Paper Grain

Paper grain is the way how fibers line up naturally in a sheet of paper, it just like wood has a grain, so does paper. Therefore, when folding or binding along the grain will ensure a smoother and cleaner process, but binding or folding against the grain can cause cracking, wrinkling, and therefore reduces the quality of printed items.

Paper Grain FAQ

Q1: What’s the difference between grain long and grain short?
Grain long means the paper fibers run along the longest edge of the sheet, but grain short means they run along the shortest edge, which different types of grain will affect how the paper will be folded and bound.

Q2: Why does the grain direction matter in book printing?
It matters because folding or binding against the grain can cause the paper cracks or unevenness, but bind or fold align the grain with the spine makes the book stronger and neater.

Q3: How do I know if my paper is grain long or grain short?
You can try to gently bend the paper both ways, whichever direction bends more easily is the grain direction.