When you or your employees go to use your printer or copier, there probably isn’t a ton of thought put into the type, size, or weight of paper you’re using if you’re just making some run-of-the-mill copies for your office records or to hand out internally. However, if you’re more involved in your paper type, or maybe need to present clients or external agencies with physically printed materials for projects, choosing the right paper weight is definitely something to pay attention to. That’s where managed print services come in.
Plus, even if your printed and copied materials aren’t going to be seen by anyone besides you and your immediate colleagues, it’s essential to know about paper weights to ensure that you’re using your printer/copier properly and efficiently.
What is Paper Weight?
Paper weight is, well, the weight of the paper you’re using. However, paper weight actually has a lot to do with the overall quality of print you get from your machine.
Paper weight is measured in pounds or grams. The weight in pounds is determined by the weight of a stack of 500 17×22” sheets of paper. When using grams, the weight of the paper is determined by measuring in grams per one square meter of paper.
What Paper Weight Am I Using?
The typical paper you might use everyday for regular printing or copying needs is probably a 20lb/75 gsm type of paper. This sort of paper is usually multi-use, and a compatible weight for most types of printers, including digital, laser, and inkjet.
Another popular paper weight found in many offices is the 24lb/90 gsm paper, which is usually a little more bold, smoother, and is slightly thicker than the 20lb. This heavier paper is less see-through than regular paper, and gives a higher quality print and a generally smoother or more professional appearance for use in presentations or professional settings.
Heavy paper types, like 28lb/105 gsm, or “Bond”, Lightweight Cardstock, which comes in at 32 lb/120 gsm, Cardstock, which weighs in at 60lb/163 gsm, as well as Heavy Cardstock, which weights 100lb/270 gsm, are also used for a variety of applications, including printing covers for booklets or presentation materials.
How to Adjust Your Printer for Different Weights
When you’re loading your paper into your printer, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right settings to make sure your printer or copier is properly configured for your paper weight. If you don’t adjust your printer when using heavy paper types, this could result in:
- Friction issues and print speed issues as your paper passes through the printer, which can result in jams, skews, misfeeds, and image or print quality problems. This can also cause a lot of wear on your printer.
- Your toner improperly fusing to the paper, which will result in unsightly smearing or the ink rubbing off.
- Your toner to be deposited on the paper incorrectly due to incorrect tray settings. This can result in image quality issues, bad resolution or just poor output.
Now that you know how paper weight works, make sure you’re properly adjusting your printer’s settings, or making sure you’re on the right setting when going to use your printer! Optimizing your printer to the weight of the paper you’re using will allow you to enjoy better quality printing and copying services. In need of a new printer, copier, or managed print services? Check out GoodSuite’s plethora of services here.