Grain Direction - Predominant direction in which fibers in paper become aligned during manufacturing. Also called machine direction. Grain is determined during the papermaking process, when fibers tend to align in one direction or the other. Paper is identified as either grain short (grain is parallel to paper's short side) or grain long (grain is parallel to the paper's long side), depending on how the paper is cut from the original roll. This is important in printing since folding against the grain will crack the paper, so folds are preferably done with the grain.
Against the Grain - At right angles to the paper grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to with the grain. Also called across the grain and cross grain. Grain is determined during the papermaking process, when fibers tend to align in one direction or the other. Paper is identified as either grain short (grain is parallel to paper's short side) or grain long (grain is parallel to the paper's long side), depending on how the paper is cut from the original roll. This is important in printing since folding against the grain will crack the paper, so folds are preferably done with the grain.
With the Grain - Parallel to the grain direction of the paper being used, as compared to against the grain. See also Grain Direction. Grain is determined during the papermaking process, when fibers tend to align in one direction or the other. Paper is identified as either grain short (grain is parallel to paper's short side) or grain long (grain is parallel to the paper's long side), depending on how the paper is cut from the original roll. This is important in printing since folding against the grain will crack the paper, so folds are preferably done with the grain.
