Printing and writing paper

Printing and writing papers are paper grades used for newspapers, magazines, catalogs, books, commercial printing, business forms, stationeries, copying and digital printing. About 1/3 of the total pulp and paper marked (in 2000) is printing and writing papers. The pulp or fibers used in printing and writing papers are extracted from wood using a chemical or mechanical process.

In the United States printing and writing papers are separated into four main categories:

1. Uncoated Freesheet Paper
2. Uncoated Mechanical Paper
3. Coated Freesheet Paper
4. Coated Mechanical Paper