Promoting the industry ~ Focused on Members Success
Promoting the industry ~ Focused on Members Success
Printing is more than reproducing words and images on paper. It is the physical result as well -- holding the printed piece, feeling the paper, enjoying the interplay of ink with the surface -- that is the ultimate goal of the process. Paper (the vehicle of the message, with its myriad grades, weights, surface finishes and colors, as well as its cost impact on a printing project's budget) is of prime importance. Understanding paper, and selecting the right sheet for your job can make or break its success.
Papers are primarily defined by grade and basis weight. Understanding these two features will be key to specifying the right paper.
There are five basic grades of paper:
Within each grade there are other distinctions, based on brightness, opacity, and fiber content. For instance, there are matte, premium, and ultra gloss finishes to coated paper. In uncoated book, there are no.1 Offset, no.3 Offset, Opaque, and Lightweights; and finishes like smooth/vellum, felt/embossed, laid, and linen distinguish text papers.
Papers are also designated by their weight, or "basis weight." This basis weight is determined by weighing 500 sheets (a ream) of the basic size of that particular grade of paper. Basic sizes include: Bond 17"x22"; Text (offset or book) 25"x38"; Cover 20"x26".
So, for example, a 20 lb. bond is determined by weighing a ream (500 sheets) of that paper cut to 17"x22" (its basic size).
Because the standard sizes of each grade are different, a sheet from one grade which feels similar to another grade may have a completely different basis weight.
For example, that 20 lb. Bond feels similar to a 50 lb. Offset. The difference in their basis weights is due to the difference in their basic sizes. This is why we typically state the grade and weight, such as 70 lb. Text or 60 lb. Book, when specifying a paper.
Our national waste disposal challenge has led to the increasing manufacture and use of recycled papers. Paper companies have answered increasing demand with offerings in all paper grades. While recycled sheets still command a premium over virgin stock, they are more widely available and perform more consistently on press than in previous years.
There are still differences in definitions associated with recycled papers, and concerned buyers need to consult the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines, State and Federal definitions, and paper companies' literature to make informed decisions about purchases involving recycled paper products.
