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Common Types | Weights
and Grades
Common Types
Envelopes can be made up of many different types & color
of paper. The standard stock envelopes are made up of material best suited to
the use of that envelope but most any type of envelope can be custom made from
any special stock you request. Custom orders sometimes require a minimum order
quantity and are generally more expensive than a stock envelope. Consult your
supplier for special requirements.
Shown below are brief descriptions of some of the most common
types of paper used for envelopes.
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Wove - Moderately opaque and provides a good
surface to print on. Available in 16 lb., 20 lb., 24 lb., 28 lb.,
32 lb., and 40 lb.
Kraft - It is noted for its strength but
has a coarser finish than wove paper and does not print as well.
Manila - Not as strong as kraft but has a
better printing surface. Lighter in color than brown kraft.
Text - High quality paper that is available
in finishes such as antique, vellum, smooth and embossed. Often used
when the mailing and envelope need to match.
Writing - A wide variety of high quality
papers from 25% cotton fiber to laid and linens. Used to provide a
professional image. As with text stock, it is used when mailing material
and envelopes have to match.
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Tyvek® - A spunbonded olefin which is
made from a sheet of high density polyethylene fibers bonded together
under heat & pressure.
Tyvek® material is very durable, lightweight,
water and chemical resistant, non-abrasive, flexible and acid free.
Recycled - Any paper that is made up of a
certain percentage of recycled material. Generally, at least 50% of
the paper content is from recycled materials.
Board - Heavy gauge board stock used on catalog
and expansion envelopes. Used when content of the envelope can not
get bent. Used for mailing or storage of such items as CD's, diskettes,
pictures, artwork, negatives and plates.
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Paper Weights and Grades Used on Standard Envelopes
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Type
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Std. Weight
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Usage Description
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Wove
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16 lb.
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Lightweight wove is used on air mail envelopes to
help keep postage costs down for overseas mail. Available in white.
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Wove
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20 lb.
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Used on commercial envelopes when durability and opacity
are not a concern. Available in white.
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Wove
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24 lb.
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Most commonly used envelope stock. Used for commercial,
official, banking, remittance, announcement, booklet, catalog and many
other miscellaneous types of envelopes. Available in in many colors,
such as white, canary, pink, blue, green, gold, cream, ivory, tan, natural,
and gray. It is also available in special colors like cherry, peach,
orchid and salmon.
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Wove
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28 lb.
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Used on the larger commercial envelopes, such as #11's,
#12's, and #14's. It is also used on booklet and catalog envelopes when
a better printing surface is required. Available in white.
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Kraft
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28 lb.
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Most commonly used weight of kraft. Used mostly on
booklet and catalog envelopes. Available in white, brown and gray. Some
special colors are also available, such as blue, green, canary, pink
and orange. Brown kraft is also available in 24 lb.
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Kraft
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32 and 40 lb.
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Used on booklet and catalog envelopes when added durability
and strength are needed. It is also used on expansion envelopes. Available
in white, brown and gray.
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Manila
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28 lb.
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Used when a better printing surface than kraft is
needed. It is light ecru in color.
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Tyvek®
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14 lb.
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Mostly used on commercial, booklet, catalog and expansion
envelopes. It is used when extreme durability is required. Available
in white. It is also available in 18 lb.
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Recycled
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24 lb.
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Available for commercial, booklet, and catalog envelopes.
Available in white board and brown board.
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Board Mailer
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.026 board gauge
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Used on catalog mailers and expansion envelopes. Available
in white board and brown board.
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Writing/Text
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24 lb./70 lb.
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Used on commercial, booklet and catalog envelopes
when a high quality paper in needed, usually matches mailing content.
Many grades, finishes and colors are available.
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Note: If your envelope is going
to be imprinted through a laser printer, be sure the stock is laser
compatible. If the envelope is preprinted, be sure heat resistant ink
is used.
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