Paper Weight- What you Should Know

In  this article, we will be talking about all things paper and how the type, weight, size and quality of your paper affect the quality of your prints. The information from this article was compiled from another article in the online database which you can find by clicking on the link below.

https://www.support.xerox.com/

Paper Weight: How it is Measured:

 Paper is measured in either pounds (lbs.) or in grams per square meter (gms). Paper weight is measured in stacks of 500 sheets measuring 17”by 22”. When measuring in grams per square meter, the weight of the paper is measured in grams of a square meter of paper. For the typical “Plain” or “Multipurpose” printing paper, the normal weight is about 20 lbs. (75gsm) and is very commonly used in most printers and/ or multipurpose devices.

A heavier but also commonly used paper weight is 24lb (90gms). An example of this type of paper would be the Xerox Bold Digital Printing Paper which is thicker than “Plain” printing paper and has a smoother feel which can result in higher resolution prints that are more professional looking. Other commonly used weights of paper are those such as Cardstock (80/216 gms), Lightweight Cardstock (60 lb/ 163 gm), Heavy Cardstock (100 lb/ 270 gsm) or Bond (28lb/105 gms).

Things to Consider when it Comes to Paper Weight:

In order to properly configure the machine, heavier paper will require the correct setting to be enabled on your device in order to achieve the best results. Otherwise, you could experience the following issues:

• Toner applied differently to different weights of paper: As different paper weights require toner to be applied using different chargers. If the tray settings are not calibrated correctly, it could lead to poor image quality, deletions, lower resolution or dark output.
• Issues with intern pressure and speed settings with your device: Different weights of paper require different settings in printer calibration. The internal functioning’s of the printer set the heat, pressure and charge settings according to the weight of the paper being used. Not adjusting your settings properly can cause paper to misfeed or jam. You could also experience poor image quality and even expedited wear to the internal workings of your device.
• Internal Temperature Issues: Heavier paper has more mass and requires more heat to properly fuse the toner with the paper. Incorrect weight settings can lead to issues such as smeared images.

Check to be sure that your device is programmed properly for the weight of paper that you are using in order to achieve optimal results!

Got questions? Call us today at 208-994-6400 to speak with one of our representatives!