While you go on your publishing journey, you will hear about the term GSM frequently and knowing what it is and how it can impact your book can change the trajectory of your book. To be technical, GSM can be expanded to Grams per Square Meter. In a simpler manner, it refers to the quality of the page. Therefore, it affects greatly the reading experience of readers. Sometimes the printed content can have imprints on the back side of the page which can make it difficult for the reader to read.
- The most common paper used in the publishing industry is 80 GSM. Majorly, it is used for fictional books. This kind of paper does not require any heavy ink. In this way, the print of the text can be handled on both sides of the page.
- 100 GSM Opaque paper is much more premium than 80 GSM. Illustrations along with text can be printed on it since 80 GSM paper is too thin to handle illustrations. However, it is not glossy or matt.
- For the photo books, 130 to 150 GSM Matt/ Gloss Coated is the best kind of paper to use. The picture will get a matt finish and it will capture the essence of photos.
- For book covers, 170 GSM paper is used to bring out the aesthetically pleasing cover of the book. This could be matt, or glass coated, it depends upon the author, how they envision their book.
Hence, it can be inferred that GSM plays an important role in the book’s quality and readability and as an author, you also need to be familiar with the basics of GSM.
Wordsmith by day, digital marketing guru by night, Aditi has been busy crafting compelling content and conquering the online world for over a decade now. She will tell your story in the most captivating way imaginable! 🚀✨
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