 110 | 298-325 | Best for tickets and postcards. They offer durability & flexibility. |
16 | 120 | 325-350 | They offer quality and are used professionally for business cards and invitations. |
18 | 130 | 350-400 | For heavy-duty/luxury packaging and covers. |
24 | `160 | 400-450 | Perfect for certificates, specialty packaging, or high-end covers. |
Size Options for Cardstocks
The size of the cardstock depends on the use of the paper. This paper comes in different size ranges so that you can pick them, according to your desired purposes. Some of the common size options are given below:
Letter Size
This is the standard size for cardstock which is measured as 8.5 x 11 inches. This is mostly preferred for printing, crafting, and cardmaking.
Legal Size
This size is measured in 8.5 x 14 inches. The legal size is moderately longer than the letter size. It is used for documents, certificates, and large projects.
A4 Size
We all are familiar with this size as it is the international standard size used for printing and crafting. It is measured in 8.27 x 11.69 inches.
Square Sizes
square cardstock comes in different dimensions. The size options include: 4 x 4 inches, 5x 5 inches, and 6 x 6 inches. This site is highly suitable for creating cards, invitation cards, and origami projects.
Custom Sizes
Custom size options are also available in Cardstock. These sizes are customized according to the user’s preferences from smaller sizes to larger formats.
How To Print On Cardstock?
Printing on cardstock is not difficult at all. You only need to follow the given steps:
Be Careful About The Thickness Of The Cardstock
To get quality printing results, you must pay attention to the thickness of the cardstock because the paper material with a higher thickness is often hard to print at home. But you can go for a professional printer.
Check The Coatings On The Cardstock
Coatings are a hurdle in printing and produce smudged prints that can ruin the overall appearance of your materials. So, choose an uncoated cardstock or choose a professional for your cardstock printings.
Set Your Printer
After understanding the above points, you can set up your printer and follow the given steps to produce your desired prints. If you are thinking about what is cardstock paper called on a printer then it is often named “card weight” on the printer.
- First, open your document and select the file to print.
- Open your printer’s driver settings.
- Now from the paper setting tab, select the cardstock.
- Adjust your tray to fit the cardstock
- Send your document to print.
Finishing For Cardstocks
Different finishing techniques are applied to the cardstock to give it an alluring touch. These finishings protect the material from external damaging factors. Following are the finishing options that can be utilized for cardstock:
- Matte Finish
- Gloss Finish
- Pearlescent Finish
- Frosted
- Vellum
- Satin
- Metallic
- Lettre
- Linen
- Embossed
- Silk
- Wove
Colors For Cardstock
Colors are equally important for cardstock and bring life to the plain or mundane packaging. Different color options for cardstock can be used according to your preferences.
- White: offers a clean and pure look.
- Black: gives a sophisticated and powerful appearance.
- Yellow: Reflects a stimulating and friendly tone.
- Green: gives an environmental or envious look.
- Orange: adds fun and enthusiasm.
- Red: gives passion, love, and anger tone.
- Blue: gives a trustworthy and secure look.
- Purple: adds royalty and luxury.
- Pink: gives a romantic and nurturing appearance.
- Grey: neutral or conservative touch.
- Brown: rugged or stable look.
Find Your Best Cardstock Paper Now!
Cardstock is an excellent material that is used for various purposes. Apart from craft projects and arts, they help with custom box packaging. You can get high-end packaging boxes manufactured with cardstock materials. You can choose CustomBoxesMarket, as your trustworthy packaging partner to get quality boxes. However, cardstock is discussed in the blog and you can select any of the types or sizes for your business.
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