Choosing Paperstock

Found Paper  - 180 GSM - £0.30 per A4 - £0.15 per A5

Original paper was just paper found in my living room possibly belonging to flatmate which relates to theme - it was about 180 gsm - smooth paper on one side and slightly textured paper on other - recycled photo paper? didn't like how thick it was as book doesn't have to feel heavy or need to stand up - expensive so cost wouldn't be low and the smooth side wasn't needed - throws off the feeling of texture - agreed in crits. Like the idea of recycled paper as students would be more likely to be wary and appreciative of this.
Also too expensive - the most expensive out of what I've tried.

Cass Art - 100 gsm Recycled Cartridge Paper - £0.10 per A3 sheet - £0.025 per A5

I liked the general tone of the paper - slightly off white so easier on the eyes due to the warm tones which would suggest the more hands on and eco production methods. The cost was really low which would allow the book cost to become lower however it constantly had ridges in it and the low quality of the paper absorbed the ink too much when printing therefore not allowing the bitmap to stand out. This is effective for screen printing though as the ink would dry faster inbetween the layers.

G.F Smith
Gmund Alezan Gazelle Cult - 135 GSM

Ordered this paper based just off the image online - I wasn't too sold on it however felt that the very obvious texture would be interesting however when arrived it was very yellow in tone (not as the image shows) and felt leather like which was not what I wanted at all. This paper is also not recycled which isn't as appealing to the target audience as recycled paper and the leather like feel doesn't communicate the themes of the book very well.

Arjo Wiggins 
Ordered 3 paper stock samples so prices may not be truly reflective of if this was going to be mass bought for actual mass production - can only assume it would be lower per A4/A5 in bulk.
Focused on ordering only recycled paper.

Rives Design 100 GSM 100% Recycled Bright White Recycled £0.15 per a4 - £0.075 per A5

This paper doesn't absorb the ink too much allowing for high quality prints. It's a bright white however not too stark so doesn't create that artificial feel to the overall personality of the book. It's quite textual, it has a fabric like feel and the texture is very visible. They describe it as having a "pattern gives it a fine, mesh-like texture and a contemporary, geometric identity" which is relevant to my audience as contemporary styles may be more appealing.

Keaykolour Particles Moonlight  100 GSM 100% Rec. £0.15 per A3- £0.075 per A5

Keaykolour Particles Sunshine 100 GSM 100% Rec. £0.15 per A3 - £0.075 per A5

This range of papers are made of recycled pulp reused as specks in this textured paper which I found interesting while looking through the Arjo Wiggins sample books as I've not seen any recycled paper that has a quite playful and fun personality. Once printed on, the specks showed through the ink and added more layers to the already layered images and bitmaps - this works well towards the end of the book when the images are more experimental.

Prefer the sunshine particles to the moonlight as the warm tones and more erratic specks works well with the images whereas the moonlight is a more gentler, cooler toned and neater paper stock that would work better as the main paper stock but would connote a more clean/positive feel to the images whereas I just wanted them to appear experimental and playful.

Deciding on Main Paper Stock
It was between the Cass Art and the Rives Design paper as both checked the boxes of being recycled and having some texture. I liked the warmer tone of the Cass Art paper stock however preferred the visible texture and feel of the Rives Design.

 When comparing the Cass Art print to the Rives Design, the colours on the Rives Design are much more true to colour and the bitmap is much clearer as the Cass Art paper absorbs the ink and spreads it. In addition, the texture of the Rives Design also emphasises and brings more texture to the bitmapped images by having the ink sit differently on the raised ridges of the paper.

The bitmap just works better with the Rives as the paper itself follows a mesh like pattern that resembles a diamond bitmap.