a correct level of coating composition is applied namely a metering device when an excess of coating composition is applied to the applicator the metering device should be placed downstream of it alternatively the correct amount of coating composition may be applied to the applicator by the metering device e g as a film press the coating composition is generally applied to produce three different basis weights 60 lb 70 lb and 80 lb with the finished weight of 70 lb being the preferred basis weight at the points of coating application and metering the paper web support ranges from a backing roll e g via one or two applicators to nothing i e just tension the time the coating is in contact with the paper before the excess is finally removed is the dwell time and this may be short long or variable the coating is usually added by a coating head at a coating station according to the quality desired paper grades are uncoated single coated double coated and even triple coated when providing more than one coat the initial coat precoat may have a cheaper formulation and optionally less pigment in the coating composition a coater that is applying a double coating ie a coating on each side of the paper will have two or four coating heads depending on the number of sides coated by each head most coating heads coat only one side at a time but some roll coaters eg film press gate roll size press coat both sides in one pass in one preferred embodiment the coating composition of the present invention is applied to a single side of the basesheet in a single application step in another.