Paper Matters in laser printing: How paper is classified?

The type of paper used as print medium is critical to any application. From the print out of regular letter documents and marketing collateral in laser printers to print jobs involving monochrome and color photographs - down to commercial printing; the transparency utilized for a particular print job reveals the intentions of the material being disseminated. To put it more bluntly, the type of paper used determines the importance of the message printed on it.

For inter-office memos, an uncoated, multi-purpose type of paper will suffice as only resident personnel are privy to it. But for brochures, flyers, signages and press kits; high gloss paper must be used to catch the attention of prospective clients or intended publics. Moreover, high quality paper with sophisticated finish is often required for invitations, annual report covers and stock certificates, among others; given the formality by which these documents are being distributed.

Paper Quality Classification

The category under which paper quality falls has been subdivided into three types, where each category comes set with distinctive characteristics to fit the various printing requirements of users. The 3 categories are as follows:

A Grade Papers. High white, smooth and bright surfaces typically describe paper grouped into this category. Used primarily for corporate letterhead, business cards and other prestigious documents, A grade papers can be fed to different kinds of printers - both inkjets and laser printers included.

B Grade Papers. Though not as refined as A Grade in quality in terms of finish, transparencies classified under this category are considered good quality paper that is intended for the print out of internal reports and other communications. This type is preferred for use on monochrome printers.

C Grade Papers. Paper classified under C Grade have inferior finish properties (if coated) to become the opposite of Paper Grades A and B. Utilized mainly for regular print jobs such as an inter-office memo and random computer printer printouts, C Grade types of paper are designed primarily for high volume printing (printer jams are seldom encountered) but cannot compete in appearance to Grades A or B.

Depending on the significance of the document to be printed, users must be conscious to pick the right paper quality to commensurate particular requirements.


Additional paper classification

Paper can also be classified as soft gloss, high gloss color laser papers, photo gloss paper and the realistic non-tear paper.

• Thinner, Soft Gloss Paper carries a weight rating of 40 lbs and typically used for covers on single sided documents.
• High Gloss Laser Paper sports an appearance similar to magazine pages incorporated with the thinner 40 lb. or the heavier 58 lb. laser gloss.
• Photo Gloss Paper produces a mirror-like, photographic gloss with its output.
• Non-tear Paper is durable and is indistinguishable from the normal fiber based paper; is uncoated and does not feel like plastic. It is also tear-resistant, grease-resistant and water-resistant.

Always remember though that the lesser pages we print results in the reduced number of trees cut down because paper is a wood fiber based office consumable.

Below is a satire depicting the use of an appropriate transparency over machines that use static electricity, toner, drum and heat to produce image on paper.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges.

Paper Matters in Laser Printing: What to look for in paper?

Printout quality does not only depend on toner formulation but also on the type of paper fed to the laser printer for a particular print job. Toner powder was designed to adhere to paper fibers - following fusing, where pertinent paper characteristic such as weight, opacity and coating dictate the outcome of laser printed copies.

All these will be vital to the selection of paper to match pertinent applications and produce the desired printouts as well. To this end, this post will briefly discuss the distinctive attributes of paper and likewise provide a rundown of paper types that is suitable to a particular application.

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When buying paper products for your laser printer, you will need to be familiar with 4 basic features – particularly weight, finish, opacity and brightness.

Weight defines the thickness of paper measured in pounds (#). A 20# offset paper would work well with everyday printouts such as academic reports, photocopies and drafts. It would be more appropriate to use thicker paper, say 24# for business correspondence such as letters and business papers.

Finish pertains to the texture of paper which could either be coated or uncoated. Coated paper has been treated with certain compounds to achieve that glossy, smooth surface. Uncoated paper meanwhile has not been subjected to treatment and retains that dull, unreflective surface. Coated paper works best with laser printers as its surface luster will emphasize printed text and images. This will further enhance the readability of the document and likewise produce an aesthetic appeal.

Opacity refers to the transparency rating of paper. Prints are often visible on the reverse, unprinted side of a transparency when a paper of minimal thickness and weight is used for laser printing. While weight is a major factor of opacity; absorbency and paper fiber components also affect how much of printing shows through on the reverse side. When using laser printers with duplex printing capabilities or merely intending to print on both sides of paper; transparencies with higher opacity will be useful for these print jobs.

Brightness determines the amount of light that paper reflects. Typically, around 60% to 90% of light is reflected by paper which has differing impact on image quality. Images and text are usually more vivid when laser printed on paper with a higher brightness rating. For the printout of everyday documents and reports, brightness ratings of 92 and below will suffice. Meanwhile for collaterals such as brochures, flyers and newsletters among others, a brightness rating of 94 and above is recommended.

Operating a laser printer does not only entail the prudent sourcing of consumables, i.e. toner cartridges, toner refill kits and other compatibles but also the proper selection of transparencies to achieve good quality, laser printed copies.

Regular Maintenance + Quality Laser Paper Helps Extend Laser Printer Life

Trouble-free operation is generally manifested in the first year run of a brand new laser printer. From then on, many regular laser printer users have noticed diminishing unit efficiency which eventually compelled them to immediately acquire a replacement unit to sustain printing requirements. While it is typical for machine efficiency to slowly deteriorate with the passing of time, this can be managed through proper equipment maintenance as well as in the exclusive use of specified laser printer transparencies or paper. Disregard for the conduct of regular printer maintenance as well as use of questionable transparencies likely prompted the early retirement of the laser printer.

Laser Printer Maintenance
Laser printers, just like any other equipment, require periodic cleaning and maintenance. Experts recommend printer cleaning twice a year. As much as possible, allow only professional laser printer technicians to render maintenance work on your printer. Expert technicians usually complete maintenance work in a matter of 40 to 45 minutes

Laser Printer Paper
Meanwhile, users need to be very selective in the use of paper to feed the laser printer. Understand that papers differ in substance, formulation, grade, weight and finish. And while regular stock paper can be used, take note that toner powder embeds efficiently on the fibers of hard stock paper.

When using coated paper on the other hand, be very particular over the clay content of the transparency as paper with higher clay density percentage tends to swell during the winter months. This makes paper abrasive to printer components; thus increasing the incidence of paper jams and likewise contributing to the wear and tear of components it comes in contact with. By using quality paper, you not only reduce the occurrence of paper jams but also avoid expensive service calls for your laser printer.

Always make it a habit to have your laser printer serviced annually, because a clean and fine tuned printer will provide users trouble free printing year after year and allows dollar savings in the process.

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To produce decent laser prints and yield at a reasonable price, refill OEM toner cartridges with toner refill kits. The toner refill kit line of Laser Tek Services is cheaper by as much as 80% than the prevailing retail price of OEM toner cartridges. LTS offers an extensive line of refill kits compatible with the cartridges of leading laser printer brands such as Brother, Canon, Samsung, HP, Epson, Xerox, Lexmark, Konica Minolta, Dell, Okidata and Sharp. So take note of your printer's model or cartridge number today and place an order on our site www.lasertekservices.com.