Paper is just a commodity, right? It doesn't matter what premium coated cover you specify as long is it's got a high brightness, prints well and it fits the budget, right? NOT! 

Not all coated covers are created equal. But let's face it, there are times when you don't need functional features in a paper stock, and as long as the ink lays down well on the sheet's surface, there's good ink hold out and it's cheap - that's all you need - but then again, there are times when "extraneous variables" arise.

Extraneous variables?
What if the creative for your Vanity Fair Media Kit comes down with full coverage 4-color black ink across the fold of your 130 lb premium coated cover spec, and the client won't accept anything that shows cracking on the folds?

What if the images are super high resolution, and only the best-coated surface will reproduce them with the right fidelity? What if your client is requesting a super stiff, heavy weight cover stock that has to print exceptionally well?

Can the cover you selected be foil stamped without revealing the inherent structure of the fiber underneath the coating? Can it handle multilevel embossing without rupturing the coated surface, produce intricate diecuts that don't fray, score and fold both with and against the grain without cracking, and have the bulk and stiffness of a product reminiscent of plywood? Oh . and, by the way, was this paper spec an "economical" choice?

In the world of coated cover, a panacea does exist - it's called Invercote!

Yes, of course, even Invercote has some limitations, like it's only available in cover weights, and . well, okay it only has one limitation. It does, though, differentiate itself from other coated covers in a world where, really, when you get right down to it, there's almost nothing that distinguishes one premium coated cover stock from another. 

How?  Glad you asked!
In a nutshell, Invercote's unique construction enables you to have your cake and eat it too. A multilayer manufacturing process allows Iggesund to combine the best structural attributes of paperboard with the best printability attributes of premium coated covers.

So let's assume you've got a job to print. It's a high-end, intricately designed pocket folder, and you're, of course, specifying a cover stock.

Ask yourself what you're specifying when you specify that120 lb cover. Why not run the job on 80 lb text? Are you specifying 120 lb cover, or are you specifying the physical attributes that are associated with coated cover?

So then, what specific physical attributes are you looking for in a cover stock? When Iggesund asked these questions to creative and production personnel within the agency and designer community, here's what they heard:

Stiffness
Invercote's unique multilayer construction allows the mill to vary the fiber composition within each layer. Without sacrificing printability, Invercote utilizes the optimal fiber composition in its center ply to provide the strength and durability characteristic of a board grade. What does that really mean? Well, imagine using 96 lb cover instead of a 120 lb cover without sacrificing stiffness. In fact, the 96 lb Invercote would be substantially stiffer than the 120 lb cover! 

Caliper/Bulk
Different tree species produce different types of fiber, which have different physical appearances. Some trees produce big, long, bulky fibers, and some trees produce shorter, less bulky fibers. Invercote's center ply is comprised of a mixture of both long and short fiber, but consists of a significantly greater percentage of the big, bulky fiber - the kind of fiber that provides caliper, bulk and strength characteristics without adding weight. 

Superior Printability
Okay, remember those big, long, bulky fibers that give Invercote all its stiffness, caliper and bulk? It turns out that those big, bulky fibers don't provide the optimal base stock for superior printability. But Invercote's unique construction process alters the composition of fiber on the two outer plies (the print surfaces) to provide the perfect base stock prior to coating. 

By using a greater percentage of shorter, more refined fiber (that lay down more uniformly across the width of the paper machine) Iggesund can manufacture a base stock with a uniform caliper profile, which allows for the uniform application of coating layers. Uniform coating layers are what provide premium coated papers with their exceptional print surfaces.

Superior Converting Performance
Jobs printed on cover stocks overwhelmingly tend to be jobs with full ink coverage and which require the greatest amount of finishing (i.e. folding/ scoring, embossing, foil stamping, diecutting).

Perhaps Invercote's greatest selling feature in high-end commercial print is the fact that it performs without cracking on the fold - neither with, nor against the grain. So, printing solid black coverage across scores and folds - even on their heaviest premium C2S (19.1 pt Invercote Creato) - can be done without concern of cracking. 

"Any time I have heavy coverage of ink on a fold, I use Invercote. It's the only stock that I do not have to worry about my customers being unhappy with," said Jay Stinson of Ussery Printing.

Similarly, with Invercote you can increase the depth of your embossed images without fear of rupturing the coated surface. Invercote's smooth surface provides an optimal substrate for foil stamping. All of these advantages are a function, once again, of Invercote's layered sheet construction. 

Additionally, the lack of any fillers in the manufacturing process makes Invercote the optimal substrate for diecutting - providing clean, crisp diecuts that will not dull the knives of diecutting equipment as quickly as conventional coated covers.

Value
So when it comes to printing on cover stock, Invercote provides tangible value: 

• A premium coated cover stock that provides all the stiffness, strength, bulk and durability characteristics of a paperboard without sacrificing printability
• A premium coated cover stock that enables you to be as creative and exotic in your printing and finishing design as you choose to be.
• A premium coated cover stock that will cost less than branded #1s and premium #1s by providing a 20 percent yield advantage, all while providing superior stiffness and caliper profiles.
• A 20 percent yield advantage means you buy 20 percent less paper to print the same number of impressions. And using 20 percent less paper translates to 20 percent less impact on the environment!

Don't let the limitations of ordinary coated cover stock cramp your style - unleash your creativity! Invercote can handle whatever "extraneous variables" you throw at it.

To learn more about Invercote, please visit www.iggesund.com or phone 201-804-9977. For specific questions, send your e-mail to uscampaign@iggesund.com.

To request a copy of Iggesund's Invercote swatchbook, please e-mail nancy.stier@iggesund.com.

4/9/08