Inkjet Paper - Why Printer Paper Matters

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Introduction

Inkjet printers are arguably today's most versatile printers. They print black and white documents quickly and flawlessly, and they can be used for a variety of different color printing needs including photographs, signs, invitations, labels, cards and presentation materials. You'll be surprised at the professional quality of your inkjet printing jobs when you select the right paper.

Successful inkjet printing requires the paper to have exactly the right degree of absorbency to accept the ink but prevent its sideways spread. And for whichever type of paper you select, the settings in the printer driver must be adjusted to suit the paper, so that the right amount of ink is delivered.

Inkjet Paper Characteristics

1. Weight
   

   Paper weight refers to the weight of a 500-sheet ream of 17" x 22" paper. Each of these sheets is equivalent to four letter size sheets. Therefore, 500 sheets of standard 20# paper weighs 5 pounds. The higher the paper weight, the thicker the sheet of paper. Higher weight paper is more durable and has a more substantial feel. It also allows less light to pass through. Standard 20# paper is used for everyday printing and copying, and for high-volume needs.

   Weight refers to the thickness of paper. Paper weight may be expressed in pounds (lb.) or as grams per square meter (g/m2). Different types of paper have their own weight scale. The bond papers which include most inkjet photo papers are found in the 24 to 71 lb. (90 to 270 g/m2) range. Terms such as heavyweight do not necessarily indicate a heavier paper than other comparable papers. Paper used to print photos is usually thicker, with the average about 62 lbs.

   Heavier, thicker papers feel more substantial and can lend visual weight to a project. Heavy weight paper can lend an aura of importance and seriousness not found in flimsier products, and they will give you crisper text and less ink bleed, however if you're buying heavier weights of paper do bear in mind that every inkjet printer has a maximum paper thickness it can handle. Be sure to consult your printer documentation before you feed very heavy paper through it - otherwise you risk seriously damaging your printer.

2. Brightness
   

   Contrast is a key element between the ink and the paper. The whiter the paper the better your copies will look. The brightness of a piece of paper is typically expressed on a scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being the brightest. The multipurpose bond paper used in copy machines and desktop printers generally has a paper brightness in the 80s. Photo papers are normally in the mid to high 90s.

   Paper brightness affects the images printed on the paper, especially the vibrancy of the colors. Photos appear brighter and colors clearer on inkjet photo papers with higher paper brightness ratings. With matte finish papers a higher paper brightness can make a greater difference than it does among gloss finish papers of varying paper brightness.

   Even when the paper manufacturer supplies a paper brightness rating, the true test is how your images print on that piece of paper with your particular printer. Before making a sizeable investment in a specific type of paper, print some images on in-store printers like your own, ask for paper samples to try at home, or ask your commercial printer or paper supplier for samples printed on paper you are considering. The best way to determine brightness is simply to compare two or more papers side-by-side.

   Don't be fooled by the name a manufacturer gives the brightness. Manufacturers often use terms such as Bright White or UltraBright instead of numbers. These labels can be deceiving and not truly indicative of the brightness or whiteness of the paper. When buying paper for printing photos, check its number rating. For top quality prints, get photo paper with a brightness rating of around 95 and above.

3. Finish
   

   Inkjet photo paper comes in various finishes. Which finish produces the most satisfying results is a matter of personal taste, but always make sure to set the printer driver to match the paper finish you've selected.

   
   
   • Gloss Finish
     

     Photo paper with a gloss finish has a high shine with the look and feel of traditional glossy photo lab paper. The finish may be described as high gloss, gloss, soft gloss, or semi-gloss, each reflecting the amount of shine. Satin is a less shiny coated finish.

     If you want the best possible results in terms of color richness, clarity and sheen then glossy inkjet photo 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 intermediate layers to store the ink and prevent bleeding. The coating keeps the paper from readily absorbing the ink and therefore may dry more slowly, so look for a quick-dry gloss finish.

   • Matte Finish
     

     Matte photo paper has a smooth, almost velvety, finish. Any image printed onto a matte photo paper will have a richness of color and overall softness but it won't resemble a lab processed photograph. Matte photo paper is less shiny and has less of a glare than glossy paper. It is often used to produce superior text results.

     Images printed on photo matte papers appear soft and non-reflective, not shiny. Matte finish photo papers are thicker and are specially formulated for photos. They are often used when prints are displayed under glass. Many matte finish papers are printable on both sides.

4. Opacity
   

   Opacity is a measure of how well a material prevents light from passing through it. Standard 20# copier paper is somewhat translucent, while heavier papers are more opaque. The higher the opacity, the less that printed text and images will bleed through to the other side. This is especially important for double-sided printing. Inkjet photo papers have a relatively high opacity (94-97 usually) compared to ordinary inkjet or laser papers so bleed-through is less of a problem.

5. Caliper
   

   Photo papers are heavier and thicker than typical multi-purpose papers. This thickness, known as caliper, is necessary to accommodate the greater ink coverage typically found in photos. Typical inkjet paper caliper may be anywhere from a thin 4.3 mil to a thick 10.4 mil paper. Photo paper is usually 7 to 10 mils.

Photo Paper

Photo paper comes packaged and precut in the most popular sizes. When selecting your ideal photo paper, remember to consider what type of finish you'd like your pictures to have. Higher quality photo papers for more critical work are thicker and have advanced coatings, sometimes with quick-drying properties. They can normally only be printed on one side, because only one side has the special coating. There are a few papers suitable for double-sided printing.

Top brands like Epson make glossy, semi-gloss, matte, semi-matte, fine art and luster finish papers for different kinds of printing projects. If you're feeling really creative, try using Lexmark or Xerox transparency film to create masterful presentations or eye-catching overlays for invitations.

The type and texture of the photo paper you use directly relates to how well your prints will look. If you treasure photos, use photo paper and ink that help ensure prints last long and are light and water resistant. Some premium photo papers resist fading for 25 to 50 years and have the look and feel of traditional photographs.

Specialty Papers for Printing Projects

• Bright White Paper - for important documents, business correspondence
• Recycled or Copier Paper - the least expensive choice for everyday printing needs
• Card Stock - heavier paper stock for greeting cards, business cards, brochures, marketing materials, name badges, invitations
• Envelopes - for business and personal correspondence, greeting cards
• Photo Paper - matte, glossy, photo professional
• CD Labels - print professional-looking labels for your CDs
• Shipping Labels - standard sizes

So which inkjet paper is the right paper for the job? Actually, all of the above: you probably need to keep more than one type of inkjet paper on hand, because the one you use will depend on the type of project you're working on.

Summary

The above factors are the most important to consider when choosing paper for your projects. Be sure to use the right paper for your printer. When choosing copier paper, weight and brightness are most important. For inkjet and laser printers look at opacity and finish. If you will be printing images or creating publications, choose a heavier weight paper with extra brightness.