Fiberboard uses the end of the chain, recycled post consumer waste, material – also called pulp – that can’t be used anywhere else and combines it together in a paper stock. Definitely Eco - Friendly! The pulp nature gives the paper a texture – kind of fuzzy. The paper is unbleached, so it’s brownish, like kraft paper or a paper bag. Overall it has a very organic look to it, and this paper stock is what we think of first when clients tell us they want an organic look or feel to their title.

If you are not keen on the brown color, or the fiberboard texture, check out our page on Eco Friendly Jackets with recycled stock. Recycled paper stock, comes in white coated, uncoated, 20-30% recycled content or 70-80% recycled content.
Here's a slide show to help with ideas: Eco Friendly Slideshow.
See also our Special Paper Stocks page.

Here are a few examples of popular ways to hold the disc, and any inserts such as booklets or business cards.

5 inch 2pp Fiberboard jacket / cd cover / LP style, available with inner disc sleeves:

5 inch, midheight foam hub jackets:

7 inch, tall fiberboard jackets with foam hubs:

5 inch fiberboard jackets with pockets:

7 inch fiberboard jackets with pockets:

Oversized, Wide jackets:

See also,

Fiberboard digipaks :

Fiberboard box or slipcase style:

All natural paper tray, 100% recycled compressed paper with cork hub:

Or foam trays:

Our quotes include up to 4C printing on fiberboard (usually cmyk) but oftentimes clients use use the black portion of this. Mind that black can be made many ways depending on the effect you want, so it’s not always strictly 1C but we don’t charge more if it’s not. Black and simple colors can be very effective on fiberboard as the paper stock is already so interesting.

You need to be careful to not start with too dark a picture, or it becomes hard to see. Unless of course, that’s the goal (and it has been on some titles).

Another fun look is to let the fiberboard show through and use just one or two spot colors.

You can even incorporate the background into the art. Chaise magazine used it as sand with ant tunnels running through it. Remember that on brownish paper, it’s the brown that’s free – not the white.

If you want to do a solid color throughout, we’ll need to take some extra steps and maybe use UV curable inks. The material is very absorbent and has to be thoroughly soaked with ink. The result likely won’t be 100%, but hopefully that’s not what you’re envisioning.

The titlebelow uses 1c black on fiberboard, full coverage, and required 2-pass printing / drying time to get the desired saturation. It also has silver foil and a 1/4" wide spine.

These titles used two passes of yellow to get the saturation needed:

Because the paper stock is brownish, you need to remember that printing on it will affect our colors. If well thought out, this results in a nice muted tone.

If you need parts of the art to be bright and not muted, you might want a touch of white underneath.. We can do one hit of white, or even two, depending on what you need to achieve. The best way to go about this is to send us your artwork and we can guide you. Use our UPLOAD PAGE to show us your art.
EXAMPLE –

Here is an example of flood white used on fiberboard:

Effects with Fiberboard are fun! Foil is a very striking contrast.

Spot gloss on fiberboard is less pronounced, and embossing is “soft”, but still noticeable. Here's an example:

Here’s a contrast example we did for a client with one piece with varnish and the other left natural:

Die Cut Windows are fun with any stock, anywhere! We like what this client did using the black printed front to cut out to the inside fiberboard color – a good contrast. The window shows the company brand logo on the inside, and also the name on the rep's business card. Notice the unique pocket shape for an insert and business card.

We have a new twist – a magnetic closure. Fiberboard isn't required for a magnetic closure, of course, but oddly enough, requests for a magnetic closing feature usually come from folks who also want a fiberboard package.

Adding a magnetic closure to a digipak might be good bit more difficult, but if you’re interested in trying it, just let us know and we’ll come up with ideas!

You may want to carry on the same matte feel to your booklet. We suggest either an uncoated matte paper stock, or a kraft paper depending on your art.

One thing we recommend with all fiberboard printing, is to have us make a special matchprint for you. A standard matchprint on white paper isn’t going to help you with color proofing on this stock. If you want a dry run, try using a brownish piece of paper in your own printer. If you can get a paper bag through, you might even be able to simulate the more fuzzy/absorbent nature that fiberboard will give you. Aren’t you glad we have lots of experience using this stock? We know the pitfalls. So our recommendation is to go a bit beyond the standard matchprint and order a special one so you can see how it turns out on this paper stock. SEE PROOFING PROCESS PAGE

Here's an example of a fiberboard press proof next to a regular proof on white stock:

See FEATURED TITLE MAGIC MAMA
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