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PAPER SELECTION
Choosing the right paper for a printing job can 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 eight characteristics that affect its
cost and appropriateness for a given job.
Surface
The surface of the 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 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-sever 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.
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
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 the
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 the
sheet, the paper grain is long. When fibers run parallel to the
width of a sheet, the paper grain is 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.
If you have any questions or need help preparing
your digital files, please contact us.
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