Abstract: A support material comprises a raw paper that may be coated on at least one side with a synthetic resin, and the raw paper or the resin coating on the raw paper is provided at least on the front side with a pigment layer wherein the pigment layer contains at least about 5% by weight of a pigment with a narrow grain size distribution, whereby at least about 70% of these pigment particles feature a size of less than 1 ?m and at least 40% by weight of these particles feature a grain size of 0.35 to 0.8 ?m, or in that the pigment coating is a structured calcium carbonate, for example surface-modified, and both embodiments feature improved surface properties.

Abstract: A support material comprises a raw paper that may be coated on at least one side with a synthetic resin, said raw paper or the resin coating on the raw paper is provided at least on the front side with a pigment layer wherein the pigment layer contains at least about 5% by weight of a pigment with a narrow grain size distribution, whereby at least about 70% of these pigment particles feature a size of less than some 1 &mgr;m and at least 40% by weight of these particles feature a grain size of 0.35 and 0.8 &mgr;m, or in that the pigment coating is a structured calcium carbonate, for example surface-modified, and both embodiments feature improved surface properties.