Choosing the Right Kind of Printable Paper For Your Project

Although it seems like a simple task, shopping for printable paper can be pretty challenging and if you don't end up with what you need, it can be pretty expensive. Before you go out and spend money on products that aren't for your specific project, here are a few tips to help you select the right kind of printable paper.

Text & Writing Paper

If you are looking for printable paper to print a letter on or paper to use as stationery, you may want to look for writing paper. If you need printable paper to use as text pages within books, text paper is what you need to look for.

Card Stock

Card stock is a heavyweight paper that can be used for a wide variety of projects. Some people like using card stock for official documents like company letterheads, business cards or resumes. Another common use of card stock is for crafty things like greeting cards or scrapbooks. There are a few categories in terms of cardstock weight that distinguishes one from the other. First, there is regular cardstock, which weighs in at 120-150 gsm. Next there is heavy cardstock which is 150-200 gsm. Finally there is super heavy cardstock which is 200 gsm or greater. The heavier the cardstock the less likely the ink is going to bleed through the paper.

Coated Paper

Coated paper has a smoother finish than uncoated paper and isn't very porous. With coated paper, the ink sits on top and creates a sharper image. Coated printable paper is ideal for printing photos. For text projects, coated paper can be problematic because it can produce a glare from the glossy finish and strain the eyes. Also, it is hard to write on so one should take that into consideration before they purchase coated printable paper.

Colored Paper

Colored paper can add a fun and lively twist to documents. Just be sure that you aren't using colored paper for document that is meant to be used in professional settings. Also, if you are using colored printable paper for text documents, make sure you choose a color that is easy to read. A bright yellow or neon pink may be straining to the eyes and take away from the message you're trying to convey in the document. Colored paper is perfect for craft projects like scrapbooking, origami, greeting cards and fun notes. The colors are as endless as you can imagine as well. There are soft and faint colors for a more subdued hue, as well as speckle and fiber-flecked colors for a truly unique print project. There is also glittery and iridescent colored printable paper which can be perfect for flyers or invitations.

Security Paper

Security paper can be very useful for a business owner who needs a secure way to print out documents. Security paper prevents counterfeits and forgeries. Security paper often has fluorescent fibers that become invisible when viewed under an ultraviolet light source. This makes counterfeiting impossible because the fibers won't copy or scan, therefore the text won't be visible in a fake document.

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6 Tips on Choosing Paper For Your Craft Projects

There is such a wide range of paper to choose from that paper crafters have unlimited options to choose from. There are obvious considerations in selecting the best type of paper. Here are a few tips on making sure the paper you finally go for makes the most of your paper craft skills.

1. Weight. The paper you work with must be the right weight to take the handling required. Will you need to fold the paper, and if so, how much? Can the paper keep a fold well and will you be able to manipulate the paper as you need? Bulky paper may not be flexible enough and thinner weights may not be substantial enough to handle the actions required. Paper is sold in weights (grams) but you will also need to think about the physical properties of the paper and how it lends itself to your project.

2. Absorbency. If your project required sticking or gluing, do you appreciate how it will take your chosen glue?Thinner papers can turn to mush whilst some glossy cards may not absorb glue at all. You may need to trial a sample to appreciate individual paper qualities.

3. Cutting. Does the paper cut easily with scissors or will it need a craft knife, metal ruler and cutting board? Many papers can be torn for different effect. If you know the type of cut you want, you can choose a your paper accordingly. Use a good paper of paper scissors or a safety knife with a retractable blade. Always retract the blade after using, or cover with a protective sheath.

4. Composition. Many papers are a composition - a mix of other materials. You may have a smooth surface backed with a textured finish or an absorbent layer topped with moss paper or a handmade natural mix. You can create your own layers for stitching or handcrafted projects. mixing paper and boards to suit your project.

5. See how your chosen paper behaves before using it with your projects. A common sense approach to choosing with help you make the most of expensive, quality papers,

6. Mixing things up will give you more options, but always bear in mind basic rules before deciding on your papers. A good selection of general craft papers plus a range of specialist papers will see you through.

