Paper

Format

• The range of possible printing formats depends on the model of printer you will use
• Ordinary home printers print on A4 or smaller, but some can handle A3 format.

Weight

• Paper weight indicates its quality - the higher the weight, the higher the quality.
• Plain paper starts at 80g / m2, with high-quality paper weighing up to 300 g / m2.
• For everyday documents, e-mails or standard text, plain paper with a weight of approximately 80-90 g / m2 will generally suffice.

Paper classes and types

The quality of paper is based primarily on its weight, with three basic classes of quality.

Class A - the highest-quality paper

• Especially suitable for two-sided printing; for inkjets, laser printers and copiers.
• Polished on both sides; ink doesn't smudge.
• Higher purchase price, so not suitable for everyday printing.

Class B - a compromise between price and quality

• Suitable for all types of printers and copiers.
• Can be used for double-sided printing.
• Ideal for offices where printing consumption exceeds 250 sheets of paper per day.

Class C

• The most common type of paper; ideal for printing e-mails, drafts, and less-important documents.
• Suitable for all laser printers and copiers; can cope with him most inkjet printers, but ink may smudge due to the lower quality of the paper.
• The advantage is low cost, but the disadvantage is low quality.
• Ideal for offices where printing consumption does not exceed 250 sheets of paper per day.
• Higher whiteness in this type of paper is often achieved using chalk, which may result in traces of white powder being left in laser printer toner, which may then stick to the roller causing stains and smudges on printouts.

Photo paper

• Used widely with inkjet printers for printing photos.
• Unlike regular paper, it has a special ink-receiving layer, which helps it to achieve perfect sharpness and colour fidelity.
• Usually between 120 and 300 g / m2, with good-quality paper starting at 200 g / m2.

Glossy and matte:

• Glossy paper is used for printing colour photos.
• Matte is ideal for monochrome printing, or when a clearer contrast is needed.

Papers for colour laser printers

• Special papers designed for colour laser printing and copying; can be used for duplex printing.
• paper weight varies from 80 to 250 g / m2.

Thermal paper

• Special paper for thermal printers.
• Mainly used with POS printers.

Opacity

• Indicates how much light is transmitted through the paper, expressed as a percentrage; the higher the opacity, the less light it lets through.
• This parameter can help in the selection of paper for duplex printing and copying.

Whiteness

• Expressed in terms of CIE - the higher the number, the higher the whiteness.
• Classic white paper has a value of 150 CIE, whereas recycled paper is about 50 CIE.