G.F.Smith

We had a paper consultant visit us in today from GF Smith, i learnt a lot about different types of paper they offer and tips on printing on them. One big bit of advise they gave was to think about the paper before and not the end of the design process. This is something people never normally do as you kind of think about it at the end, but thinking about the paper and the finished product at the beginning will help you think about your overall desired effect of the design and how it will look on print.

Hearing about the different types of printing such as litho was very interesting and something i would like to have a deeper understanding of, as this is important in knowing for design.

GF Smith mainly specialise in uncoated paper which is a high standard matt paper. They do offer now a couple of coated papers, which have a glossy type finish and are mainly used for leaflets, magazine covers etc

I really like there selection of Specialised paper, it is the paper i would like to use to make a statement, such as on your CV when trying to impress and standout when applying for a job.

Exploring senses like touch with feeling the different textures and different scents of the papers all add to the users experience of the product design itself.

G.F Smith Show Space which is now open in London, i hope to visit here soon!

G F Smith Paper Lecture

G F smith paper company came in to college to talk to us about the different paper available that the company provide. They provide unusual, textural niche paper to creative companies and clients.

We were given a selection of leaflets, swatches, business cards and booklets showing us the quality of their products available

It was very useful the information they provided about which type of paper suits different prints, for example a photograph image would suit Matt paper rather than Gloss paper, so as not to find the right lighting to see the image.

The Respect Nature brochure is made from Recycled paper, the best one you can buy. The reason it is the best recycled paper you can buy is because normally recycled paper sucks in the ink and makes images look flat, but when the Mills produce this paper, they run it all through the machines extremely slowly to produce a better quality paper. The Mill is also run economically by using renewable energy like water and wind power to run the machines.

G F SMITH went onto explain that the paper that is not produced by recycling is made from trees that is grown as a crop from a specialised tree farm. They replant trees constantly to replace the ones they cut down to produce the paper.

The SOFTY brochure has a cotton wool like texture. It is popular for use in fashion designers / companies.

The orange Alezan is used for luxury packaging. They produce a Wild type of paper which is Waterproofed by a wax, like what they use on handbags. This is the first paper surface which feels like actual leather. The Cult type offers a smooth leather surface for perfect printing results.

I learnt how important the paper you choose for a design can impact the quality of the print and visual communication.

Using a high quality paper on the cover will make people want to look inside the content. The same way a high quality envelope can entice the person to open the envelope and not throw it straight away without looking inside. It is all part of the design process.