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Printability: A smooth surface

Uncoated paperboard has a rough, absorptive surface that impacts the quality of printing results. Of coatings' many purposes, making the paperboard surface smooth and printable is one of the most important.

"Coatings are applied to paper to correct imperfections in the surface to provide a smoother sheet and improve ink holdout, which results in better dot reproduction and higher gloss," Ortman said. "The more coat weight and the more coating layers that are applied, the smoother and more uniform the surface. This translates to printed results. Surface smoothness can be seen with the naked eye, but ink on paper enhances any surface defects.