If I had to estimate, I’d say that the majority of people use white 80 G/m2 paper, and I’d think that a ream of such paper costs anywhere from about $2 to maybe $6 or $7 (insert your currency symbol for “#”) on average.
Have you ever questioned why paper is referred to by its weight rather than its thickness. Well, traditionally, the many paper mills across the world produced paper in big sheets, and more recently, in large rolls. Since “G/m2” stands for grammes per square metre, theoretically an area of 80 G/m2 should weigh 80 grammes.
I’ve also seen paper referred to as single sheet, two sheet, etc., but that corresponds to 80 G/m2 for a “single sheet” and 160 G/m2 for two sheets, in my opinion. The Area of the 2R Size paper size is 5,696 mm² or 8.75 in² with a perimeter of 306 mm or 12 in.
There are many other sizes of paper available for purchase, but for the sake of this essay I’ll focus on what may be considered the A4 and A3 European standard sizes. Other nations also utilise these sizes, but I’ll save that discussion for another time.
Sizes of Paper
– A3 is 420 mm x 297 mm, which is 16.5 inches x 11.66 inches, and A4 is 297 mm x 210 mm, which is 11.66 inches x 8.25 inches.
The “A” sizes have a pronounced size increase or drop depending on whether you desire a larger or smaller sheet. In essence, as you become bigger, the longest side becomes the shortest, as you get smaller, the short side becomes the new long side, and vice versa. The short side turns into the long side when the long side is divided in half.
Take a sheet and fold it in half along the long axis for an effective illustration. Starting with an A3 sheet folded in half, move on to an A4 sheet, an A5 sheet, an A6 sheet, etc.
“What does utilising paper have to do with this?” You question, and the answer is pretty straightforward: if you choose the “A” sizes, you may create a document and use your printer to increase or downsize it in accordance with your needs. If your printer can print A3, you may increase an A4 page by 140% on the screen to print it at A3 size. Alternatively, if you lower the size by 70%, the identical A4 page will print at A5 size.
I frequently use both black and colour laser duplex printers, and while 80 G/m2 is sufficient for a black print page, I would suggest 100 G/m2 or 105 G/m2 if printing in colour in duplex mode. When duplexing, the somewhat heavier paper produces a far better outcome than the lighter paper, which frequently allows an image to transfer to the opposite side.
Even while a 250 G/m2 weight is still considered paper, it is more likely to be described in your printer’s characteristics as extra heavy paper if you are printing an image rather than a document.
It should be kept in mind that it is crucial to select the suitable paper weight for your printer since thicker paper may need more heat to adhere the toner to the paper. In order to do this, the printer simply slows down the paper transport so that it moves through the fuser assembly more slowly.
Since I started using colour laser printers in 1989, I’ve probably tested more materials than I should have, both to meet the demands of my clients and to pique my own interest. Yes, I’ve caused paper jams in the fuser assemblies, forcing me to almost strip the machine to get it operating again. But I’ve also produced some excellent work over those years. An 2R Size format has a diagonal length of 109.62 mm or 4.30 in.
In order to respond to the original query, I would say that yes, it does matter. A high-quality paper will convey much about you as a person or your business and will feel better, look better, and provide better outcomes. I regularly tell my customers, “You get what you pay for,” which is one of several proverbs I use. In other words, be prepared to spend a little bit more for quality if you want it.