Tips on Paper Selection



Choosing the right paper for a printing job seems like it would be a quick and easy choice. But when selecting paper type, your needs are different for each job, and there is tremendous variety available.

Learn a little about the different paper qualities to narrow down your choices. There are 10 qualities to look for that affect the price and its use for your project.

The first quality to consider is the surface of the paper stock. This is its look, feel and how well the printer can reproduce on it. Paper can be smoother absorb ink at different rates and depths.

Then, paper color is the most obvious quality. Different shades of the same color can be used for specialized uses. Paper for photos and graphics should be chosen to highlight accentuate contrast. Some paper reflects less glare. These should be used for in-depth reading, such as, instruction pamphlets or scientific writing.

Paper brightness is the amount of light that is reflected. Most papers reflect a large majority of light. Something for you to consider for your print job is high brightness tires the readers' eyes.

Paper opacity is how well other print can be seen through the paper. Very dense paper reduces the see-through and is better for more reading.

Grain is the direction of the ingredient fibers. For your concern, paper strength, flexibility, and versatility are all affected by grain direction.

Paper weight is based on the weight of one ream (five hundred sheets of the paper). When you go to the office supply store to buy paper for the copier, you buy wrapped reams. Paper is sold by the pound, so paper weight can directly effect your campaign's bottom line.

Related to weight, the caliper of paper means the paper's thickness. Caliper is measured in point size.

And this rounding out is bulk, which is the thickness relative to the weight.

The size of paper describes its physical cut. The most common, 8.5 x 11 paper is 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall. The wide variety of paper sizes available is another key aspect of keeping your costs in check.

Lastly, is the quantity of paper. This is simply the amount of that paper which is bought and sold. The standard ream is the accepted unit of quantity. Cartons of paper are not defined by exact numerical specifications, but approximate weight.

When you need tickets, tags, labels, letters, envelopes, forms, postal labels, packaging, or printing for full marketing campaign, a professional printer will help you sort through the paper choices and help you pick the right paper for your job.