THE STATIONARY & ILLUSTRATION GLOSSARY

Term

Definition

Why It Matters to Your Customer

Archival

Material chemically stable enough to resist deterioration for 100+ years.

Pros: Essential for selling original art to collectors.

Bleed-through

When ink or marker dyes soak through to the back of the paper.

Hobbyists: The #1 frustration in journaling; requires higher GSM.

Deckle Edge

The rough, feathered edge of handmade or mould-made paper.

Hobbyists: Adds a "vintage" or "aesthetic" feel to scrapbooks.

Feathering

When ink spreads out into the paper fibers like a spiderweb.

Pros: Occurs on low-quality paper; ruined by "soft" fibers

Ghosting

When ink is visible through the page but hasn't actually bled through.

Hobbyists: Common in 80-100gsm journals; solved by 120gsm+.

Lightfastness

How resistant a pigment is to fading when exposed to UV light.

Pros: Critical for art displayed in galleries or near windows.

Opacity

The degree to which paper prevents light or ink from passing through.

Both: High opacity is required for double-sided drawing.

Sizing

A chemical (like starch) added to paper to control ink absorption.

Pros: "Heavy Sizing" keeps ink on the surface for sharp lines.

Tooth

A chemical (like starch) added to paper to control ink absorption.

Pros: "High Tooth" is for pencils; "Smooth/No Tooth" is for inking.

Water-Soluble

Ink that can be reactivated or smudged by water after it has dried.

Both: Avoid for inking; great for watercolour effects.