Warping is a natural, inevitable occurrence amongst wrapping paper that is made using uncoated paper. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about paper warping. We're here to bust some of those myths.
What is Paper Warping?
Warping is when the paper curls or bends, often on its cut edges. When warping occurs it can look a little shabby and it tends to alarm owners expecting a superior item.
Uncoated paper is prone to warping as it does not have a coating layer to protect the paper fibres from the external environment. This allows the fibres to absorb and release moisture and concurrently expand and contract, depending on the temperature and humidity of the room they are stored in. Warping will occur more in environments where temperature and humidity fluctuate dramatically, where the fibres near the cut edges expand and contract more rapidly than the fibres in the centre of the paper, causing them to curl.
Wrapping paper that has warped will return to normal either once the temperature and humidity return to normal, or the fibres deeper in the paper adjust to the external environment. Warped wrapping paper can be used as usual. As the cut edges of the gift wrap are usually folded and tucked away during wrapping, warping will not affect the final result.
Which types of Uncoated Wrapping Paper Warp the Most?
In gift wrap, designs that have a high volume of ink printed on them are more prone to warping. This is because the paper fibres absorb the ink when the paper is printed and their capacity to expand and contract in line with temperature and humidity after printing is compromised.
Warping is a natural (and very normal) occurrence in uncoated paper as it does not have the chemical coating layer to protect the paper fibres.
What Does Warping Mean About Your Wrapping Paper Quality?
Now I hear you asking, 'why is my high quality wrapping paper warping...is this normal or have I been sold a dud?'
So let me say this plainly...
Warping is not a sign of poor quality paper, but is in fact the opposite.
It's actually one of the biggest myths when it comes to the quality level of gift wrap paper. The truth is, coated paper relies on the coating to add durability to the paper. This means the paper layer is thinner in coated paper and more prone to tearing as you try to cut it and wrap gifts.
Our uncoated wrapping paper is 80gsm, the same weight and thickness as standard photocopy paper. What this means is there is 80 grams of paper per square metre. Most coated wrapping paper is 50-60gsm. This may not sound like much, but it has a large impact on the final result. Not only is it harder to cut and prone to tearing, lighter colours are often see-through so you have to use double layers to keep the gift inside a surprise!
Our Promise to Gift Givers
Emballage strives to be a responsible, eco-conscious brand in every step of our processes and offerings. We believe that buying better quality is key to moving away from today's throwaway culture. And that's why we love designing and providing products made with uncoated paper; a reusable, recyclable and biodegradable resource.