Tips on Paper Selection
FAQs | Glossary Of Terms | How-To Articles
Choosing the right paper for a printing job can
be a daunting task. It doesn't have to be though.
When selecting the best paper type for a particular
job, you're often faced with an overwhelming number
of options. Asking your printer for "white"
is like asking your waiter for "food"
- you'll have to be more specific than that.
To the educated consumer, the choices don't
seem nearly as intimidating. Before you order
though, you've got to know the menu. Paper has
ten characteristics that affect its cost and appropriateness
for a given job.
Surface
The surface of paper affects its look, feel and
printability. When paper is pressed at the mill,
it passes through a series of rollers in a process
called calendaring. Calendaring affects paper
in numerous ways. As the extent of this process
increases, paper is made smoother, glossier, more
capable of retaining ink, thinner, less opaque
and less bright. Why does surface matter? Because
people do judge books by their cover.
Color
The color of paper is perhaps the
most salient of all characteristics. White is
by far the most popular color and is generally
optimal for conventional usage. Not all white
is the same, however - it runs the gamut from
ultra-severe hues to softer, more antique shades.
Photo white paper is best for accentuating the
contrast between light and dark hues.
Off-white sheets produce less glare, and are
best used for publications such as novels or technical
manuals that demand long and uninterrupted attention
from readers. When comparing color, always examine
paper under standard viewing conditions and with
minimal atmospheric distractions.
Brightness
The brightness of paper measures
the percentage of light that it reflects. Most
papers reflect approximately 60 to 90% of incoming
light. Remember: brightness and color are not
the same thing. Unlike the color characteristic
(which is highly subjective and imprecise), brightness
is a strictly quantitative, or measurable, attribute.
Brightness is important because it affects readability
- high brightness can cause eye strain, while
low brightness can produce a blurring effect.
Opacity
The opacity of paper is the degree
to which other printing is visible through the
page. High opacity, or density, minimizes the
visibility of printing on subsequent pages, thus
enhancing readability. Opacity increases with
the bulk and weight of paper, and is influenced
by numerous other factors, including paper color,
ink color, coatings, chemicals and coverage.
Grain
The grain of paper describes the
direction, or alignment, of its component fibers.
Paper grain is either grain long or grain short.
When fibers are patterned parallel to the length
of a sheet, the paper is grain long. When fibers
run parallel to the width of a sheet, the paper
is grain short. Grain direction is a critical
factor for print jobs because it directly affects
usage - for example, paper strength, flexibility,
tack and versatility are all impacted by grain
direction.
Weight
The basis weight of paper is calculated
as the weight in pounds of one ream, or five hundred
sheets. Each main grade of paper has a basic size
that is used to determine its basis weight. Remember
that paper of equivalent basis weight is not necessarily
of equivalent basic size. Smaller sized paper
that is thicker can possess a basis weight identical
to that of larger, thinner paper. Since paper
is sold by the pound, understanding paper weight
is imperative to successful cost control programs.
Caliper
The caliper of paper is its thickness. Caliper
is measured in thousandths of an inch and referred
to as point size. In this system, .001 inch equals
one point - and eight-point paper would have a
thickness of .008 inch. Do not confuse type point
with caliper point. Type point describes the height
of a particular font; caliper point describes
paper thickness.
Bulk
The bulk of paper denotes its thickness relative
to its basis weight. For example, uncalendared
paper would have a higher bulk than gloss coated
paper. Remember though that paper may be bulkier
or thicker than another grade, yet still have
the same basis weight.
Size
The size of paper describes its physical
dimensions. An 8.5 x 11 sheet is 8.5 inches wide
and 11 inches long. Access to specific information
concerning the range of paper sizes available
for any given printing job is essential to containing
costs and ensuring efficient usage.
Quantity
The quantity of paper refers
to the number of sheets bought, sold or used.
A ream is a standard unit of numerical paper quantity.
Paper that is "ream-wrapped" is packaged
in a bundle of 500 sheets. Cartons of paper are
not defined by exact numerical specifications,
but approximate weight. Cartons typically weigh
around 150 pounds and are used in practice as
a standard unit of sales.
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