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Paper Weight Guide

Paper Weight Guide

Paper Weight Guide

Posted on 02/04/2021

Best paper for printing

When printing a document at home your printer shows options for what type and weight of paper that is used.  Are you unsure about the best paper to use and for what purpose? 

Here is a short guide detailing everything you need to know about choosing the right paper for your printing needs.

What is Paper Weight ?

Paper Weight is the term used to refer to thickness.  Paper weight or density is measured in “gsm” which stands for grams per square metre, and this refers to how much the paper weighs. The higher the gsm, the heavier and generally the better quality the paper.

The thickness of paper you use should be greater when doing double sided printing or presentations grab the professional look and feel.  There are many other situations in which it may be necessary to use paper with a greater thickness or weight.  In cases where your printed material requires a longer lifespan such as an annual report or marketing brochure, it may be best to use paper with a higher gsm measurement.  Generally a thicker and smoother paper will give a better impression.

Light paper weights

The lightest paper weights can be used for writing pads and can be almost transparent.

The next category of light paper weights are often used for copy machines, faxes and in your office printer. They tend to be about 70-90gsm.

Generally 80 – 90 gsm paper is preferable for most printers and copiers. Using lighter paper will cause problems with jamming and paper roller pickups. Stay away from anything under 75 gsm and you will be thankful in the the long term!
There are a number of paper manufacturers that produce good quality copy paper, such as Reflex, Fuji Xerox, and DoubleA.  They tend to be the most popular in the market and using good paper will pay dividends.

There are other brands whose 80gsm paper fail the test when put through an office copier or home printer; so it is important to be careful when choosing the right brand of paper for your print job. Cheaper paper is often lower in quality and physically has a rougher texture.  In such cases manufacturers sometimes produce paper with a rough feel to it, which copiers and printers may reject. Stick with a paper brand you know and trust; as it is much more likely to provide a reliable outcome.

Medium paper weight

For presentations and brochures, a higher paperweight can be used so that any double-sided printing won’t be seen on the opposite side of the page.  In this case, a 100 –120gsm paper is generally used.  Paper manufacturers really excel in this area with a really smooth feel and slight sheen being apparent. This is particularly suited to a presentation paper. Printing on this type of paper can really impress a potential client.

Between 140 – 160 gsm paper is still very flexible and the feel is quite soft although it is approaching what is categorised as “card stock”.

Paperweights in the medium spectrum are often used for cardstocks and for mail outs.

For more durable cardstocks, with a harder surface but one that is still smooth; 200gsm is the general paperweight.  These weights are often used for menus, posters and postcards.

Heavy paper weight

When using photographic inkjet paper, the best result can be achieved from a coated paper that has either gloss or matte properties. The gsm for these is a great deal higher – up to 300 gsm. Take care when using these in an inkjet printer as they may need a straight paper path to be successful.  

The heavier paper will produce the best and more durable print result and this is especially true when using inkjet photo papers. This thickness of paper is used for dividers and manila folders, and is also 300gsm weight.

Heavier cardstock is used for business cards. These come in different finishes and textures and tend to weigh about 350gsm. Usually when getting to this size of thickness a commercial printer is required as the thickness of the paper will be too much for a home or office printer.

Finally, a 400gsm weight might be used for flat cards or wedding invitations. This paperweight is extremely heavy and this is why it should be a job for a commercial printer.

Inkjet and Laser paper

Inkjet and laser papers are different.  Inkjet COATED papers should NEVER be used in a laser printer, as it may cause major problems.  Laser printers work differently than inkjet printers and using coated paper in a laser machine is a definite no-no!

Take care when choosing inkjet and laser specialty papers as their gsm and specifications are different.

Both papers come in different sizes, as a well as gsm thicknesses. 

There are many different finishes available.

Inkjet comprises: Glossy, Semigloss, Matte and Archival (usually matte) paper. 

The different finishes are great for inkjet reproduction as the paper is designed specifically for inkjet use. It all depends on your preference and how you want the photo or print to appear.  Below is a sample of paper available from Epson. 

epson-C13S042546-photo-paper
Epson C13S042546 Glossy Photo paper
epson-c13s041569-matte-photo-paper
Epson C13S041569 Matte Photo paper
epson-c13s041569-matte-photo-paper
Epson C13S041569 Matte photo paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

The options available should be considered carefully,  especially if you wish to keep photos or are creating special presentations.   Each finish will highlight your print in different style.  One thing is for sure. the better paper used, will ensure the best reproduction. 

Laser paper will look the same but is very different in its structure.  Laser paper is made so that it an stand the heat process of a laser printer.  Standard copy 80gsm paper can be used in a laser printer with good results.  Once again the higher standard of paper will result in a better reproduction with a laser.  Thicker laser paper is excellent for business presentations and can be found in both matte and gloss finishes.  It is not as readily available, as most people use standard copy paper for economic reasons.  The extra expenditure for a higher grade of laser paper is certainly worthwhile.  If an good impression is required, then  our advice is to buy the higher grade paper, you won’t regret it.

Now that we’ve covered all you need to know about the different paperweights out there, we hope that the next time someone asks you what paper weight you’re after; you know what to say!

Brands to look for are: Double A, Mondi, Epson, Canon and HP.  They all have good ranges of specialty papers and it is definitely worth checking out what they have on offer.

For all your copy and photographic paper needs, don’t hesitate to Contact us at TonerInk.