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.

Limited Paper offers a mind-bending assorted of custom stock sheets and specialty paper to consumers and businesses around the world. Visit http://www.limitedpapers.com for a fun shopping experience that lets you choose from thousands of styles - all at some of the lowest prices you'll find online.

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Finding the Right 36 Photo Paper

There are a lot of different paper types out there to choose from, and it can make a significant difference to your project what type of paper you use. Similarly, the type of paper you use will largely determine the quality of your finished project.

Now, I know what most of you out there are thinking. You're thinking, "Paper? Really? Can it possibly matter what kind of paper I'm using?" And the answer is, absolutely. The type of paper you're using can completely change your end result.

Take photography, for example. If you're using a nice satin photo paper to print off your grandchild's graduation pictures, you're going to come out with a nice, glossy finish that looks professional. It'll last longer, because the paper is made acid-free, and a good satin photo paper will also be water and smudge resistant. In short, your photo will look professional, provided your camera is capable of producing high-quality pictures.

If you're using a simple copy paper, however, those same graduation pictures won't look the same. Yes, you'll still be able to see your granddaughter's huge smile (and goofy-looking graduation robes,) but the colors will be faded, and the lines will be a little blurry. That's because copy paper simply isn't designed to hold ink like photo paper is. When you're using photo paper, you're using a product that's designed to have photos printed onto it. You're using the best medium you can. But if you're just using copy paper, it'll be saturated with ink and the colors will bleed together. The colors won't be as vibrant, and you won't get a glossy finish. In fact, because of how ink-soaked the paper will be, it won't last very long at all until that sheet of paper smudges, smears, and fades.

Work projects can be another time when your choice of paper is important. 36 paper, for instance, is useful in the workplace because it's sold in a long roll. 36 photo paper is a roll of photo paper 36 inches across, usually sold in rolls of 100 feet. This makes 36 paper especially useful in printing banners and signs. While this does mean your company is going to need the equipment necessary in order to use this type of paper, it can make things much easier for a big company or corporation, because it allows you to print off its own signs and banners, without having to outsource that to another company. While satin photo paper helps you print personal photos at a high quality, 36 photo paper helps your company to stay a little more self-reliant by allowing you to do your own quality printing.

Finding the right type of Old Paper can be difficult. Find free tips and advice on all paper products including Satin Photo Paper right here.

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The Right Home Paper Shredder For Your Office

There are several brands of home paper shredders to choose from. There are inexpensive shredders and there are the expensive ones. But buying the most expensive shredders is not always the best choice. Many of the medium priced paper shredders will do the job. This site will help you decide which paper shredder is the best for your needs.

To help you in your search for the right home paper shredder, finding paper shredder reviews is a good place to start. These reviews will talk about all the models available for the popular brand names and tell you all about the different features they offer with each model. After reading these reviews, you can make a better judgment on which one to buy.

Why Should I Buy A Paper Shredder

Having a home office paper shredder in you home is a must these days. Think about all the important papers you throw away each day. Bank statements, credit card statements, and those important business documents are not something you want to throw in the garbage. What do you do with all those credit card applications? Throwing them in the garbage could be a huge security risk these days. Identity theft is on the rise and can ruin your financial profile if it happens to you. One of the easiest things you can do to prevent identity theft is toe shred your documents. The thieves can not put all those pieces of paper back together and will pass on your information.

Shredder Types And Features

Strip Cut - This type of shredder is also called spaghetti cut or straight cut. When you put the paper in, the shredder cuts the paper into long, thin strips. They can handle more paper at one time and shred the sheets into one eighth to one quarter inch wide strips. Of course a thief can take what your shred and tape them together. You would think what a huge task that would be, but it has happened in the past. Having a larger waste basket to catch the shredded paper is necessary because the paper does not compress like a cross cut paper shredder.

Cross Cut - This type of shredder cuts the paper into confetti size pieces which can not be put back together. That makes the use of this shredder better for security reasons. A trade off is that they will cost more than the strip cut paper shredders. The waste basket will hold more because the shredded paper compresses better. Look for the size of the confetti cut particles when doing your research. The smaller pieces mean better security.

Capacity - If you are going to shred a lot of paper, then buying a shredder that can handle many sheets of paper at once is a better choice. If you buy an inexpensive one, you will burn it out in a day. Low volume shredders can handle 100 - 150 sheets a day. You also do not want to spend you time feeding in 2 sheets at a time. The higher capacity shredders can handle 5 - 10 sheets at a time which of course will speed up you time.

Mouth Size - The size of the opening where you put the paper in is another feature to look at. Make sure it can handle legal, letter and standard envelop sizes. Also, a good shredder can handle credit cards, floppy disks, CD's and DVD's, staples and small paper clips. The standard seems to be a 9 1/2" mouth which will handle an unopened envelope with ease. A smaller mouth will work fine but the shredder will work more because you will have to run the regular size envelop through it the long way.

Extra Features
Some of the other features to examine are listed below. These features may add on to the cost of your shredder. Analyze each feature, decide if they are necessary and decide if they will fit your budget.

