How to Choose Photo Paper For Your Business

Office supply and in particular photo paper is considered a significant expense for many businesses. Therefore it is important to choose the right photo paper, avoid selection mistakes and save where possible. When choosing this product for your business, here is what to look for.

1. Look at printer compatibilities - The first and most basic compatibility check is based on the technology of the printer. Laser-jet printers require laser paper, whereas Ink-jet printers requires Inkjet papers. Next you would need to ensure that the paper is compatible with your brand of printer. For example, HP printers work with HP papers, but will also work with other types of paper manufactures. Check that the paper will work with your brand of printer, specific model, and do not worry about buying generic papers if you found a good deal.

2. Pay attention to weight - Inkjet photo papers in particular are normally measured in GSM which is Grammes per Square Metre. You will not be able to see this measurement when looking at the paper, instead you can feel different in GSM by sensing the thickness and/or the stiffness of the paper. Make sure the weight of the paper is suitable for your printing needs. It is true that higher weight normally suggests better quality, but as you will read further down, you need to consider what the paper will be used for.

3. Consider its uses - As you already now, Inkjet papers are measured in GSM. The higher the GSM is, the heavier the paper is and its orientation becomes more professional. If the paper will be used to print office charts, it is likely that you will only need a low GSM weight paper, perhaps just a coated paper. However, if you are looking to print documents and photos which you would like to keep for many years (due to legal requirements for example), you will need a high weight GSM paper with archival properties.

4. Buy smart and save - Now that you found the type of paper most suitable for your needs and compatible with your printer, let's look at where you could save. Photo paper is a type of product which you could safely purchase online where the prices are normally more competitive compared to your local store. You can save even further if you purchase in bulk. Buying more than one pack at a time will reduce the price of each pack and will also help ensure you have it when you need it. Lastly, look at generic photo paper brands as well as the major brands. For example, Archival photo paper is available from major brands, but also as a generic paper at a much lower cost.

Photo Paper Direct offers high quality archival photo paper and many more types of paper.

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How Do I Choose a Paper Shredder That Will Last Me For Years?

Paper shredders come in all sizes, shapes and capacities. Choosing the right paper shredder up front will save you a lot of time and money. It isn't difficult. Knowing a few basic questions to ask yourself before taking the plunge will help eliminate a lot of useless paper shredders from your list.

What are the most common paper shredder complaints? Here are a few of them. The most common complaint of them all is "my shredder keeps jamming." Also brought up are complaints about the motor overheating, having to change the bag too often, the inability to shred staples and more. This article will help you eliminate these problems all together.

First of all, if your paper shredder keeps jamming, chances are pretty good that you are shredding too much paper at a time. Before buying a paper shredder, be well aware how many sheets of paper you would like to shred at a time. Also be aware that if you need to shred 25 sheets of paper at a time, don't buy a paper shredder that will shred "up to" 25 sheets.

Paper shredder manufacturers often like to hype up their shredders. They want to let you know the absolute maximum number of sheets you can run through the shredder before ruining it. This number is usually far too high to run on a continuous basis. It is recommended to find a paper shredder that will shred at least 20% more paper than you need. If you need to shred 25 sheets of paper at a time, buy one that will shred up to 30 sheets of paper at a time. Also take into consideration that your shredding volume may increase over the next few years.

Be aware that not all paper shredders are designed to run on a continuous basis. Many paper shredders have a fail safe that turns the motor off if it gets to hot. This is to prevent damage to the motor. Many paper shredder manufacturers now put thermally protected motors in their shredders. These are known as continuous duty paper shredders.

It is highly recommended to buy a paper shredder with continuous-duty capabilities, even if you won't be shredding on a continuous basis. You never know when you may need to shred a lot of paper in a day. Most paper shredders will say "continuous duty" on the box. If shopping online, most sites will also state "continuous duty" as a feature.

Is your paper shredder bin filling too quickly? Many people do not realize this, but a strip cut paper shredder will fill up a bin, on average, almost 60% faster than a cross cut paper shredder. This is because cross cut paper shredders, also known as confetti cut shredders, cut the paper into smaller pieces and compact better in the shredder bin. Some cross cut paper shredders cut paper into smaller pieces that require even less bag changes. Also be aware that shredders are available with larger bins.

