Pounds vs gsm: two systems
The internationally common gsm (g/m², grams per square meter) is the most intuitive: the bigger the number, the thicker and heavier the paper. Business cards commonly use 250–350gsm, book text pages 80–120gsm, and posters 150–200gsm.
Taiwan traditionally uses 'pounds' (lb), but the pound value changes with the sheet size used for the ream weight — so the same '100 lb' is a different thickness at different sheet sizes. To avoid confusion, it's best to just talk in gsm.
Full-sheet sizes: the paper's untrimmed dimensions
Taiwanese printing has two common full-sheet specs: 'Ju-quan' (about 64.8×91.4cm) and 'Si-liu-quan' (about 78.7×109.2cm). Ream weight, quoting and imposition are all based on the full sheet, and the cut count (half, quarter, eighth…) is simply how many pieces you split the full sheet into.
Beyond thickness, also consider coating (matte/gloss art paper is smoother and prints fine detail well; woodfree/uncoated absorbs ink and feels more natural) and whether you need FSC certification. If you're unsure, just tell us your use case, budget and the feel you want, and we'll choose the right paper for you.
FAQ
- What paper weight should a business card be?
- Business cards commonly use 250–350gsm heavy card, which is stiff enough and feels substantial.
- Are pounds and gsm the same?
- Not exactly. gsm is grams per square meter and is intuitive; Taiwan's 'pound' varies with the full-sheet size, so it's best to communicate in gsm.