How to Choose the Best Paper for Your Printer?

6 min readAug 19, 2022

Now more than ever, there are different papers optimized and engineered for a variety of uses. Paper you’ll purchase to load the copier in your office will be different than sheets you print photographs on, which are different than those you print wedding invites on. There is considerable overlap between all paper types when it comes to terminology however, and knowing a little bit more about paper can help you save money and get better print results at the end of the day.

To help you get a better idea of what paper is best for your print job, here are the most important factors to consider that will influence the look, feel, and overall cost of your print.

Four basic properties that apply to nearly all paper types, both in the office and the studio, are size, brightness (or whiteness, depending on brand), shade, and weight. Each defines a characteristic of the paper that makes it better for certain uses, and will affect everything from print quality to the amount you pay per box.

Paper Weight

When it comes to paper weight, the heavier the weight (higher lbs), the thicker the paper. Thicker paper stock feels sturdier, is less susceptible to wrinkling and conveys higher quality. The most common paper weight is 20 lbs., but marketing projects frequently use paper ranging from 20 lbs. to 32 lbs. paper weight.

16–20lb.BondPaper
Lightweight paper that is good for internal documents, copy paper or multi-page projects.
24lb.BondPaper
The perfect paper weight for letterhead, reports, or other documents that must withstand handling.
32–36lb.BondPaper
A more substantial and durable paper weight, great for résumés, legal documents or other high quality printed projects.
65lb.CoverStock
Cover stock is a heavy, durable paper stock used for business cards, brochures, folders and project covers.

Paper Brightness

Paper whiteness, brightness and shade all impact the appearance of a printed project. The brightness is a measure of the reflectance of blue light wavelengths on a scale from 0–100, with 100 appearing to be the brightest paper to the eye. A white paper shade can range from a cream color to a hint of blue, with the blue shade often appearing to be the brightest color white. When selecting a paper shade, it’s important to review a sample of the paper stock before going to print with your project.

BRIGHTNESS SCALE

100

EUROPENS

104

107–108

109

110–111

112

I would advise using 24 pounds of paper or stronger when printing something significant, like a resume. Any document will stand out because of the noticeable difference between 20 lb. and 24 lb. paper. There are currently many different hues of paper. A less expensive option to make a resume or flyer stand out is colored paper.

Paper Shade

Shade describes the tone of your paper. Anyone who has spent time buying paint at the hardware store knows there are several different shades of white you can choose from. Differences in tone will make your white tones look warmer or colder depending on the balance of red and blue light they reflect. Paper is no different and the balance of your shade can make a big difference in how your prints turn out.

The color most people associate with white paper is true white, which is a light balanced neutral white tone. The brighter a paper is the more blue-spectrum light it reflects, which means it absorbs warmer light tones — creating a blue white shade. On the other end of the spectrum are cream white shades that reflect warmer light for a softer shade. If you’re a monochrome photographer, selecting which paper better suits your composition is a matter of personal taste. For color photographers, it gets trickier, as changes in the white balance of your paper can affect your print colors. This becomes especially important if you are shooting portraits, as it can change the tone as well as the natural feel of your subject’s skin tone.

The Appropriate Paper Sizes

Along with weight, point size becomes important on heavier papers and describes the density and “grit” of the page. Heavy weight papers come in a smoother finish or look visibly woven, as is common with cotton-blended resume papers. Your point size, much like the point size of your printer, describes the smallest ink droplet your paper can clearly print. Those extra-sharp looking letters on your business card? That’s a better point size in action.

500 sheets make up an average ream of paper. Ream sizes for specialty paper might change. Reams of paper can contain 25, 50, 150, or 250 sheets. Typically, a case of paper contains 10 reams, each holding 5,000 sheets. Additional cases will include 8 reams of paper for 4,000 pages.

Paper Stock Types

Now that you know a bit about finishes, let’s use that knowledge to help you pick the perfect paper for your project.