Many people want to be able to shred paper without worrying about staples or the occasional paper clip. In the past, metal pieces would almost definitely ruin shredder blades. Many shredders are now made with hardened steal blades capable of handling staples and the occasional paper clip. Again, this is usually listed on the box or Web site. It is still recommended not to shred particles of metal if it can be helped, but it is nice to have the assurance that a staple or paper clip will not ruin the shredder.

There are many brands of paper shredders available. Many department stores sell cheap Chinese paper shredders that break down easily. There are a few trustworthy brands that are made from quality parts that will give you an edge on durability. These brands include Destroyit, HSM, Offis Life, Intimus, Dahle, Formax and Kobra. Many of these paper shredders are German engineered and German made. The Germans are known for their quality shredders.

Last, but not least, is maintenance. Proper shredder maintenance will extend the life of your shredder by several years. Many people do not realize this, but paper shredders need to be oiled on occasion. This isn't a complicated process or messy like changing a car's oil. It simply involves squirting oil on a piece of paper and running it through the paper shredder. It is recommended to oil a paper shredder every time you change the bag. It doesn't take much, but it helps eliminate friction and metal-on-metal wear.

Regardless of the individual or company, everyone should use a paper shredder to destroy sensitive and personal information. Contact Office Zone for more information on paper shredders.

Dave Stuart is an industry expert on paper shredders.

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How To Choose The Best Inkjet Paper For Your Printer

The problem with inkjet paper is not a lack of choice. Not at all. Where most people feel utterly confused is with the huge variety of inkjet papers on the market today. Which paper is which?

The choices are mind boggling. Plain paper, heavy plain paper, glossy, matte, super glossy, t-shirt transfer, bright white, business card paper, recycled.... well the list just goes on and on.

Which inkjet paper is right for you? Ask a salesman that question and he'll pick up the fanciest, most expensive paper he can find and hand it to you. A far more important question to ask yourself is "What do I want to achieve with my inkjet paper?" Your wants and needs are very different things. We always tend to want the more expensive item when in reality we only need the plain jane model.

Your first consideration is paper weight. All printer paper, inkjet included, is measured in gsm or grammes per square meter. A very lightweight paper for your inkjet printer would be 60gsm. When you walk into any store and buy a ream (500 sheets) of inkjet paper you'll find that the stock on display is 80gsm. This is a general purpose weight paper suitable for photocopiers, inkjet and laser printers.

What if you need a heavier weight paper? This shoulnd't pose a problem in any well stocked office supply or computer store. Inkjet paper also comes in 90gsm, 100gsm and higher grades. You'll find that heavier papers give you crisper text and less ink bleed also. Do bear in mind that every inkjet printer has a maximum paper thickness it can handle. If you're buying paper in weights of 110gsm - 125gsm consult your printer documentation before you feed very heavy paper through it - otherwise you risk seriously damaging your printer.

Apart from the weights you also have a wide variety of styles. Paper for your inkjet printer can also be purchased in bright white variants. These are designed for single sided printing of important documents or presentation pages. This type of paper is more expensive but if your goal is to impress then it's money well spent as ther results are truly impressive.

Last but not least we have the photographic and high resolution inkjet papers. When you want to print a photograph, digital or scanned, then photo paper is your best choice.

Matte photo paper has a smooth, almost velvety, finish to it. Any image printed to a matte paper will have a richness of color and overall softness to it but won't resemble a lab processed photograph. An image printed on matte photo paper will dry pretty quickly.

Glossy photo paper is next up. If you want the best possible results in terms of color richness, clarity and sheen then glossy inkjet paper is the way to go. This type of paper has several layers within each sheet. There are top layers to help with ink absorption and then intermediate layers to store the inkjet and prevent bleeding. This complexity leads to a higher price and some name brand glossy photo papers can be quite expensive. If you want high quality results be prepared to part with a bit more cash.

Before you shop analyze your wants versus your needs - it'll save you a lot of cash.

Confused by all the different types of inkjet paper? Let us help you find the perfect photo paper for inkjet printers or just the best paper for your inkjet printer. Click on over to Inkjetables.com for more information.

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The Best Paper Shredder: How to Choose the Shredder That's Right For You

You already know you need a paper shredder. Buzz words like identity theft protection and HIPAA and FACTA compliance have been floating around long enough to catch your attention. You want to keep yourself, your employees and your customers from being counted among the more than 900,000 victims of identity theft each year. Now what? With hundreds of shredders on the market how do you choose the right shredder for your individual needs?

Answering a few simple questions about your shredding needs will give you the necessary tools to find the paper shredder that's right for you.


