How to Identify the Front and Back Sides of Dust-Free Paper

How to Identify the Front and Back Sides of Dust-Free Paper

Dust-free paper is typically very thin, making it difficult to distinguish between the front and back sides.

Summary of Identification Methods:

1. The Intuitive Method: Fold a test sheet and observe the relative smoothness of one side. The diamond indentations from the papermaking mesh can often identify the wire side. Hold it horizontally and properly aligned, positioning the incident light at a 45-degree angle to the paper surface, and aligning the line of sight at a 45-degree angle to the paper surface.

Observe the webbing marks on the paper angle, and you can also inspect the paper surface under a microscope to identify the webbing.

2. Hold the test sheet with one hand, aligning it vertically with your line of sight and parallel to the surface of the sheet. Use your other hand to pull the paper upwards, initially tearing it along the vertical direction. Then, gradually shift the direction of the tear to the horizontal, towards the outer edge of the paper.

Peel off, flip over the page. On the other side, tear the paper in the same manner, and compare the paper fibers along the two tear lines - one line has more distinct fibers than the other. Especially at the curve where the vertical turns horizontal, the fibers are more pronounced on the web side.

When the web is facing up, the frayed edges of the dust-free paper are more pronounced.

3. Wet Method: Soak the dust-free paper surface in water, drain off the excess liquid, let it sit for a few minutes, inspect both sides; if there is a clear screen print, it is the reverse side.