It can be difficult to purchase a pack of paper. Such a product can be found in every stationery department, and the choice is provided for every taste: sizes, colors, packaging, and most importantly – prices.
Did you know that an ordinary sheet of paper has about twenty parameters? It’s good that you don’t need to delve into such details to buy. Almost all the necessary data is in the product description, and the rest can be established empirically – by the famous scientific method “by eye”. By the way, if you are serious about choosing paper for printing, then before purchasing, be sure to look for its exact characteristics on the Internet. As a rule, the manufacturer’s website provides more detailed information than in online stores or on the packaging.
So, what parameters will help you when choosing a paper?
Size
The unit of measure is millimeters (mm). Historically, different countries have adopted different paper size standards, and manufacturers still cannot agree on one common standard. It’s good that printer manufacturers understand how difficult it is to compare these standards with each other, and in the instructions, they indicate paper sizes in two at once: international ISO 216 and North American. A4 paper size is considered the optimal size for major printing.
Most likely, you will not come across the North American standard in everyday life, but just in case, keep in mind that its most used formats are Executive (190 by 254 mm), Letter (216 by 279 mm), Legal (216 by 356 mm) and Ledger/Tabloid (279 x 432 mm).
Density
It is characterized by the ratio of mass to the area, the unit of measurement is g / m 2 (gram per square meter). For comparison: the density of a newspaper is approximately 50 g/m 2, a regular notebook sheet is 65 g/m 2, and materials over 250 g/m 2 are cardboard. It is believed that paper with a density of 80-95 g/m 2 is most suitable for printing. If you plan to print on both sides, it is better to choose a thicker paper so that the text does not show through.
Pay attention to how your printer prints. If the paper passes through, then there will be no trouble with dense materials, but if the sheet is bent in the process, then problems may arise. Paper with too little weight can also harm the printer – it can tear or chew it.
Again, when printing on paper with a non-standard weight, specify this in the printer properties.
Brightness
Measured as a percentage (%). The brighter the paper, the more contrast the print will look against its background. For a white sheet, 100% brightness means snow-white paper, which is recommended for very important documents. The lower the brightness, the grayer the paper. When choosing, keep in mind that the human eye is not able to distinguish all shades of the same color from each other, so a small difference in percentage will not affect visual perception in any way.
Class
Paper is usually divided into three classes: A (elite), B (medium), and C (economy). They differ from each other both in appearance and chemical composition. And, of course, the price.
For example, grade A paper is made from higher quality raw materials and is recommended for important documents, advertising posters, etc. Such a paper will last much longer, but you will have to pay for such pleasure accordingly. But class C is quite affordable for the average consumer. If you are not going to present your report at the next meeting of the UN General Assembly, but just want to show it to your boss, this type of paper will suit you perfectly.
Conclusion
Choosing the right paper is not easy but it is also not difficult. All you need to know before getting the right printing paper is given here. Make sure you understand all of it before making a final purchase.