Enjoy working with your papers, handle them regularly to remind yourself of what you have, and share them with others. There is nothing like a piece of quality paper to lift your craft projects and to share a bit of joy.

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Choosing Watercolour Paper

For someone thinking of taking up watercolour painting just taking the first step of getting the materials together can be a daunting experience. If you walk into any art shop you can be intimidated by the sheer amount of materials looking back at you. There's such an array of things and the amount of watercolour papers is mind boggling.

Where do you start? It's so easy to choose the wrong materials and this can have a major impact on your early painting experience. If you choose the wrong watercolour paper for example, all your early efforts will be disappointing. You could then make the mistake of thinking you don't have the talent to paint.

Choosing the brushes is equally confusing for the novice. So what does the novice need to begin painting.

Let's dispel one myth straight away. Watercolour painting does not have to be expensive, indeed it can be a cheap hobby if you know what to buy. Let's start with watercolour paper first.

There's so many types of watercolour paper that even experienced artists can get confused. I made plenty of mistakes with paper when I first started to paint. Drawing paper for example is not suitable for watercolour painting. It too thin and not absorbent enough for the paint.

Watercolour paper comes in different types and weights. Different manufacturers produce different papers but all the papers will have a weight rating and a surface description. So what do the descriptions mean? Here's a rundown to of what the classifications mean:

Machine-made watercolour papers come in three surfaces: rough, hot-pressed or HP, and cold-pressed (or NOT).

Rough Watercolour Paper:

This paper as its description says is rough, meaning it has a "tooth" or highly textured surface. Painting on this paper creates a grainy effect as the watercolour paint will collect in the indentations of the paper.

Hot Pressed:

Hot pressed paper has a fine grained smooth surface. This is smooth paper as opposed to the rough grain paper. Paint dries very quickly on this surface which makes it ideal for smooth washes. This is a very popular paper used by many paper.

Cold Pressed

This paper has a slightly textured surface that falls somewhere in between rough and hot pressed. This is the most popular paper used by watercolour artists and the one I would recommend for novice artists. This paper is called NOT paper because it is not hot pressed.

Watercolour paper comes in different thicknesses. This is measured in grams per square metre (gsm) The greater the gsm the thicker the paper. Paper thickness is also measured in pounds per ream (lb) again the higher the poundage the thicker the paper. For a novice painter a gsm of around 300gsm is a good paper to start with. It's nice to paint on and relatively cheap so you can make all your early mistakes without spending a fortune.

Most watercolour paper is acid free. This is essential when your painting skills increase as they inevitably will, because when you start painting good pictures that you want to frame and keep acid free paper will not yellow with age.

If you are just starting to paint I would recommend that you start with rough watercolour paper 300gsm. This is nice paper and won't break the bank, it has nice roughness to it which creates some great effects. It will take some experimenting with different paper manufacturers before you find the paper you are happy with. Once you do however you will find that you will stick with it. So experiment until you find the paper you are happy with. I'll discuss brushes in my next article.

Paul is the owner of the online art store Arts crafts & Hobbies. he is also the author of the blog Art Product reviews which discusses art products and has some wonderful tutorials on drawing and painting. For two great free art books go here now; Free Art Books

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Choosing the Right Printer Paper for Your Needs

Many people think that it isn't important what kind of printer paper they use. Paper is paper right? I would have to disagree. First, you need to figure out what you are going to use the paper for. The second thing to determine is the right kind of paper for the kind of printer you own. Not all paper is suitable for all kinds of printers.

When buying printer paper, there are a number of factors to consider. These include the brightness rating, the weight of the paper and the purpose it was designed for. We will consider each of these factors in turn below.

What is the brightness rating?

Brightness of the paper refers to how well the paper reflects light. Many people confuse whiteness with brightness. The higher the brightness rating of a page, the more vibrant and alive the colors printed on it will appear. The brightness rating of the page can make the difference between a dull looking picture and a picture that looks alive and ready to jump off the page. Whiteness refers to the actual shade of color of the paper and how close it is to pure white.

