Production of high bulk calendered paper containing vesiculated beads

A high bulk calendered paper comprises from 2% to about 6% of the weight of the paper of highly cross-linked, titanium dioxide-pigmented, polymeric vesiculated beads having a volume average particle size of at least about 5 microns up to about 35 microns. The calendered paper preferably has a basis weight of from about 20 to about 40 pounds per ream, and the vesiculated beads are preferably used in an amount of from 4% to 6%. As a feature of the invention, it is found that the carboxyl-functional cross-linked beads used herein when used in aqueous suspension thickened with a neutralized polycarboxylic acid polymer thickener, enhance the retention of fines in the papermaking process when used in conjunction with anionic retention aids, especially carboxyl-functional acrylamide copolymers, and particularly when used in an aqueous furnish having a pH of from 4 to 6.