Quietness of motor
Size of basket
Basket has a window so you can see when full
Automatic start and stop
Buzzer to alert you of paper jams
Automatic reverse in case of paper jam
Buzzer to alert you when basket is full
Reverse feed to help in removing paper jams
Stand alone shredders

Carla has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in home improvement, you can also check out her latest website on a home paper shredder which will help discuss different types of shredders such as the aurora paper shredder.

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Selecting the Right Kind of Specialty Paper For Your Projects

Spicing up your invitations, greeting cards and scrapbooks has now become extremely easy with specialty papers that are available in office supply depots. Unlike regular, boring bond ones, specialty papers come in a variety of colors, thickness and texture. Using the right kind of them can make all the difference in how the finished paper projects you have created would look like.

With so many different specialty papers to choose from, selecting which one would work well for your projects can be quite a challenge. Here is a list of the most common ones available and suggestions on where these would work best.

Metallic Paper

Metallic paper comes in the form of boards and paper. The reason why these are called metallic is because of the layer of mica coating that is placed on the paper. This coating gives the paper the shine and luster similar to that seen on metals. Because of the mica coating, metallic paper would work best on laser printers as the ink used in inkjet printers may easily get smeared or smudged. They are great to use for creating business documents such as annual reports, brochure covers and business cards. It would also work best for creating wedding invitations and posters for formal gatherings.

Translucent Paper

Translucent paper and boards have the same thickness as those of ordinary boards and bond paper. The difference is that these are not as opaque, hence the name. It is in between a clear film and a regular bond paper. You can easily check a paper if it is translucent by putting your hand at the back of the paper or board. It should be clear enough to allow you to see your hand through it but opaque enough that it comes out as a well-defined shadow. They come in a wide variety of colors and thickness.

Glossy Paper

Glossy paper is commonly seen on magazines you see on the newspaper stand. Just like metallic paper, glossy paper has a special coating to allow it to reflect light from an angle. This coating protects the paper from damage from water and constant flipping through. They are wonderful papers to use for brochures, fliers and catalogues. Because it does not absorb water, it is best to use laser printers for glossy photo paper since most ink used in inkjet papers are water-based.

Matte Paper

Matte paper is also a coated kind of paper. The difference is that compared to glossy paper, the coating is not as thick. As such, it provides just a slight touch of luster to make give text and images a softening effect. This is why matte paper is great to use for printing out digital photos to include in your invitations or scrapbook.

This Article is written by John C Arkin from MyOfficePortal the contributor of Printer Cartridges Blog. More information on the subject is at myofficeportal.org, and related resources can be found at Office Printer Buying Tips.

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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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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.

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

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Which Paper is Right for Your Printer?

Get better-quality printouts with the right paper!

Printer paper stores offer a wide range of paper types to select from, which is often quite confusing. For better-quality printouts, it is always advisable to buy coated or specialty paper, like Photo Paper (Glossy or Matte), Coated Paper (Glossy or Matte), All-purpose Paper, Proofing Paper, Signage Media, etc., recommended by the manufacturer of your printer model.

Specialty paper for your inkjet, photo printers, and multifunction devices could cost around 10 cents to $2 per letter-size sheet. However, specialty paper is essential as your ultimate aim is to avoid inaccurate colors, lower print resolution, and a dull finish to your text and photos. So, you should be in a position to choose judiciously and get the maximum out of your printer.

The list below helps you in making the best choice of Specialty Paper for your purpose:

Home Use

Photographic Papers (Gloss / Semi-gloss) - Ideal for a lab-quality look and feel of photos with a gloss or semigloss finish. Use Photo Papers to print colorful & scenic images, presentations, flyers, reports and contact sheets
Photo Papers (Matte) - Best suited for vivid photos with a non-reflective coating. Best for framing non-glare images, printing craft projects, newsletters and signage
All Purpose Papers - Made to meet your daily business and personal inkjet printing needs. Ideal for everyday high-resolution color printing. Print deep, sharp colors and text, sales brochures, greeting cards, newsletters and photographic portfolios
Scrapbook Papers - Formulated for scrapbook enthusiasts looking for acid-free, lignin-free matte and semigloss papers for scrapbooks. Print beautiful quality, matte photos and scrapbook-safe elements
Specialty Media - Set your imagination free with fun projects. Print stickers, greeting cards, invitations, promotional cards, customize t-shirts, cotton placemats, tote bags labels, CDs, convenient photo storage envelopes and mailers.

Professional Use

Photo Papers - Photo Papers are known for their resin coating, supreme print quality, and professional photographic look and feel. Photographic papers are available in gloss, semi-gloss, luster & semi-matte surface finishes
Coated Papers (Gloss / Semi-gloss) - Made for vivid high quality presentation applications. Coated Papers are made to meet the rising demand of the professional graphics industry and offer a range of products matchless in performance, quality and value
Coated Papers (Matte) - Suited for multi-purpose non-reflective presentation and display. Coated Papers helps the professional graphics industry by offering cost-effective, quality products
Proofing Papers - Print on Commercial Glossy or Semi-matte Proofing Paper for color accurate comping and perfect prepress proofing
Fine Art Papers - Use these acid free archival cotton papers to get a luxurious weight, texture, and finish for museum quality archival prints and reproductions
Signage Media - A matte, water-proof solution for signage that requires adhesive backing, used for advertising, banners, and point of purchase display applications.

