OUGD504 - Brief 3 - Development: Stock

OUGD504: Brief 3: Type In Context

Development: Stock

Selecting the most appropriate stock for the content of the publication was an important design decision as it needed to complement the cover stock and have suitable properties to produce a successful resolution. I trailed 3 stock types of varying weights and finished to experiment with different papers and ensure the final stock was the most suitable selection for the publication
Snowdon Cartridge paper 330 GSM

The first stock trailed was the Snowdon Cartridge paper which was a 330 GSM textured matt stock, This stop was sourced from the college shop and was cheap for 30p for an A1 sheet. I felt the heavy weight an thick texture might give a luxury feel to the publication however in practise found this to be the most unsuitable of the stocks I experimented with. The main downfall of this stock was the added bulk to the spine due to the thickness of the paper this created an extremely thick spine. A further issue with this stock was due to the thickness of the paper and its propertied the folds became wavy and cracked creating less precision and creates a less professional aesthetic for the publication. 

Matt 200 GSM 

I then trailed a matt stock of 200 gsm supplied in the print room, the lighter weight worked better in creating more precise folds that had far less imperfections compared to the cartridge paper however even with the use of bone folder the pages would not lie flat and kept a permanent v-shape due to the thickness of the stock preventing it from closing flush. This stock felt nice in the hand and gave the pages some substance when turning. 

DIGIGREEN SILK 115 GSM 

The digigreeen silk stock added nice sheen to the images and gave the page a luxury feel, Initially I was concerned that the stock may be too thin however when trailed found there to be a good contrast between the thickness of texture of the plike cover and digigreen silk stock. Unlike the matt stock the lighter weight allowed a crisp fold that added minimal bulk to the cover allowing the publication to lie flat and its movement to not be controlled by the properties of the stock. 

I trailed the matt 200 gsm and the digigreen silk 115gsm with the cover over the top to see which felt more cohesive as a entire publication, I also asked a range of students for their opinion as to which stock they felt was more suitable and ultimately came to the conclusion the 115 gsm silk was the most appropriate stock selection. I chose this stock because it added a nice finish to the images making them pop more that matt variant, the folds were crisp and professional and the weight of the stock meant it could like flat and added no excess bulk to the spine. It is also FSC certified a selling point that was highlighted by evolution print and ensures an element of sustainability within the design.