Paper & Card Guide
Choosing paper is more complex than just picking the most expensive
sheet. In fact, you shouldn’t think about choosing paper based on the
highest quality available, or the highest quality you can afford.
Rather, you should figure out the most appropriate quality paper for
your needs because most appropriate equals best. The size of the printer
paper, its color, weight, brightness, opacity, and other factors should
come into play when choosing the right one for a job. Below are
specifications that will help you make an informed decision.
There are three internationally standardised ranges of paper sizes: A,
B, C. The most widely used for general printing and stationery is the A
series. Our paper size guide is based on the ISO 216 paper coding
system, specifically the A series which and covers A1, A2, A3, A4, A5,
A6, A7 and A8. A4 paper is the most commonly used paper size. It is the
standard format for most printers and, as a result, most documents, like
letters, invoices, emails, reports and presentations are printed on an
A4 format paper.
Types of paper
Copier Paper
Copier paper is the most popular type of paper. Often called ‘multiprurpose’ paper, it can be used for a wide range of printing and is comaptible with various devices such as inkjet and laser printers, copiers, fax machines.
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Inkjet Paper
Inket paper is best for printing raw text – emails, documents and reports. It’s designed to absorb ink in a way that guarantees the best print quality. There is a wide range of speciality inkjet paper such as photo paper, glossy paper etc.
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Laser Paper
Laser paper is a specialist paper that is designed to work with the toner used in laser printers. It is coated and heat-treated to withstand the searing heat levels of the lasers that fuse polymer toner to paper. This paper guarantees the best print results and the print outs are crisp and high quality.
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Use the helpful table below for a breakdown of each paper size, dmensions and suitable uses.
| Paper Size | Size (MM) | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 594 x 841 | Flipcharts, technical drawing |
| A2 | 420 x 594 | Drawings, posters, advertising material |
| A3 | 297 x 420 | Drawings, diagrams, graphing, tables |
| A4 | 210 x 297 | Letters, forms, everyday documents, magazines |
| A5 | 148 x 210 | Notes, brochures, booklets |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | Postcards, flyers |
IN need of custom letterheads?
Codex offers a complete solution for all of your print requirements. We provide bespoke printing for a range of paper products such as official documents, till rolls, business cards and brochures.
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Key Factors to Consider When Buying Printing Paper
WEIGHT
Paper is weighted by Grams per Square Meter. The higher the GSM, the heavier the paper and less light passes through. The standard 80gsm paper is ideal for everyday printing but if you want to achieve the best quality you should go for heavier paper.
SIZE
Paper size is hugely important when it comes to the type of document you are producing. No matter what type of job that needs to be printed out – ranging from a business card to a large-format printout of an architectural plan – there’s a paper size to accommodate it.
COLOUR & SHADE
When you see a piece of white paper you may see it as having a bluish tinge or a creamy tinge to it, this is because it is very difficult to create a "true white".
REAM
A standard packaging size for any paper is a ream, which holds 500 sheets. Other common paper packaging is box of 2500 sheets which can either be 5 wrapped reams or loose 2500 pages (this is usually cheaper since no extra packaging is used).
CIE (Paper Brightness)
The CIE brightness of a paper is measured by reflecting a full spectrum of light against paper. The amount of light reflected back is measured and a number between 0 and 100 is recorded. The higher the number, the whiter the paper. For a perfect reflecting non-fluorescent white material the CIE whiteness would be 100.
Specialty Paper
While many papers are sustainably sourced, some are especially environmentally-friendly because of the materials used or how fast they biodegrade.
When selecting paper for printing a blue/white shade is best for short documents as this provides the best contrast for black ink and gives optimum readability. Pastel-coloured is also better than bright white paper for people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia.
WHAT GSM SHOULD I CHOOSE
70-75 gsm
Suitable for everyday printing needs, but more sustainable because less resources are required.
80-90 gsm
Suitable for everyday printing needs.
100-120 gsm
Good quality premium paper for letterheads or executive documents.
160-300 gsm
Perfect for use in arts and crafts projects or for signs that are displayed on walls.
Sustainability
As part of our core value of integrity here at Codex, we place a great importance on minimising our environmental impact. Recognising the nature of our industry and the footprint it leaves behind, the Codex team has sought to find ways to not only make our organisation more sustainable and environmentally friendly, but to ensure that we are offering our customers a wide variety of eco alternatives. The majority of the paper we carry in our ranges have at least one environmental claim. This means, our everyday, business and premium paper can be a sustainable solution. Below is a short description to give you a better understanding of what each claim comprises of.
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