Abstract: A coated printing sheet is provided that is suitable for conventional offset printing grades, exhibiting desirable surface and optical properties and providing a surface that is image receptive and resistant to coating failure. The coated printing sheet includes an image receptive coating containing a hard polymer pigment having a shear modulus of at least 5.0×109 dynes/cm2 and a film forming binder. The coated printing sheets resist burnishing and exhibit desirable properties, e.g., gloss, bulk, stiffness and smoothness, with minimal or no calendering.

Abstract: A cast coated printing sheet providing high paper gloss and smoothness, desirable printing performance characteristics, and enhanced printed product attributes. The cast coated sheet comprises a substrate and a brushed coating layer comprising (a) a pigment, (b) a functionally effective amount of latex such that a dried unbrushed layer of the coating will not adhere sufficiently to the casting surface to allow the unbrushed layer to be cast, and (c) a functionally effective amount of brushing agent such that damage to the coating layer surface during brushing is minimized. The invention further provides methods for manufacturing such cast coated printing sheets.