How many people will use the shredder every day? Will it be the members of your household or will it be your entire staff or department?

How much paper will you shred in a day? This will be partly determined by the number of people using the same shredder and may vary from one sheet to hundreds of sheets.

How large is the paper you will most commonly be shredding? The throat of a shredder is the opening documents must fit through and varies in size from a standard 9" throat to a wide 16" or larger throat.

What level of security are you looking for? Strip cut, cross cut, confetti cut and CD shredders all offer different levels of security by shredding paper, CDs, credit cards or floppy disks into long strips, small pieces, or unidentifiable particles.


Paper shredders are broken up into categories based on their power and capacity. The most common classifications are home, office, commercial or departmental and industrial. Within these categories you can also find specialty CD shredders and high security shredders. The following categories break down paper shredders according to the features listed above.

Home Paper Shredders

If all you have to shred are personal bank statements, receipts, cancelled checks and some junk mail, you need a personal home shredder. Designed for light use, a home paper shredder typically accommodates the light duty shredding needs of one to two people and accepts 3 to 10 sheets of standard sized paper at once. Home paper shredders are available in strip cut and cross cut models. Strip cut shredders quickly shed documents into long strips of paper. A cross cut shredder typically shreds fewer sheets of paper at a slower rate, but offers more security, leaving nothing larger than a 2" x 1/4" piece of paper. Home paper shredders are available with durable cutting heads that accept staples and paper clips and are often no larger than a small trash can.

More and more families are using paper shredders in their homes and manufacturers are striving to make home paper shredders child-safe by installing smaller openings and adding off switches. Fellowes has come out with a light duty shredder with "safe sense" technology that will keep the fingers of your little ones safe by immediately stopping the shredder when the paper entry is touched. Some models also have unique safety locks to prevent the shredder from accidentally being turned on.

Office Paper Shredders

It's not only smart for small offices and small business owners to use a paper shredder, it's the law. The FACTA Disposal Law requires all businesses and employers to properly dispose of the personal records they collect from employees and consumers. HIPAA regulations require healthcare facilities and the businesses that contract with them to protect the privacy of their patients by properly disposing of records. Designed to guard against identity theft and to protect patient confidentiality, FACTA and HIPAA make shredding a necessity for a business of any size.

Office paper shredders are designed to meet the shredding needs of several users, typically handling up to three cases of paper per day, 10 to 35 sheets at a time. Office shredders are available with a range of throat sizes from 9" to 15" to handle paper of all sizes. Some strip cut office shredders have the ability to also shred CDs, credit cards and floppy disks. Cross cut office shredders increase the level of security by reducing your documents to pieces as small as 1/16" x 9/16".

Commercial Paper Shredders

Commercial shredders are designed to shred up to 80 sheets of paper at once. Wide throats up to 16" and larger handle paper of any size. These heavy duty shredders are available in strip cut or cross cut models and easily shred through staples and paper clips and often handle CDs, credit cards and floppy disks. Some commercial shredders are available with hoppers and conveyor belt feed systems to automate the shredding of large volumes of paper.

Industrial Paper Shredders

In-house industrial paper shredders are designed to meet the shredding needs of several departments or even an entire facility in the most cost effective, convenient and secure manner possible. Industrial shredders are engineered for maximum performance, handling up to 140 sheets of paper at once and up to 1000 pounds of paper products per hour. With extra wide throats to handle virtually all paper sizes and high volume waste containers, industrial shredders can meet the most demanding shredding needs. These heavy duty shredders are available in strip cut, cross cut or CD shredding models. Many industrial shredders come with hoppers, conveyor belts and balers to increase efficiency and reduce the volume of waste produced.

Special industrial shredders, known as cardboard shredders, turn cardboard boxes into packing material by perforating, shredding and padding the cardboard with specially designed cutting mechanisms.

CD Shredders

Designed to safely shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards and floppy disks with specially hardened solid steel cutting cylinders, CD shredders are essential for secure digital data disposal. CD shredders vary in terms of power and capacity from light office duty CD shredders all the way up to industrial heavy duty CD shredders. When choosing a CD shredder, first determine whether you need an office, commercial, high security or industrial shredder, then choose a CD shredder from the appropriate category. CD shredders are available in strip cut and commercial size cross cut models to meet your specific security needs.

