Table of Contents
Printing Tips - Image Quality
Paper Weights - What is LB versus GSM?
Paper Weight Sample Chart
Paper Finishes
Page Layout Tips and Formats
Printing Tips
Printing a quality image on a piece of paper starts with a clear image. It is important to remember to create graphic in the highest quality available. Storing pictures in low resolution is great for saving disk space but it does not work well when the image is printed on a large poster. Always use the highest resolution for Graphics and PDF documents. Use PDF files whenever possible. Even though QQPRINTING can accept about any file format, PDF files allow you to see what the page is going to look like. A PDF file will retain formatting better than other file format when printing on a multitude of printers. Once an image has been produced, the next factor becomes the paper.
Paper Weights
Paper weights and types can be very confusing. What follows is a general guide to help understand the sizes and terms and to associate them with items that you are familiar with. QQ Printing may not carry every paper type listed below. If you have a specific needs, feel free to drop us a note and we will be happy to find the exact paper you are looking for.
There are two basic systems in use: the U.S. system (traditional English system), which sizes the weight in pounds, and the Metric system, which sizes the weight in grams / meter squared (g/m²), or more commonly referred to as grams per square meter (gsm). The U.S. system is more difficult to understand because the same number in pounds can be used for the thicker card stock or the thinner text papers. In the U.S. system, a paper's weight is the weight, measured in pounds, of one ream. But every type of paper has its own size of ream! The metric system however is standard across all weights of papers. It measures a fixed size--one square meter.
Grams per square meter (gsm) gives a much better idea as to the actual thickness of a paper. As a general rule, anything 10-35 gsm is of tissue consistency; 35-70 gsm is lighter text weight, 70-100 gsm is medium text weight, 100-120 gsm is heavy text weight/light cardstock, 120-150 gsm is regular cardstock weight, 150-200 gsm is heavy cardstock, and greater than 200 gsm is super heavy cardstock.
For an example, lets compare two papers--a 65 lb Cover (a very common cardstock) and an 80 lb Text. Using the U.S. system, you might think that the 80 lb Text is a thicker paper--after all, it weighs more, right? But a Text weight paper has a 'feel' like a letterhead or stationary paper. Cover weight (cardstock) will have a 'feel' like a business card or post card. And if you had a sample of each in your hand, you would discover that there is a difference in thickness--the 65 lb Cover would be thicker and stiffer than the 80 lb Text. Using the Metric system however, these two papers would actually be 175 gsm (65 lb Cover) and 120 gsm (80 lb Text). The chart below gives approximate gsm for different common weights of paper; the actual gsm of a paper type depends upon the manufacturer.
The other measurement of paper thickness is Point Size (PT). This measurement represents the thickness and each point equals .001 inch. So, a 9Pt paper stock is generally 0.009" thick. The higher the number, the thicker the paper and stiffer the paper will be.
US Weight, Paper Description . . . Grams/ Square Meter
Copy Paper ( Bond/Writing/Text)
20 lb Bond/Writing/Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 gsm
24 lb Bond/Writing/Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 gsm
28 lb Bond/Writing/Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 gsm
Vellum Paper
50 lb Book/Text/Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 gsm
60 lb Book/Text/Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 gsm
70 lb Book/Text/Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 gsm
80 lb Book/Text/Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 gsm
67 lb Bristol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 gsm
Solid Card Stock
65 lb Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175 gsm
80 lb Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 gsm
100 lb Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 gsm
Heavy Text, normally coated
100 lb Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 gsm
Paper Finishes
Smooth
A smooth finish is the result of the paper passing through sets of rollers during the paper making process. A super smooth finish has been run through the rollers twice and generally is a brighter white.
Vellum
A vellum finish has an eggshell appearance and is consistent and even but not as much as a smooth finish. Vellum has a high ink absorbency rate.
Gloss
A gloss finish produces a shiny and reflective surface on one or both sides of certain coated papers. These papers are general coated with a finish and are slightly thinner than non coated paper.
Matte
A finish on certain coated papers that is smooth but gives a dull appearance. A matte finish, as well as other types of coated paper, are good choices for print jobs in which high quality is required.
Linen
Linen finished paper resembles linen cloth.
Felt
Felt is a soft texture on uncoated paper. The felt finish does not affect the strength of the paper.
Laid
A laid finish has the appearance of translucent lines running horizontally and vertically in the paper.
Parchment
A paper finish that has an antique appearance. Parchment is very durable and grease resistant.
Wove
An even finish in uncoated paper with a slight texture made by a felt roller covered in woven wire.
Page Layouts
QQ Printing recommends using a margin not less than 0.25" on the top, bottom, left and right. Anything smaller than this may cause portions of the page to be cut off or not show correctly. This margin primarily applies to full sheets such as Letter, Legal and Tabloid. These page sizes may also be cut in half, thirds or fourths. When laying out these types of documents, remember that the top must have the 0.25" margin and the 0.25" margin should be applied to the bottom of each cut also. So, to properly cut a letter page in half and have both the top portion of the page and the bottom portion of the page have the same margins, the top image should stop at 5.25" so the cut being made at 5.5" leaves the 0.25" margin just like the top. Then, the lower portion of page should start at 5.75" which will leave the 0.25" margin at top and at bottom of the lower portion. When QQ Printing prints this sheet and cuts at 5.5", the end result will be two stacks of paper that are the same size and the image is at the same location on the top sheet stack as well as the bottom sheet stack.