Guidelines for selecting and using paper

Consider the following factors when choosing paper and specialty media:

• Physical characteristics of the base stock and the manufacturing processes are dependent on the vendor and may change over time.

• The quality of print materials can also affect printer reliability and downtime.

• Test the print material before placing a large order to avoid costly mistakes.

• Printing numerous sheets of card stock, labels, or envelopes in a short period can create printing problems. Continuous printing on labels, for example, may result in more frequent service calls. The rollers in the printer can squeeze out the glue on the labels, which can contaminate other printer parts.

• Most labels and card stock have cuts or perforations that can be abrasive if not ironed or flattened.

• Specialty media, in general, may have rough coatings and could be thicker than paper.

The following sections provide paper-specific guidelines. For information about the printing industry and paper design, see “Design considerations for purchasing paper.”