High Security and Government Use Paper Shredders

When you have top secret documents to dispose of, a high security shredder offers superior shredding security by reducing documents to unreadable particles. To receive the classification of high security, a shredder must be able to reduce a letter sized document to 6,000 pieces or more. For even more security, Level 6 NSA and CSS approved shredders are required to reduce a letter sized document to 12,000 particles or more. Due to the extremely small shred size, high security shredders typically only accept up to 14 sheets of paper at once. Depending on the document size and the volume of high security shredding you have to do, you can choose a high security shredder with an office sized waste basket and standard 9" throat or a shredder with a large commercial sized waste container and wide 16" throat.

Please visit FEI Office [http://feioffice.com/] for a wide selection of Paper Shredders [http://www.feioffice.com/Paper_Shredders-282.htm] at the lowest prices.

For more information on paper shredder related topics visit our Paper Shredders Info Blog.

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How to Choose the Right Paper - Part 3

Our top ten tips to find the right paper for your projects should be in every designer's notebook.

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this article, we have discussed planning for paper, determining the personality of your project and considering the finish, color, brightness, weight and content of the paper you may choose. In Part 3, we look at three final features to consider when making your selection.

The Printing Process

If your budget allows for specialty printing processes, such as embossing, foil stamping, letterpress and the like, make sure your paper is suitable for these techniques. Look at printed samples. They are available and you just have to ask for them.

As digital printing becomes more and more popular, be aware not to speck a digital sheet for an offset press and vice versa. Digital printing papers are made specifically to perform under the high heat/low moisture conditions of a digital printer or press. Offset papers are manufactured to perform at low temperatures and with liquid inks.

You will see that many mills offer digital side lines for their established grades and there are more coming into the market all the time -- from white sheets to metallic papers that run with ease on digital presses.

Using the right paper for the printing process, whether digital, offset or specialty, eliminates one variable in print production that can cause problems -- and we don't have time for problems.

End Usage and Distribution

Will the piece be mailed, mass mailed or handed out personally to selected prospects?

We discussed mail-outs earlier, so watch out for overall weight and when choosing reply or post cards, make sure the paper you speck is manufactured to the calliper required.

If you design stationery, be aware that in 99 percent of all cases, letterheads will be printed by laser or ink jet printers, so make sure the paper you speck is compatible for this specific use. When it comes to embossed finishes, many mills offer laser compatible versions of their textured sheets, called Light, as in a light version of cockle, or Imaging, as in imagine that looks like laid. This paper will still show the specific texture, but in a less embossed way, which makes it suitable for use in laser/ink jet printers.

If the paper is not specified for laser use, be sure to get a few sample sheets and test it yourself. When it comes to textured sheets, toner has a tendency to easily rub off, especially when touching the imprinted copy.

For educational or reference pieces with a long life span, pick a paper that offers sturdiness and durability. Synthetic papers, for example, have proven to be a great alternative to index stock, when it comes to tabs.

If a piece is handed out personally, you are home free -- no postal regulations, no weight constraints -- well, nearly none. Will the person handing out the piece or the recipient want to make notes on the piece? In that case, watch out for coated gloss papers or varnishes. Few pens write well on them and your prospects will be frustrated.

In cases where a lot of handling occurs and you are worried about fingerprints, a coating or varnish is definitely the way to go.

Price

It has happened to all of us. We have champagne taste on a beer budget. Paper averages 30 percent of the cost of a print project. That is not a small percentage and definitely one to take a closer look at, if you work on a tight budget.

There are a lot of ways to "cut corners" and save on the general paper cost, but this would make for a whole article in itself. If you are interested, check our money-saving paper tips in the archived Paper Tips section.

If those tips don't cut enough corners for you and your budget still doesn't allow for the paper you have in mind, talk to your printer or speck rep and ask for lower cost alternatives.

And if you are specking a coated white sheet, look at your grades and see what the best sheet one grade down has to offer.

Availability

If you were told in the beginning stages of your project that the paper you have specked will be shipped from Wisconsin and you are based in sunny California, allow for some lead time. You will be well prepared and this will not be an issue for you.

We do hear of frustration when it comes to a paper's availability and the term "mill item" comes up a lot. Be aware that a mill item to one merchant might be readily available on the floor of the next merchant.

Around 80% of print jobs in the U.S. are printed on coated or uncoated white paper. This is what sells the most and this is what you will definitely find in every merchant warehouse.

Due to the economic situation, merchants and printers try to carry less stock to assume less financial responsibility. Mills have, in general, warehouses all over the country and make sure they are always are well stocked, so you can have your paper in days, not weeks.