Bobby Hudson is the writer of all articles for Databazaar.com, an online retailer of printer supplies and storage media.

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Finding the Right Paper Cutter

You've got a lot of options for replacement or beginner paper cutters, and it can be confusing to sift through all the features to find the perfect trimmer. This guide is meant as an overview of the different trimmers available and my favorite machine in each category.

Manual Guillotine Paper Trimmers

Guillotine paper trimmers come in either wood or metal base. The base will either have its own clamp to secure the paper, or you will hold the paper in place while cutting. They also have an arm with a blade underneath and handle that you operate to cut the paper. This type of paper cutter is meant for occasional or low volume paper cutting- usually they can handle between 10 and 30 sheets of paper at a time.

A good choice for a smaller guillotine paper trimmer is the Dahle 212 Professional Cutter. Unlike some other low-volume hand trimmers, the blade arm stays open until you make a cut. It prevents injuries and unwanted cuts that can happen with a loose, falling arm. The maximum length of paper you can cut with the Dahle 212 is 12 inches.

This is the easiest to use and least expensive type of paper cutter, and the 212 is only about $80.

Martin Yale also has a line of high-quality guillotine trimmers ranging from small, tabletop models to larger floor models. At the same price and style as the Dahle 212, the Martin Yale W12 will cut up to 15 sheets at a time and features a plastic blade cover for extra-safe cutting.

Going into large floor model paper cutters, you can cut up to 30 sheets of paper at a time, thicker papers, and card stock. Floor models are also well-suited to cutting large drawings, art board, and other materials.

Dahle, again, has a high-quality floor model trimmer for about $1600. The Dahle 585 Guillotine has a maximum cutting length of up to 43 inches, and a foot operated clamp makes it ideal for large format work.

GBC's Ingento CL570m Classic Maple Series is another option for large floor models. It will only handle paper up to 36 inches wide at 15 sheets a time. However, it is more versatile than the Dahle 585 in that its stand can be removed to convert it to a tabletop model, and less expensive at only about $560.

All manual guillotine trimmers have a maximum length of paper they can cut. If you need to cut larger or varying lengths of paper, a rotary trimmer might be a better option.

Rotary Trimmers

Rotary trimmers are distinct from other trimmers in that they can cut greater lengths of paper and newer models offer a variety of cuts other than just straight lines. You have more control with a rotary trimmer because you slide a small, two sided blade up and down the length of paper to make cuts. High-quality rotary trimmers typically make cleaner cuts than guillotine trimmers, and come in manual or electric models for large volumes of preset cuts.

Keencut makes a sturdy, economical manual rotary model - the 18 inch Keencut Technic Advanced Rotary Cutter. It boasts a well-built aluminum and silver anodized base, but is only good for paper up to .08 inches and not thicker materials. But for just over $200, it's an economical option.

If you're looking into electric rotary cutters, Keencut also has some solid offerings, but Kobra, Rotatrim, or Neolt are also good choices. Neolt carries the Electric Trim Series 200 - a good high volume electric rotary cutter. It will cut up to 79 inches wide, and includes a self-sharpening blade. It is foot or switch operated, and a reliable electric drive.

Stack Paper Cutters

Stack paper cutters can cut large stacks of paper or card stock - up to 750 sheets. They are similar to guillotines in that they have an arm that operates to cut the paper. With a manual stack cutter, the arm has a spring mechanism that provides the force to make cuts when you operate it. There are also electric stack paper cutters, which are made for higher volume use. They come either semi-automatic (with manual back gauge and clamp) or fully programmable.

The QCM 1200E Heavy Duty Cutter is a quality manual stack cutter that only costs you about $300. It has a cutting capacity of up to 1.5 inches and blade length (the max width of paper it will cut) is 12 inches. The QCM 1200E is close in price to many guillotine cutters and can handle about 10 times as much paper at once. QCM also has the 1700E, which has the same 1.5 inch capacity as the 1200E, but a blade length of 17 inches. Both are superior stack cutters, and QCM offers lifetime warranties to the original purchaser on all their stack cutters.

As far as electric stack cutters, my choice for automatics is the Standard PC45 Paper Cutter. This cutter is about $6000 and is made for print shops or other offices that need to cut many large piles of paper or card stock every day. Back gauge operation and paper clamp are manual.

If you're looking into programmable electric stack cutters, they are more expensive than automatic, but can be programmed to save many cutting sequences and save much time and work for the operator. The Standard APC-45 Paper Cutter is about $9500. It can save up to 30 programs of 99 steps each, so you can set it and have it do your bleed trim work and basic cutting for digitally imprinted stocks.

Lydia King is the head of marketing development for http://www.machinerunner.com, a top distributor of paper handling, binding machines, laminators, shredders, and more. MachineRunner strives to deliver relevant advice and articles on the best office machines available.

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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.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

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.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.