Paper weight - What does it matter?

The paper weight rating is determined by the weight in pounds of a ream of 500 sheets of that particular paper type. In most other countries other than the United States, the weight rating is in grams instead of pounds.

The heavier the paper rating, the thicker and heavier each sheet of paper will be. What does that mean in practical terms? First, the paper will feel more substantial in your hand. The heavier the paper, the stiffer it will feel in your hand. Second, it is less likely to jam in the printer while printing. Third, it tends to feel more professional to the average person. Combining a good paper weight with a high brightness rating makes for a good foundation for printing that important presentation of yours on.

Choosing the right Paper on Purpose

To get the very best results, you choose look to choose paper based on what you plan to do with it. All purpose paper is generally the cheapest kind of paper but it also tends to give you poorer results when printing pictures or color on it. Printer paper designed to go through an inkjet printer will generally preform better on an inkjet printer than general purpose paper will. It is more expensive but the results speak for themselves. Inkjet printer paper is also usually treated with a special coating that will allow the color to stay bright and not simply get absorbed into the paper leading to a dull photo. Remember the purpose of the paper when you make your next paper purchase.

Understanding the paper brightness rating, the paper weight rating and the papers' stated purpose will go a long way towards your being able to get the most from your printer paper now and in the future.

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Important Considerations When Choosing a Paper Folding Machine

If you are in the market for a paper folding machine there are some very important things that you need to consider before you make your purchase. Considering these factors will help you to choose the correct paper folder for your application and will help you to ensure that you are fully satisfied with your paper folding experience. Here is a list of six things to consider when purchasing a new paper folder.

Paper Size: The first question that you need to ask yourself when choosing a paper folding machine is: what size of paper do I need to fold? Depending on your answer to this question your search for a paper folder may be narrowed somewhat. For instance if you need to fold 11" x 17" paper you wouldn't want to buy a folder that is only capable of folding letter sized documents.
Fold Type: The second question to ask yourself when choosing a paper folder is: What type of fold do I need to create. If you are looking for a simple tri fold, a half fold or a z-fold most folders will work for your needs. However, if you are looking to do a cross fold or a fold that is more complex you probably don't want to buy a lower end folder. You most likely won't be happy with the results.
Paper Stock: The third thing to consider when choosing a paper folding machine is the type of paper that you need to fold. Most lower end folders on the market (anything below $5000) will have a difficult time folding any type of cardstock or index stock that is not pre scored. Many of these folders will also have a difficult time with slick glossy paper stocks. If you plan on folding these types of materials you may want to consider sending in a sample to have tested before you purchase your folding machine (you should also look at the folders above $2000, you probably won't have a lot of luck with the smaller ones).
Variety of Folds: The fourth thing to consider when choosing a paper folding machine is the number of different folds that you will need to do. Many of the lower end paper folders are very difficult to set up and change fold patterns. If you are only going to need to do one type of fold it is not as essential that the paper folding machine be easy to set up and change folding patterns. However, if you work at a print shop and need to change folding patterns with every different job you should probably consider a paper folding machine with digital fold plate adjustments or at very least a paper folder with a fold plate that is fixed at 90 degrees to the paper path (some of the lower end folders such as the Dynafold Paper Folder models require you to square your fold plates during setup which can be difficult if you are constantly changing folding patterns).
Folding Volume: If you are going to need to fold hundreds of thousands of documents per month you are going to need a different type of folder than if you are going to fold 500 sheets per month. Most people with a paper folder will fall somewhere in between. Just remember to consider your volume when deciding what type of folder to buy. The more you are going to fold the better the folder that you are going to need.
Budget: If I could give you one piece of advice when choosing a paper folder, it would be to buy the best paper folding machine that you can afford. Most individuals tend to buy a paper folder that is less than adequate for their needs and are not satisfied with the results. If you can afford it consider an MBM or Formax paper folder. Both of these companies have simple to use designs and great reputations. Buying a paper folder is a little bit like buying a new car. Sometimes it is better to buy a better quality car up front to save you on hassles down the road.

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