When it comes to specialty papers, especially those manufactured overseas, certain amounts are stocked in warehouses here in the U.S., but if you need a larger amount, they will immediately tell you if they need any extra lead time. Mills like Gmund from Germany and the French Thibierge & Comar are known to airfreight your paper to the U.S., if needed.

If you are in a rush and flexible when it comes to your paper choice, consider your printer's house sheets. As printers buy those in bulk, they are readily available and you will usually get a good price.

In most cases, your printer is your best friend and you should have a good working relationship. But every once in a while, we hear about someone who tries to avoid asking more than one merchant for a specific paper.

We heard from Rob, who was very disappointed to hear that Strathmore was not making the Elements line in light grey anymore. Well, Strathmore is definitely still offering this grade, but the printer's favorite merchant stopped stocking it on the floor and so he just told Rob, "They don't make this anymore."

I warned you from the start that specking paper is very complex, but recent changes in the economy have created even more issues on paper availability that we will discuss in the next few weeks.

We hope we've clarified many of the features you need to consider when choosing the most appropriate paper for your projects. If you keep our tips in mind, selecting your next paper should be a breeze.

Sabine Lenz is the founder of PaperSpecs, the first interactive paper guide specifically designed for the design/print industry. For more than 15 years, she has been a graphic designer in Germany, Australia, and the U.S.

Ms Lenz worked on design projects ranging from corporate identities to major road shows and product launches. From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, her list of clients included Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Deutsche Bank, IBM and KPMG.

Seeing designers struggle worldwide to stay current with new papers and paper trends inspired Ms Lenz to create PaperSpecs, an independent, comprehensive web-based paper guide and to publish a weekly e-zine. She is also a speaker on paper issues and educational topics related to the paper industry.

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How to Choose Printer Paper

Everybody wants to know about the correct inkjet cartridge for his or her printer, but what about printer paper? Inkjet and laser printers can print on a variety of surfaces, including photo paper, labels, business cards, stickers, and t-shirt transfers. One of the biggest advantages of laser printers is their ability to churn out quality prints on almost any paper. However, the same does not apply to inkjet printers. Although most of your inkjet printing probably involves standard white papers, when it comes to this medium, you may have more options than you realise.

Inkjet Printer Paper

Although standard printer paper can do the job as well, your printouts will probably be better if you use paper specifically made for inkjet printers. The quality of your printouts is affected by two major factors: brightness and absorption.

1. Brightness

When a type of paper is advertised as being brighter than average, it indicates that the surface of the paper is smoother than average. The smoothness of the page determines the amount of light reflected from its surface. This factor also determines how bright your images appear on the page. The brighter or smoother the printer paper is, the better your printout will appear.

2. Absorption

In this case, if the printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will definitely look better. As the paper absorbs ink, tiny dots on the page may spread outside their borders. This may cause the edges of text and images on the page to look fuzzy and soggy. To counteract this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance that prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well-coated paper allows for more precise and smoother printing. In general, most of the printers on the market print at a higher resolution on coated paper than on standard paper.

Branded Paper - To Buy or Not to Buy

It's no secret that the big names in printers, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer a complete line of inks and papers. Each company claims that you will get the best results when you use its products with its printers, and warns you to steer clear of products sold by other companies.

Generally speaking, they're right. In the case of inkjet printers, especially, companies design printers, inks, and papers to work together to yield the best results. If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper before drying, causing inaccurate colours, lower print resolution, and a dull finish. Plus, it is likely that the prints will fade faster.

The choice, after all, lies with you. Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don't make it easy on the consumer's pocket. You can reach the most economical solution through a little experimentation.

Alternatively, laser printers can print plain text documents or draft-quality graphics with equal ease, and you can stock up on your local office supply store's bright white copy or laser paper to your heart's content.

Getting Past the Jargon

To find out if the paper package on the shelf is right for your printer, simply read the fine print that usually lists out the compatible companies and models. Moreover, if you are interested in high-quality photo printing, you can generally see if a particular paper makes the grade.

For example, some papers may have unusual descriptions such as "swellable" or "cotton rag." Swellable paper is designed for high-quality photo printing--the coated surface actually swells as it absorbs ink. Cotton rag is ideal for inkjets that use pigment-based inks; most low-cost inkjet printers, on the other hand, use dye-based ink, so you should steer clear of cotton rag in this instance.

