By Sabine Lenz

"We just don't have the budget for this." It's a common mantra we all hear just about every day.

Reduced page counts and conservative print quantities help you combat tight budgets. But when everything is said and done, you still want your design to demand attention and make an emotional impact.

Welcome to the world of specialty papers.

Metallics
Ordinary papers get that extra zing with the help of colorless ground mica crystals. Applied to uncoated white or colored stock, the micro-fine crystals give the paper its unique sparkle. Though they look almost metallic, no metallic substances are used in this paper.

With color ranges from whites to deep earth tones and names like Aspire Petallics, Astrobrights, Stardream or Reaction, this shiny option is only limited by your imagination.

Translucents
Translucents have come a long way since the days when they were only used as flysheets. Available in every color under the sun, as well as pearlescent and metallic options, translucent papers make remarkable business cards, invitations and marketing materials.

The variety of colors, textures and weights of translucent papers has also increased dramatically over the years. Consider choosing Cromática, Chartham Translucent, Curious Translucents, Gilclear, UV ULTRA II or Glama Natural.

Add a contrasting flysheet to your standard black and white booklet and with simple spot color or blind embossing, you'll create a memorable impression.

That special touch
The European market has led the way in using more textured papers and has even given traditional Laid papers a new surge of interest. Exciting new patterns are pressed into the paper during the manufacturing process giving it a raised or depressed surface.

The new textured surfaces look and feel like leather (yes, leather . it's called Alezan), suede (SuedeTex) and rubber (Touché, Curious Touch or Plike). They give a project that extra oomph and adapt well to a variety of printing processes, including embossing and diecutting.

Unusual alternatives
Papers made from alternative fibers, such as beer, hemp, kenaf, coffee, garlic and even bananas have been around for a number of years. Now, papers made from stone - actually, minerals to be precise - are newcomers to this family.

TerraSkin, ViaStone and PapeRock are lines of tree-free paper coming to us from Asia, where manufacturing began as early as 1999. The paper's composition is primarily calcium carbonate, a chemical compound commonly found in rock, such as limestone.

Mineral paper is tear resistant and water resistant. It doesn't absorb ink like traditional paper, so 20-30 percent less ink is used. There is also that special feeling: creamy, very smooth and quite cool to the touch. You definitely know you're handling something different.

The synthetic way
Sharing some of the characteristics of mineral papers are their synthetic cousins: Yupo, Teslin, Polyart and Hop-Syn. These sheets are made from polypropylene and inorganic fillers instead of wood fibers.

Printing remarkably similar to traditional paper, they offer outstanding durability, are tear and scuff resistant and are waterproof. Synthetic papers don't degrade when submerged in water, which makes them ideal for maps, membership cards and menus, to name just a few applications.

Specialty papers may be higher priced than "standard" papers, but they are not out of your reach, especially when you consider their design impact. They are commonly available in small quantities as well.

Whether they catch your eye with reflected light or command attention via touch, these exciting papers can enhance your design, adding value by adding ZING! Check with your mill or merchant rep or order them online directly from the mill.

8/20/08