Lexmark MC2325 Paper and Specialty Media Guide PDF - Page 7

Design considerations for purchasing paper 7 Design considerations for purchasing paper Paper industry overview The paper and label industry includes manufacturers, converters, and distributors. • Manufacturers produce the base stock. If the base is for labels, then manufacturers may ship it on large rolls or in a cut‑sheet form. • Converters take the base stock and convert it into cut‑sheet products. Converters may work from rolls with or without the adhesive applied. They may also take a base stock and convert it to meet their customer specifications. The conversion process includes, but is not limited to, cutting the stock to size, perforating the stock, die‑cutting, and applying inks and topcoats. Converters work with their customers to convert the base material into a cut‑sheet product designed for use in laser printers. • Distributors are generally the direct link to the customer. As needs and prices change, distributors may work with different converters and converters may work with different manufacturers. Most businesses follow accepted industry conventions, but specifications, standards, formulations, and processes may vary with time or with different companies. As a result, labels or paper that worked well in the past may suddenly create printing problems because of a change in material or process. Some large businesses perform all three functions, from manufacturing to distribution. These companies may offer greater expertise and product consistency than companies that concentrate on one facet of the process. Some paper manufacturers have a website where you can obtain more detailed information on the paper you are interested in using. Paper design factors Print materials have measurable characteristics that you need to consider when selecting or designing forms for your particular application. Basis weight Basis weight is a term used to describe the weight in pounds of 500 sheets of paper (one ream). However, the standard paper size determines the weight, which may not be the purchased size. Therefore, the basis weights are not always easily comparable. An example would be the standard size of 20‑lb bond paper, which is 17 x 22 inches, and one ream that weighs 20 pounds. If the paper was cut, creating four reams of 8.5 x 11‑inch paper, then each ream would be labeled 20‑lb bond paper but would only weigh five pounds. If the same paper weighed 24 pounds, it would be called 24‑lb bond. The 24‑lb bond paper is thicker, heavier, and more dense than the 20‑lb bond. Thicker paper means that less paper can be placed in a tray. Paper that is heavier and more dense may cause paper jams or feed reliability problems in some printers. To verify that the paper basis weight being used is acceptable, see the supported paper weights table in "Printer-specific paper support" on page 30. Not all basis weights are related to the same standard sheet size. For example, a 70‑lb material can be lighter than 40‑lb material if it is based on larger base size paper. The metric measurement of grams per square meter (g/m2) is a more consistent way to compare weights and has been standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).