Not All Paper is Created Equal

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Have you ever found yourself wide-eyed and overwhelmed in the paper aisle of an office supply store, wondering how something as simple as paper could be so endlessly complicated by choices? I know I have. These days, it's not as easy as selecting letter or legal. We've got some serious options that go way beyond size. copy paper? How is that different from inkjet paper? Do I really need color copy paper or will multipurpose do? Brightness? Whiteness? Opacity??! Where do I begin??

Well, it's time to sort this mess out once and for all. The experts over at Quill have broken down the basics for us and provided this handy little cheat sheet for our paper purchasing pleasure.

Types of Paper:

Copy Paper

• Provides good value for everyday copies
• Works great in most copiers

Multipurpose Paper

• Works well in multiple types of machines
• Good for copies, faxes, invoices, etc.
• Brighter and smoother than copy paper

Laser/Inkjet Paper

• Paper surface is optimized for use - Laser is smooth and Inkjet is coated and/or rougher to enhance ink performance
• Heavier and brighter for a feel and look that stands out

Color Copy/Laser/Inkjet Paper

• Good when you want to really impress or for duplex printing (both sides of the sheet) with graphics
• Brighter, prints sharper and more defined images

Earth Friendly

• Assortment of 30% to 100% PCW (Post Consumer Waster) recycled papers
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) are certification programs that set requirements and standards for operations.

Paper Specifications - What They Mean

Brightness

• This is the measure of light reflected off of paper
• The higher the number, the crisper and more professional text and images appear on paper
• US (TAPPI) scale versus Euro (D-65) scale

Whiteness

• This is the measure or the paper's ability to reflect the colors of light equally
• Some papers may reflect slightly cool colors back to our eyes and give the illusion that the sheet is actually brighter than white paper

Weight

• Often referred to as "basis weight." The basis weight refers to the weight in pounds of 500 sheets of paper in its basis size
• What you need to know-20# bond is a 5 pound ream of paper and therefore a case of paper is slightly over 50 pounds with packaging

Opacity

• This refers to the show-through of printing from the opposite side of the sheet
• It's influenced by the paper's weight, brightness and type of fibre

Smoothness (Sheffield Rating)

• This refers to the continuity of the paper's surface
• This affects the way the paper receives ink

Acid-Free Paper

• This refers to paper that has a neutral or basic pH (7 on the scale or higher)
• Helpful for long-term preservation

So, the next time you're facing an endless array of paper options, grab this list to help you figure out exactly what you need. Better yet, visit the experts at Quill and they'll match you up with the perfect paper for your needs.

Have you seen the latest issue of Quill's newsletter, Office Living? Check it out!