Guide to Cardstock and Its Uses

THE MANY (BEAUTIFUL) FACES OF CARDSTOCK

Beyond high-school projects and craft time, cardstock is an ideal foundation for stunning fine art. Countless professional artists and photographers operate thriving businesses selling their work on cardstock as their paper canvas for art prints, greeting cards, and more.

If you’ve never pondered what sets this material apart from regular paper and how it could level up your creative projects, let’s go exploring. We’ll even peek at examples from our customers.

WHAT EXACTLY IS CARDSTOCK?

At its core, cardstock is simply a thicker, sturdier, and more durable version of paper. Its extra heft gives it the resilience to withstand extensive handling, folding, gluing, and more without buckling or tearing like standard paper would.

Cardstock comes in a wide array of weights, colors, finishes, and textures. From linen surfaces to glossy sheens, there's an option to complement any artistic vision. This versatility allows for endless creative expression.

HOW CARDSTOCK IS MADE

The manufacturing process begins by transforming wood chips into a thick pulp mixture through chemical processing. This separates and purifies the raw fibers. Next, the pulp is refined by blending, cleaning, and screening it to an ideal consistency which is then spread onto a conveyor belt in thick layers and pressed to extract excess moisture.

The drying phase uses steam-heated rollers to evaporate any remaining water from the paper gradually. Finally, the paper is "calendered" or compressed through a mechanism that adds a smooth, polished finish. Some cardstock gets coated with material that enhances gloss, texture, or other properties. Red River Paper’s cardstock is coated for photo and fine-art quality inkjet printing.

PERKS OF WORKING WITH CARDSTOCK

1. Durability: Cardstock's increased thickness makes it far more resistant to accidental creasing, tearing, or other damage.
2. Variety: The vast selection of colors, finishes, and textures gives you tons of creative flexibility to capture any desired look and feel. For example, Red River Paper offers a high-gloss cardstock with printable back; museum-grade paper, and canvas-textured matte photo paper.
3. Versatility: Cardstock's sturdy composition allows it to pair beautifully with various art mediums like markers, paints, inks, and embellishments without warping or bleeding through.
4. Sustainability: Many cardstock varieties are made from recycled, renewable materials and can be recycled again after use.

9 WAYS TO USE CARDSTOCK

The unique properties of cardstock allow for endless creative potential:

• Fine Art: It’s possible to faithfully reproduce photography or watercolor art with museum-grade paper. The whites of an image take on a warmer, elegant look with luxurious deep blacks. Maryland watercolor artist Sarah Lewis creates art prints using our Palo Duro 315. She says, “I had a tough time finding paper that (a) was great quality, (b) could be fed through my printer, and (c) did a good job of holding ink. Red River Paper was recommended to me by another artist and I'm so glad I took their advice!”

• Archival Documents: Papers have different color values (cool and warm tones) as well as different surface textures. A warm-tone paper that has some surface texture is best for printing old photos, maps, and declarations. David Begneaud, owner of The Historic Map Company in Louisiana, prints maps dated back to the 1750s. One of his go-to papers is our Aurora Natural Art 300, featuring a warmer shade that brings elegance and nuance to these treasured maps.

• Greeting Cards / Note Cards: This is where we put the card in cardstock! The sturdiness of the paper helps these pieces withstand handling and mailing. Tennessee artist Debbie Mouser prints her note cards and greeting cards on our River Linen Greeting Cards, offering a slightly textured surface that takes on a bit of sheen when printed.

• Scrapbooks: Cardstock provides a sturdy foundation for photo layouts and decorative elements. Try the Scrapbooker Sample Kit to explore many different papers curated specifically for this use.
• Journaling: Make durable covers, dividers, or pockets that won't bleed or distort from mixed-media techniques.
• Paper Crafts: When you sculpt 3D flowers, origami, or pop-up designs using cardstock, they retain their shape better.
• Mixed Media Art: You can layer paints, inks, and collage materials worry-free thanks to cardstock's resilience.
• Paper Models: Print templates onto cardstock for sharper folds and edges on 3D constructions.
• Home Decor: Create custom party embellishments, gift boxes, and other decorative items that won't wilt or wrinkle.

NOW YOU KNOW

For artists, crafters, and makers seeking an ultra-sturdy canvas, cardstock is an outstanding option. Its thickness and strength provide reliable support, letting your creativity run wild without material constraints.

To learn about the main differences between cardstock and photo paper, see our resource Photo Paper vs. Cardstock. Check out Choose the Right Paper for Printing Old Photos to learn more on that topic. And if you’re curious about the best ways to cut this dense paper, explore your options in our Learn How to Cut Cardstock article.

Explore cardstock's full potential and let your next masterpiece shine!

Original Publication Date: June 24, 2024

Article Last updated: June 24, 2024