Gloss – 75°, 60°, or 20° Test

To view this document, you may need Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.

Gloss, 75 Degree, 60 Degree

or 20 Degree

A beam of light is reflected off the surface of the paper or paperboard at a specified angle in the machine direction (MD), as per TAPPI Test Method T480.  The amount of light reflected is compared to a 100% reflective surface.  The test result, called the gloss of the product, is the percentage of light reflected.  Paper and unprinted board is usually measured with 75 degree gloss and printed board grades are often measured with 60 degree gloss.  High-gloss surfaces are measured using 20 degree gloss.