Papers and boards
Papers and boards are formed from wood pulp, which comes from trees. This squishy wood pulp is rolled
out into thin sheets in paper mill factories to form the papers and boards that we use.
Papers are made from wood pulp. Their density is measured by their weight, in grams per square metre
(gsm) - the thinner the paper the lower the gsm.
Paper
Physical properties
Working properties
Bleed proof
paper
White, can be textured, thin
Coated to stop colour seeping, ink
stays bright on the surface
Cartridge
paper
Thick, textured, rough
Expensive and opaque, used for ink
and watercolour
Grid paper
White paper printed with a variety of
grids, eg isometric, graph etc
Lines are usually blue but can be
darker to trace through
Layout paper
Smooth finish, off-white colour,
translucent (see-through)
Takes most media well
Tracing
paper
Translucent (see-through), smooth
Shiny, takes pencil well
Board
Board thickness is measured in microns or grams per square metre (gsm) - the thinner the card the lower
the microns or gsm.
Board
Physical properties
Working properties
Corrugated
card
Paper bonded to the
outside
Corrugations make it strong, protective and
insulating; used in packaging
Duplex
board
Two layers of card
bonded together
Stiff, lightweight and printable for packaging
Foil-lined
board
White card with foil
backing
Stiff and oil resistant, foil backing reflects heat, used
for food containers
Foam core
board
Smooth surface,
laminated with white
board
Thick and rigid, available in a variety of thicknesses,
prone to creasing and cracking, used for models and
mounting photographs
Board
Physical properties
Working properties
Inkjet card
Bright white and
smooth on both sides
Deep colours as the photographic ink sits on the
surface
Solid white
board
Smooth on both sides
Stiff, can be cut or scored
Corrugated card
Natural and manufactured timbers
Timber comes from trees. Trees have to grow to full maturity (between 25 and 100 years) before they can
be cut down for wood.
Hardwood
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees, which have large flat leaves that fall in the autumn. Hardwoods
take longer to grow, are not easily sourced and are expensive to buy.
Hardwood
Physical properties
Working properties
Ash
Pale coloured, narrow grain
Flexible and good for steam bending,
tough, used for sports equipment
Beech
Slight pink tint, close grain
Tough, durable and smooth to finish
Mahogany
Dark-reddish colour, very close grain
Cuts and polishes easily, gives a fine
finish, used for high-quality furniture
Oak
Moderate-brown colour with unique
and attractive grain markings
Tough and durable, polishes well, used
for quality furniture
Hardwood
Physical properties
Working properties
Balsa
Pale and wide-spaced grain due to it
being a fast-growing hardwood
Very soft and easy to form, often used
to make models
Softwoods come from coniferous trees. These often have pines or needles, and they stay evergreen all year
round - they do not lose leaves in the autumn. They are faster growing than hardwoods, making them
cheaper to buy, and are considered a sustainable material.
Softwood
Physical properties
Working properties
Larch
Pale coloured with a
contrasting darker grain,
knotty
Durable, easy to machine, high sap content gives it
good water resistance, used for exterior building
and flooring
Pine
Pale coloured with
aesthetically pleasing grain
Lightweight, easy to form, used for construction
and decking
Spruce
Pale cream with an even
grain
Easy to form, takes stain colour well, used for
construction and furniture
Manufactured boards are usually made from timber waste and adhesive. To make them more aesthetically
pleasing they are often veneered. They are cheap to buy.
Manufactured
board
Physical properties
Working properties
Medium-density
fibreboard (MDF)
Smooth, light brown, can be
veneered
Smooth and easy to finish, absorbs
moisture so not suitable for
outdoor use, used for kitchens and
flat pack furniture
Plywood
Odd number of layers of veneer
glued at 90 degree angles for
strength, aesthetically pleasing
outer layer
Easy to cut and finish, can be
stained or painted, used for
shelving, construction and toys
Chipboard
Compacted wood chips,
laminated with a variety of
coverings, end cuts are difficult
to finish
Strong but absorbent to water, used
for veneered worktops and flooring
Plywood board
Textiles
Textile materials can be found naturally or can be formed synthetically. They can be processed into
different forms such as rolls, yarns or fibres.
Natural
Natural fibres come from plants or animals. They are easily renewable and biodegradable.
Natural
textile
Physical properties
Working properties
Cotton
Grows on a cotton plant in a ball called a
boll, fibres are combed and spun into a
yarn
Takes dye well, soft, strong,
absorbent, recyclable, used in
clothing
Wool
Spun from animal fleece such as sheep and
alpacas
Can be fine or thick, soft or coarse,
takes dye well, warm and creaseresistant, used in clothing and
carpets
Silk
Made from the cocoon of the silkworm,
the only natural fibre that has continuous
filament fibres rather than shorter staple
fibres
Soft and shiny, drapes well, difficult
to wash, expensive, creases easily,
used in luxury clothes, underwear
and bedding
Synthetic
Synthetic fibres are made mainly from non-renewable coal and oil refined into polymers and do
not degrade easily.
Synthetic
textile
Physical properties
Working properties
Polyester
Can be woven or knitted, thick or thin and
available in a variety of colours, can be
blended with other fibres for better
properties (see polycotton)
Strong and versatile, it holds
colour and washes well
Polyamide
(nylon)
Can be woven into many different forms,
can be blended, available in a range of
colours
Shiny, water resistant,
hardwearing, used for
parachutes, clothing and sports
equipment
Smooth and stretchy
Hardwearing, quick drying but
not biodegradable, used in
sportswear and swimsuits
Elastane
Blended
Blended fibres are mixtures of fibres that combine properties.
Blended
textile
Physical properties
Working properties
Polycotton
Made of polyester fibres and cotton fibres, can
be printed or dyed
Easy to wash, cheaper
than cotton
Woven
Woven fabrics use a warp and weft yarn on a loom to interlock fibres.
Woven
textile
Physical properties
Working properties
Plain
weave
Threads are woven in a
simple under one, over one
Simple and cheap, strong and available in
different thicknesses, when torn it rips in a
straight line
Non-woven
Non-woven fabrics are webs of fibres that are glued, compressed or melted together.
Nonwoven
textile
Physical properties
Working properties
Bonded
fabrics
Fibres are visible and random,
often has small holes on the
surface
Does not fray as it has no grain, not strong
Felted
fabrics
Randomly matted fibres, often
wool, available in many
thicknesses and colours
Formed with moisture, heat and pressure,
can be shaped as it has no elasticity or
drape, used for hat making
Knitted
Knitted textiles are made from rows of interlocking loops. They can be made from a variety of fibres, not
just wool.
Knitted
textile
Physical properties
Working properties
Knitted
fabrics
Can be warp knitted (straight lines) or weft
knitted (knitted upwards), available in a
variety of textures and colours, can have
patterns knitted in.
Warm, stretchy and strong, tend
to unravel when a hole is made,
used in clothing and sportswear