Office Paper Buying Tips - Part 2

Multi-Purpose Paper

Multi-purpose copier paper is the everyday workhorse of the office. It is usable for a variety of different jobs.
Common Used for:
» General copying and printing needs
» Printing Proofs and drafts
» Printing emails and inter-office correspondence
» Printing Forms

In general you want to look for a brightness rating between 90 and 92 and a weight of 16-20 lbs, and a smoothness between 160 and 170. Consult Part 1 of this guide for a description of these terms. Multi-use paper is good because it delivers reliable performance for a wide range of common printing jobs, is inexpensive, and available in all common sizes.

Laser Printer Paper

Laser Printer Paper is designed for use on laser printers when appearance is important and quality is key.
Common Used for:
» Printing executive reports, contract documents, legal documents, résumés
» Printing analysis charts and graphs (especially when printing in color)
» Printing announcements or documents with complex graphics

When purchasing laser printer paper, look for a brightness rating between 92-and 96, a weight of 22-32 lbs, and a smoothness under 100 -- lower smoothness rating will give you sharper images. Laser printer paper, like multi-purpose paper is relatively inexpensive and comes in enough varieties and qualities to suit everyday jobs and special print jobs alike. Above all, it is valued because it improves the performance of laser printers, allowing them to reach their potential for quality images and documents.

Inkjet Printer Paper

Inkjet Printer Paper is used for, you guessed it, inkjet printers! It is perfect for making sure that your images and ink don't bleed on the paper.
Common Uses:
» Printing Proposals, Presentations, Flyers (on inkjet printers)
» General printing especially with color images (again, on inkjet printers)

For inkjet paper, look for a brightness rating around 96, a weight between 20 and 24 lbs, and a smoothness under 100. As before, lower smoothness is better. Inkjet paper is nearly a must for getting quality prints of documents, photos, or anything else from an inkjet printer. it is designed to the hold the liquid ink on the surface and produce dense, full colors and text. For presentations graphic or image-intense documents, inkjet paper is the best thing for the job when using an inkjet printer. Matte- and gloss-coated inkjet paper can add some enhanced quality, giving extra brilliance to the colors within a print.

Continued next week...