A process and an apparatus for the manufacture of SC-A paper having a high gloss and high smoothness, wherein the paper arriving from the paper machine is supplied on-line to a supercalender (multinip soft calendar), and wherein the paper travels through a plurality of nips for achieving the desired gloss and smoothness properties. The paper web arriving from the paper machine and supplied on-line to a supercalender (multinip soft calendar) is moistened with steam immediately prior to the first nip of the supercalender and is guided through the first nip before the increased moisture of the surface resulting from the application of steam has dropped below a predetermined value in the range of 12% to 25%.