Laser Paper vs Copy Paper vs Multipurpose

[Guest]

Hi all,

For a laser printer does it really make a difference what sort of paper I
use?

I understand that different types of paper have different brightness,
weight, and quality (opacity, feel, etc), but for daily printing does it
really make much difference?

I noticed at Staples they have several types of paper:

Simply Copy - REALLY cheap tho see through in some aprts
Staples Copy Paper - Economical
Staples Multi-Purpoase - Bit more Expensive
Staples Laser - Most expensive

Then there is paper from other manufacturers which are ~20% more for a box
of 5000 sheets.

So besides brightness/weight/opacity, why would I go with one type of copy
paper vs another?

Once you skip the really cheap low-end stuff - all paper seems to look the
same? Are companies merely repackaging the same product into different
tiers?

 

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

For a laser printer does it really make a difference what sort of paper I
use?

I understand that different types of paper have different brightness,
weight, and quality (opacity, feel, etc), but for daily printing does it
really make much difference?

For everyday black and white use, you want paper that will reliably go
through the machine. There's a middle ground somewhere.

And keep in mind, today the "copy" paper vs. "laser" paper distinction
is meaningless. All copiers are laser printers. Now what?

For good color laser use, you'll want paper that is designed (a) for the
machine, and (b) for the color laser process. That means a paper that
is bright white (96 or brighter), highly calendared (very smooth), and
mostly if not completely opaque. Look for a 24lb (105 gsm) stock that's
designed for color laser; Xerox makes an excellent stock, as does
Hammermill.

Paper for color laser use, for good reproduction from color laser, is
more expensive than even decent paper for black and white use.

And the smoothness of the color laser paper may make it unsuitable for
your average black and white machine--it may not go through.

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

At Staples, I regularly buy Hammermill "Copy Plus" 20 pound. It feeds
well, doesn't jam (unless it's my fault), looks good, and the price is
quite low for the quality. I prefer to use the lighter-weight 20 pound
paper vs. 24 pound becuase a binder will hold more sheets. This paper is
marketed specifically for Xerography machines (photocopiers, laser
printers). I don't like to use "multipurpose" paper because the
requirement for one method can be the opposite of what's best for
another method.

As a reference, my printer is an Okidata 12i -- the same as a laser
printer except that the image is formed on the drum by an array of LEDs.

Richard

 

[me]

Hi all,

For a laser printer does it really make a difference what sort of paper I
use?

I understand that different types of paper have different brightness,
weight, and quality (opacity, feel, etc), but for daily printing does it
really make much difference?

I noticed at Staples they have several types of paper:

Simply Copy - REALLY cheap tho see through in some aprts
Staples Copy Paper - Economical
Staples Multi-Purpoase - Bit more Expensive
Staples Laser - Most expensive

Then there is paper from other manufacturers which are ~20% more for a box
of 5000 sheets.

So besides brightness/weight/opacity, why would I go with one type of copy
paper vs another?

The vast majority of stuff I print is on el cheapo copy paper, if I want
something better I tend to use Xerox's Colortech paper.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Paper and ink/toner make the world go round these days. There are
differences in quality of laser papers, but how a laser printer responds
to a specific paper is very model dependent.

As you mentioned some differences are brightness level, consistency of
color, opacity (important for double sided pages), surface quality which
may alter how the toner sits on the paper (very smooth surfaced paper
will often give a cleaner print out). Some paper is more apt to absorb
moisture and wrinkle or scallop during printing.

My suggestion is use the cheapest paper your printer will consistently
produce the quality of image you are pleased with.

That may take some testing to determine. Some stores may be willing to
provide you with a few sheets of each type to test.

Art