High-quality paper also has a polymer coating--for both dye-based and pigment-based inks--that keeps the ink from spreading, and it protects the ink from fading over time. However, coated paper can take a number of hours to completely dry your prints. Better quality paper may also be advertised as acid-free and lignin-free; these indicate that your paper is more likely to give you the best image quality and the best overall life span.

Checklist

It is important to remember that most branded photo printer paper from corporate names, including well-known ones, is only suitable for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. Here is a simple checklist to help you when deciding the inkjet photo paper best suited to your needs.

1. Always check the DPI (Dots Per Inch) of the photo printer paper.

DPI is an indicator of how much ink the photo paper can absorb per inch on the page. Using low DPI photo paper for high-resolution printing will result in poor quality prints. Usually, if the seller does not advertise the DPI of its inkjet photo paper and card, then it is likely that it is very low and therefore a lower grade paper.

2. Check that the photo paper is instant dry.

Cheaper photo paper may not be designed to dry instantaneously and can result in colour running or smudging while the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, then it is likely that it is absent.

3. Decide the weight of inkjet photo paper you need.

Although the weight of photo paper and card vary, the most common weights are between 120gsm to 280gsm.

If you are printing in bulk, then 120gsm is usually sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing photographs at home, then 160gsm to 200gsm should suffice. Buy glossy printer paper if you want shiny pictures, and matt paper if shine is not an issue for you.

As a general rule, bigger the weight is, thicker the photo paper or card will be.

John Sollars is the managing director of Solar Electronics, which are both ink and pc peripheral suppliers based in Shropshire, UK. To access a comprehensive online shop of original and re-manufactured printer ink cartridges please visit http://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/acatalog/Paper.html or simply visit the Stinky Ink homepage at http://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk

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How to Choose the Right Paper - Part 2

Choosing the most appropriate quality paper for your project can be a daunting task. Paper has many features to consider and new sheets are continually coming into the market. To help you with this complex decision, we've compiled a list of top ten tips to make it easier to choose.

In part 1 of this article, we talked about the economy of the design, style and finish, and here in Part 2, are three more priorities to consider when making your selection.

Color and Brightness

There is white, white and white. And let no one tell you anything different. Papers are available in blue-white, balanced white, natural white, soft white -- you name it.

Blue-whites, which are very popular at the moment, have a higher-brightness and allow colors to stand out, while warmer whites, which have a lower-brightness, are more comfortable on the eyes for reading or extended viewing.

As you can imagine, not every white fits every purpose. Don't print warmer tones, such as skin tones, on a blue white sheet. It can easily make healthy-looking people look grey. This is what warmer white papers are made for.

Brightness

Yes, there is a definite hype going on when it comes to brightness. Don't get hung up on finding the brightest paper because even when two sheets are placed next to each other, you won't see a two-point difference in brightness.

Originally, AF&PA standards for paper grades determined that a No. 2 sheet had a brightness of 83-84 and a No. 3 sheet's brightness was 80-83.

So, why do we see No. 3 sheets with brightness levels of over 90 these days? Let's just say, brightness is not the only paper mill concern anymore and a sheet is whatever a manufacturer chooses to call it. In the end, the grade is determined by marketing.

A good quality, bright sheet is usually a more expensive sheet to make. Fillers and chemicals, such as fluorescent dyes and optical brighteners, are needed to create the paper's bright appearance. While they help give the paper a blue-white shade, they also take a toll on the paper's stability and runnability on press.

When it comes to a premium or No. 1 sheet, you pay for great brightness and perfect runnability. But how do you know which sheet/grade is right for you? Once you are considering a sheet, ask your supplier for a printed sample of the best sheet one grade below and compare.

Mills are known to upgrade the quality of a sheet. Even though a sheet could pass for a No. 1 grade, the mill may have no offering in a No. 2 grade yet, so they sell it as a No. 2 grade to complete their palette and annoy the competition. It's all about marketing.

As for colored paper, it can enhance a one-color job and serve as a background cover, but it can also affect the appearance of the printed text and images. Blue ink on an ochre-yellow sheet will look green. Some mills have made great promotions available which show exactly what you can expect when you print C, M, Y, or K on a their colored stock.

But there are other options than offset printing on a colored stock. Create an interesting cover with blind embossing, foil stamping and/or a die-cut window that reveals a full color image on the inside of the brochure.

