Paper for books

Books on paper vs books on screen

"There are two components, the physical medium and the mindset we bring to reading on that medium - and everything else sort of follows from that.", says Naomi Baron, professor emerita of linguistics at American University, author of the book "How we read now: Strategic Choices for Print, Screen and Audio". Her book describes how there are differences between how we concentrate, understand and remember between different formats.

Today most people use screen activities for social purposes and amusement. This doesn't imply that a book cannot be amusement, but most of the things getting our attention on screens are designed to draw us in without effort. On the screen, we get used to reading quickly and more casually.

There is another mindset we need to use for understanding texts that are a little bit more complicated, or texts we want to learn from. We need to slow down and give the material the right kind of attention. This mindset is more often practised and stimulated when reading a printed book, Baron concludes.

All in all, this speaks for the importance of reading texts printed on paper, regularly, as complement to the many screens we all see every day. There's also research about how well we relax after reading a printed book compared to reading on a screen, and how students got better results on tests after having studied from printed pages instead of digital.

What is good quality book paper?

Let's talk about quality aspects for book paper. We are a paper producer, so of course we may be partial, but this is what we have found out through experience. We have delivered book paper to the market since the early 2000's and produced paper for over 100 years!

Ultimately, the readers decide which quality aspects are most important. And the readers, buyers and decision-makers on the book market, can only choose from what's available on the market. This is why innovation, quality and sustainability ambitions of the paper producers and purchasing professionals are so important.

The most important thing regarding quality for book papers is that the paper is smooth and even, without disturbing flaws. This is the answer you will get, no matter who you ask - reader, bookseller, printer, head of production, publisher, author, everyone.

Surface smoothness varies between different products, but the paper's evenness is up to the thorough quality controls in the paper mill. An even paper sheet will run well in the printing machines, a basic requirement for achieving great print quality and minimizing costly downtime. Of course, responsive technical support together with predictable deliveries are also factors that can never be downplayed.

Readability: does the surface and the shade of the paper provide a reading comfort that goes hand in hand with the content and the design of the book? Technical data specifications will help you choose whiteness CIE (W) or brightness (ISO) for a comfortable contrast.

Thirdly, the tactile aspects of the paper: does it feel good to turn the pages, are they thick enough so that the content doesn't show through to the other side, and does the weight of the paper make the book feel heavy or light? Basis weight, opacity and bulk specifications together with paper samples will help you make the right choice.

The climate impact of choosing book paper

Paper is one of the world's most recycled materials. It's produced from a renewable source with a circular approach.

The origin of the material grows in sustainably managed forests, with 100 percent traceability and applicable chain of custody certifications.

To make it easier for the buyer to compare the environmental impact of different papers, paper manufacturers provide environmental information with the same metrics and parameters according to a set industry standard. These are called paper profiles. You can also find information about the carbon emissions from the production of a paper in the carbon footprint calculations. This will help you decide on a sustainable book paper.

At Holmen we want to be very transparent about this, so we have made them all free to download online.

Book paper rolls or sheets for printing

Holmen is a market leader of mechanical book paper, delivering all over the world, often by sea shipment. The reels for roll printing are sent with the agreed width, either directly to the printing house, or to a terminal from where the customer can request call offs. 

When sheeting is needed, please find your closest sales contact for assistance. We cooperate with paper converters and wholesale specialists to provide paper sheets for book printing. All products in the Holmen BOOK family can be offset printed, heatset or coldset, or used for digital printing.