Paper Weights Comparison Chart

Different paper types have different weights. Each uses a different basis size sheet. For example, Bond paper weights are based on a 17x22 sheet, making the weight of a ream (500 sheets) equal to 20 lbs, 24 lbs, etc. The most common weights for each paper type are shown in bold.

Envelope Sizes

Machines

	Digital color printers and copiers Color copiers represent the broadest range of manufacturers and features. Once relegated to the office environment, new digital color printers have become ubiquitous in print shops as well. They employ basic laser imaging technology to charge an image on either drums or belts, from which the developed cmyk image is ultimately transferred to paper. Any project that demands process, full-bleed color in runs of up to 5,000 can be imaged on these high-resolution, toner-based devices.
	Digital color production presses The NexPress 2100 and Xerox DocuColor iGen3 represent a breakthrough for commercial printers who want to bring short run/JIT, fast turnaround, web enablement, and personalized printing, into the pressroom. Although there are individual differences, these toner-based presses are fast (up to 6,000 impressions per hour) and feature extremely high print quality (600 dpi). They run smooth and textured papers in a range of sheet sizes and basis weights, from 16 lb. bond to 110 cover, with the ability to mix stocks in a single run, delivering collated offset at the end of the press.
	HP Indigo presses These presses use one imaging drum and patented liquid ElectroInk. Both drum and ink are charged; ElectroInk adheres to the image area on the drum; and a blanket transfers the image to paper. No ink is left on the blanket. The plate charge is cleared and the process is repeated for subsequent colors. This process supports fully variable data and very high-resolution images. The HP Indigo press can print on a wide range of substrates, but for optimum performance, most papers must be pre-treated to improve toner adhesion.
	DI Presses These sheetfed presses work like offset presses with an electronic twist: directed by digital data, pre-mounted plates are imaged with a laser right on the press, reducing make-ready time to minutes. Ideal for process color jobs from 500 to 5,000, this equipment produces high resolution offset images using traditional inks and is ideal for promotional and sales literature, publications, and even packaging.
	Inkjet Printers Common in homes and office, inkjet printers today are capable of brilliant color reproduction with amazingly high resolution. Each requires a paper surface with sufficient ink holdout to reproduce a sharp saturated image. Mohawk Navajo and Superfine Premium Inkjet have been coated for optimum printing on all desktop inkjet printers.