Weight

Now that we know which finish and color we want for our print job, lets look at weight. We have writing papers for letterheads, text sheets for text pages in a brochure and cover sheets. We all know that these guidelines don't really have a big impact on your paper choice anymore.

In keeping with an overall trend for heavier weights in stocks, a lot of designers spec 80-90 lbs. text for letterheads and use light cover stocks for complete brochures inside and out. With an eye on tight budgets, these heavier papers can make up for a lower page count and still give a credible, dependable feel.

If your project will be printed on both sides and especially, if heavy ink coverage is involved, the paper's opacity is crucial. Make sure the paper you choose does not allow any show-through. If in doubt, go one step heavier in weight.

If you are working on a piece that will be mailed, the weight of the finished piece is a major consideration. Watch out for postage costs and make sure the finished piece is below the USPS requirements. Look at your dummy and don't forget there will be ink added to the weight, as well.

Always stay on the lighter side. I remember a beautiful holiday card I designed for a client that was ready to be mailed and fit the 32-cent postal requirements perfectly. But then, my client decided to add a gift certificate and the postage went up to 55 cents.

There is something else you should remember: if bulk and weight are important, an uncoated sheet will work better for you. Due to the clay coating, a coated paper will weigh more than its same-sized counterpart. Even though it weighs less, the same piece printed on an uncoated sheet will be thicker because uncoated paper naturally has a higher bulk.

If your job requires stiffness, such as with a business reply card, make sure the paper is manufactured to calliper and guarantees a specific thickness and stiffness.

Papers are manufactured to either calliper or weight. A paper manufactured to weight has a slightly fluctuating calliper, as the main concern during the production process is weight. If a paper is called out in "pt," or you see a footnote in your swatch book that states that this specific weight is manufactured to calliper, you are fine.

Recycled Content

Some of you might be very familiar with recycled papers. The fact is that government agencies and conservation groups continually advance the issue and put pressure on corporations to "think green." So be prepared.

When it comes to recycled papers, there are still a few misconceptions among designers and print buyers. Some believe that all papers are recycled anyway, and others worry about having limited paper choices. There is also a perception that recycled papers have a potential for technical problems in the printing process. All these fears are unfounded.

If you think looking for recycled papers will limit your creativity, think again. From a polled 3,500 papers, nearly 60 percent have some recycled content and more than 1,000 meet or exceed the current Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

The EPA standards for printing and writing papers are 30 percent post-consumer waste content for uncoated papers and 10 percent for coated papers. Many mills have created papers with the minimum requirements, while others are continually aiming to produce papers with higher recycled contents.

It is not only the post-consumer contents you should watch out for, but also the way the paper you choose is bleached.

For years, chlorine gas has been used to bleach paper, which produced cancer-causing dioxins that infiltrate our surface waters. Now most mills in the U.S. use ECF, an Elemental Chlorine Free process that reduces these toxins dramatically, but doesn't eliminate them completely.

A more environmentally friendly option is to look for paper that has not been bleached at all, or substitutes oxygen-based compounds for chlorine compounds.These papers are marked Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) when talking about virgin fibers, or Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) for recycled papers. The distinction is made because the origin of the content in recycled paper and the way it was bleached is not known and can't claim to be TCF.

Another option is to look for paper that is FSC-certified. This means that the fiber content in this paper, even though virgin, comes from plantations that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for sustainable forestry practices.

But, let's not forget about the paper's on-press performance. Today's recycled papers have come a long way, from what you might have heard about years ago, and run as smoothly on press as any virgin sheet. In addition, they are even known to score, fold and emboss better because recycled fibers are softer and allow these processes to be performed with ease.

A paper's color, brightness, weight and content are considerations when making the best choice of paper. In Part 3, we will talk about the distribution, price, availability and printing process for your project.

Look for Part 1 of "How to Choose the Right Paper" in case you missed it and stay tuned for Part 3.

Sabine Lenz is the founder of PaperSpecs, the first interactive paper guide specifically designed for the design/print industry. For more than 15 years, she has been a graphic designer in Germany, Australia, and the U.S.

Ms Lenz worked on design projects ranging from corporate identities to major road shows and product launches. From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, her list of clients included Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Deutsche Bank, IBM and KPMG.

Seeing designers struggle worldwide to stay current with new papers and paper trends inspired Ms Lenz to create PaperSpecs, an independent, comprehensive web-based paper guide and to publish a weekly e-zine. She is also a speaker on paper issues and educational topics related to the paper industry.

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