Paper Type

Characteristics

Finish

Type of Project

Bond paper

Lightweight, comes in a range of pastels, neutrals, matching envelopes, and matching cover weights

Smooth, cockle

Fliers, forms, copies

Writing paper

Comes in a range of colors and flocking options that match envelopes, plus cover and text weights

Smooth, linen, vellum, cockle, etc.

Stationery

Uncoated book paper

Comes in a range of colors and is thicker and more opaque than bond or writing papers

Smooth

Direct mail, newsletters, catalogs

Text paper

Comes in a range of colors and flocking options that match envelopes, plus cover and text weights

Smooth, linen, vellum, cockle, etc.

Letterhead, annual reports, brochures

Coated book paper

Matching cover weights limited to cream and white, although specialty lines exist in a range of colors

Dull, gloss, matte, cast-coated

Magazines, catalogs, direct mail

Cover stock

Heavy and durable, can be coordinated with text, book, and writing papers

Smooth, linen, vellum, gloss, matte

Business cards, report/catalog covers, brochures, postcards, folders, invitations, door hangers

Index/Bristol paper

Stiff and sturdy, comes in a range of colors and finishes

Coated, vellum, smooth

Postcards, file folders, tickets

Translucent vellum paper

Semitransparent stock comes in a range of colors and weights plus matching envelopes

Smooth, grooved

See through envelopes and overlays

Newsprint

Inexpensive, light-weight, white/manila only

Vellum

Newspapers, tabloids

Label paper

Comes in gummed, pressure sensitive, and self-adhesive backing and in a range of colors

Smooth (uncoated), matte, glossy, cast coated

Labels, stickers

White Privilege

The term “white privilege” describes the nature of the light, or in this case, the particular color of the paper. In summary, the whiteness index is designed so that the whiter the paper material, the higher the whiteness. Think of the following to distinguish between brightness and whiteness: brightness is equivalent to wattage, while whiteness denotes shade. When choosing paper for color printing, whiteness is a crucial quality to keep in mind. Overall, the delicate balance between the color of the paper and the ink/toner will determine the outcome.

Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper — Bright White

9.8/10Our Score

Key Features:

· Brand: Amazon Basics

· Color: White

· Item Weight: 15 Pounds

· Paper Finish: Smooth

· Sheet Size: 8.5×11-inch

Check On Amazon

Photographer Paper Selection

When selecting a paper, the following additional considerations will apply if you are a photographer:

D-Max

The utmost amount of darkness that your preferred photo paper can reproduce in black tones is known as D-Max. The phrase is frequently used in the context of black and white photography when the intensity of the black tones is crucial. The word “D-max” comes from the era of film photography when certain types of paper could only hold a certain quantity of dye during the development process. Modern printing has a wide range of influences, so D-max now depends on everything from the paper’s finish to the brand and type of ink your printer uses.

Finish Paper

Glossy finishes feature a highly reflective coating. Common types of glossy finishes include high gloss, soft gloss, and satin finishes which create deep vibrant colors and high contrast sharpness. They are good for albums and display away from windows, where the natural light will reflect off the front of your image and distort it. Glossy finishes are commonly used in formal portraiture. Glossy coatings are susceptible to dust and show fingerprints, so they should be handled wisely.

Semi-gloss finishes incorporate some gloss, but not as much as high gloss finishes. Common types include satin, pearl, and luster — the latter of which is very popular among photographers for its versatility and good D-max capabilities. Semi-gloss finishes print good, clean colors and strong contrast, and they frame well behind glass.

Matte paper is made from hot-pressed fiber and does not have a glossy coat. Because it lacks a smooth and shiny coating, it can come in a variety of different textures from a soft velvet to visibly-woven high cotton paper to thick, dimpled paper that makes your print resemble a watercolor painting. Matte paper is the best for getting rich and deep dark tones, making it ideal for black and white photographers. For color photographers, matte paper can make colors look “older” than a glossy or semi-gloss paper will. Much like glossy finishes, gallery-quality prints on matte paper may require special handling like cotton gloves to prevent fingerprinting.

Thanks for watching (For more info: www.qtyprinter.com )