Strength in Papers
Some make a splash. Others won't tear. For swimmers who need to read workout guides in the pool or publishers wishing to avoid damage from freight distribution, durable papers are unique alternatives to traditional stock. Added to the staple of synthetic and super-substrates on the market, some publishers have even invested in water-proof materials to ensure that the books they produce survive in less traditional reading environments. The waterproof materials, though rare compared to a non-synthetic such as TruTech, are examples of how diverse book market concepts can be applied to multiple projects. As a result, future readers, who may be chin-deep in the wet stuff, may not need to feign excuses to the library when returning that waterlogged copy of Old Man and the Sea.
One such publisher, Ancient Mariner Aquatics (www.sandglass.com/waterproofcoach), released a unique, self-paced workout book for swimmers that is manufactured using uniquely durable substrates. Thomas Deane's The Waterproof Coach is intended for hands-on poolside fitness. Says Deane, swimmers can use the book to plan workouts in the water without taking special precautions to keep the books dry—something that traditional ink and paper can't achieve.
According to Michael Mainthow, general manager of TruTech Fine Papers, there is a distinct difference between synthetic paper used for waterproof projects compared to heavy-weight natural paper. In some cases, lamination can turn virtually any traditional paper stock into durable media. In the case of The Waterproof Coach, however, text is presented on 30 heavyweight, synthetic pages, each cut into three segments—the first contains a warm-up, the second, a main-set, and the third, a cool-down—all waterproof, according to the author.
"Finding the right paper was difficult," admits Deane. "I decided on a heavy-weight paper that's more like plastic than paper. It's waterproof and non-tearable. You can't rip it, but it's hard on printing equipment."
