A new technique has been developed to prepare paper cross sections for examinations in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Samples are mounted on modified specimen holders, embedded in an eutectic mixture of camphor and naphthalene, and sectioned with a freezing microtome. Swelling or distortions caused by this embedding and cross section method are negligible. The surface contour of paper samples was examined in relation to the internal fiber network and the pore structure of papers and paper coatings. The method has potential for the quantification of the surface and internal structure of uncoated and coated papers.