Printing
- Are other terms used to describe your sheets?
- How is paper measured?
- What are the finishes of your stock?
- What color sheets do you provide?
- Do you provide recycled sheets?
- What are the finishes to your envelopes?
- Can you provide design tips based on your paper stocks?
- Can I provide paper?
- What is a label stock?
Q.
Are other terms used to describe your sheets?
A.
In an effort to help online customers with paper description, we do use the following terms to describe paper stock.
a. Lightweight / Heavyweight is described to distinguish between text (lightweight) and cover stock (heavyweight) sheets.
Lightweight sheets are stocks similar to copy or laser sheets found in a copier. They are also used for flyers and brochures. However, heavyweight stocks, or cover stocks, is a heavy sheet typically used with postcards or business cards printing.
b. Gloss / Uncoated is used to distinguish between a satin or gloss sheet in contrast with an uncoated (no gloss) sheet.
Q.
How is paper measured?
A.
Paper is primarily measured in three different methods, and we used all three to describe the sheets we provide on our order forms and estimates.
a. Basis Weight is used within the United States to measure the paper weight of a ream of 500 sheets. Generally, there will be a number and lb. measurement, such as 20 lb. to describe the paper weight. The higher the weight, the heavier the sheet.
b. Caliper is used to measure the thickness of a single sheet of paper and is measured in points (pts).
c. GSM or grams per metre is commonly used outside the United States to measure paper weight.
Q.
What are the finishes of your stock?
A.
We carry the following finishes to our paper stocks:
1. Wove is typically an untreated, uncoated paper finish used for copy printing. This finish is ideal for copy work and heavy text designs.
2. A smooth sheet is a treated sheet specially for high quality digital printing. Ideal for painting, images and light color contrast.
3. A Gloss sheets has a shiny coating. This stock is ideal with photos or heavy color saturation.
4. Satin sheets have a lightly coated gloss finish similar to matte or dull stocks. This stock can be used with photos, images, or light or heavy color saturation.
Q.
What color sheets do you provide?
A.
We carry white and bright white sheets in both text and cover stock. Additionally, we carry an off-white and natural white stock. The natural and off-white sheets is very similar to a beige color, but a lighter pastel color.
Q.
Do you provide recycled sheets?
A.
We carry 100% recycled sheets in both a text and a cover stock. Additionally, we carry a Strathmore writing text and Bristol cover stock that is recycled and contains cotton fibers.
Q.
What are the finishes to your envelopes?
A.
The business envelopes, such as #10, #10 windows and remittance envelopes are a white wove sheet. Our #10 regular and window envelopes are laser safe. The social envelopes, such as A6 and A7 envelopes has a vellum, ultra smooth finish.
Q.
Can you provide design tips based on your paper stocks?
A.
Although all of our sheets are calibrated for digital and offset printing, we do recommend the following paper stocks with certain designs.
a. Gloss and satin stocks work well with designs using high quality images and high-resolution photos.
b. Smooth sheets are idea for text and images and photos with light contrast.
c. Wove sheets are ideal with text only.
d. Invitations work best on either a natural (smooth stock) or off-white (wove) stock. The natural and off-white sheets is very similar to a beige color, but a lighter pastel color.
Q.
Can I provide paper?
A.
Our presses are calibrated to the paper stocks we carry in our inventory. Therefore, at this time we do not print on customer supplied stocks.
Q.
What is a label stock?
A.
The label stock is a crack and peel, or slit back, for easy peeling. The stock comes in a high gloss finish and uncoated (no gloss) paper. This stock is not water resistant. However, we do recommend the UV coating option for better protection of the paper surface.
