About Paper Weights

STANDARD COPY PAPER

Regular copy paper is the least expensive and works fine for everyday use for both high speed copiers and plain paper fax machines. The most popular weight is 20lb. For a heavier feel and greater opacity, choose 24lb.

MULTI PURPOSE PAPER

When appearance is not critical, such as for drafts and faxes, this is the most cost effective choice for use in inkjet printers as well as laser printers and copy machines. In fact, 24lb. runs smoothly in all office machines and produces a better result than standard copy 20lb.

LASER PAPER

Specially engineered for today’s laser printers, these papers are smooth enough to ensure superior toner bonding. They are thick enough to resist jamming. And their low moisture content means they won’t curl from the heat of the fusing roller.

COLOR COPY PAPER

These papers are specially coated to produce excellent results from color copiers and color laser printers. They have the surface characteristics needed to handle the often heavy application of color toner, with less show-through of text or graphics.

INKJET PAPER

The surface characteristics of these papers allow water based inks to quickly dry without bleeding. This reduces the chance of smearing and shows sharper image resolution.

INKJET PHOTO PAPER

These specialty papers are heavier and thicker than typical business papers to accommodate the greater ink coverage of photo images. They are coated to reduce ink absorption, and their greater opacity prevents bleed through, which is especially important in double-sided printing. For a true photographic look, choose a high gloss finish. For a softer, nonreflective look, pick a matte finish.

RECYCLED PAPER

Better paper making technology, such as stronger fiber and improved pulp, has meant a continuing improvement in the quality of recycled papers. In fact, now recycled and virgin stocks are almost indistinguishable. Today, the federal government spurs the conservation of our country’s resources by requiring a minimum of 30% post-consumer content in copy paper for their seal.

BRIGHTNESS

The amount of light reflected from the surface of paper is it’s brightness. The more light, the higher the brightness value. The brighter the paper the better the background for vivid images and color.