Welcome to our #OKalphabetseries where we visit paper and printing terms daily. Come back each day as we weave our way through the alphabet and share our 110 years of knowledge with you.

G is GSM
GSM stands for Grams Per Square Meter. In the metric system, this is the way paper is weight is determined. You will see it noted in swatchbooks as g/m2 or GSM. It is the metric system equivalent of a paper’s basis weight. It is the weight (in grams) of a square meter of paper.  You can use our online O-K Toolbox Paper Calculator “LBS to GSM” to convert our American basis weight (lbs) to the metric GSM quickly and easily. Of late, digital printing has made GSM values more prevalent in state-side printing. A GSM figure is generally entered onto a digital printing system in the paper profile before printing. For this reason, we give GSM figures in our O-K Digital Catalog. You can find it online or get a copy from your nearest Olmsted-Kirk office or sales representative.

Welcome to our #OKalphabetseries where we visit paper and printing terms daily. Come back each day as we weave our way through the alphabet and share our 110 years of knowledge with you.

F is Foil Stamp
Although foil stamping is a common, well-known special effect these days, the range of possibilities is quite vast. Foil stamping is a heat-stamp process of transferring pigment, clear or metallic foil to paper. It can be combined with embossing to create a dimensional image. Foil stamping is called flat or hot-stamping when there is an absence of dimension. Foil stamping was originally developed to replicate gold leaf in the late nineteenth century. Today, you can find a wide variety of gloss, dull and pastel foils called "pigment" foils along with the traditional range of "metallic" foils. And don't forget those patterned, holographic foils that shimmer with the colors of the rainbow with crazy patterns to delight the eye. Foil stamping brings serious shine to any project. Here are some technical tips:

• The smoother the surface, the shinier the foil. Coated sheets tend to stamp brighter than uncoated sheets. That said, color and texture lend themselves to beautiful results with foil stamping. Some foils are formulated for different surfaces. Consult your finisher for the right combination and always test.
• While it is possible to foil stamp fine details, it is difficult to hold open fine reverses. For example, the inside of the letter “e” often plugs up if the type is smaller than 8 points.
• Foils can be overprinted with ink for even more creative possibilities. Always test the foil to make sure that it allows the ink to properly adhere before going to press.