FAQ
When selecting office printer paper, you need to consider four main parameters:
- Grammage, also called basis weight, is measured in grams per square meter (gsm or g/m2).
- Transparency indicates the light transmission of paper. It means that the visibility of text or image through a paper sheet depends on the degree of transparency. The transparency level is measured in numerals from 0 to 100 and is also specified by manufacturers on packaging. For document printing, it is recommended to use paper with the lowest light transmission.
- Brightness is measured in percent. The higher this parameter, the better the text is visible on the sheet.
- Thickness is measured in microns.
Grade is an important metric when selecting paper for office equipment.
There are three grades of office printer paper.
А-grade is the most expensive and rare one. It has the best running performance. A-grade paper is used for printing records to be filed in archives or image-building documents. If optimal storage conditions are observed, such paper can be stored for 150 years without loss of quality.
B-grade differs from A-grade by a more affordable price. This type of paper is used for high-quality high-speed and double-sided printing.
B-grade is also suitable for printing of archival documents. But such printed materials can be stored for no more than 100 years.
C-grade is the most popular type of paper. It can boast both the lowest price and good performance quality. It is used in a variety of areas, including educational and government institutions.
There are also paper grades A+ and C+ with higher brightness, opacity and stiffness.
There are three grades of office printer paper.
А-grade is the most expensive and rare one. It has the best running performance. A-grade paper is used for printing records to be filed in archives or image-building documents. If optimal storage conditions are observed, such paper can be stored for 150 years without loss of quality.
B-grade differs from A-grade by a more affordable price. This type of paper is used for high-quality high-speed and double-sided printing.
B-grade is also suitable for printing of archival documents. But such printed materials can be stored for no more than 100 years.
C-grade is the most popular type of paper. It can boast both the lowest price and good performance quality. It is used in a variety of areas, including educational and government institutions.
There are also paper grades A+ and C+ with higher brightness, opacity and stiffness.
C-grade:
Best value for money. Multipurpose paper for all occasions. Widely used in offices, by pupils and students to write class assignments. This paper is used to print documents, course papers, and summaries. It is suitable for most types of office equipment.
Grade А+:
This paper is expensive vs lower cost equivalents. High whiteness (brightness) secures very contrasting print, and color rendering is almost ideal. A+ paper is used to print documents of particular importance that require long-term storage. It is also used for image-building documents.
Best value for money. Multipurpose paper for all occasions. Widely used in offices, by pupils and students to write class assignments. This paper is used to print documents, course papers, and summaries. It is suitable for most types of office equipment.
Grade А+:
This paper is expensive vs lower cost equivalents. High whiteness (brightness) secures very contrasting print, and color rendering is almost ideal. A+ paper is used to print documents of particular importance that require long-term storage. It is also used for image-building documents.
CIE whiteness is also called paper brightness. This parameter is measured in percent. The higher this parameter, the higher brightness and the better text visibility is on the sheet.
This parameter indicates the light transmission of paper. It means that text or image visibility through a paper sheet depends on the degree of opacity. This parameter is specified on office printer paper packaging. Opacity is measured in percent. Office printer paper has the lowest light transmission.
To avoid dusting during printing, paper must have both internal (stock) and surface sizing.
Print is sharper on paper with higher CIE whiteness (%) and lower Bendtsen roughness (mL/min). In order to avoid the distortion of lines of any thickness printed on paper, paper roughness should not exceed 250 mL/min.
Depending on the type of printer, office printer is divided into three categories:
There are also multipurpose types of paper, which can be used with any digital printing equipment.
- LaserJet – for laser printers;
- InkJet – for inkjet printers; and
- Copy Paper (Copier) — for copy machines.
There are also multipurpose types of paper, which can be used with any digital printing equipment.
Paper specifications are confirmed to complу with GOST.
GOST R 57641-2017, National Standard of the Russian Federation Xerographic paper for office equipment. General technical specifications, approved and enforced by Order No. 1022-st of Rosstandart of September 07, 2017 took effect from March 01, 2018.
This National Standard of the Russian Federation applies to every customer purchasing under Federal Laws 44-FZ and 223-FZ as it covers paper for office equipment intended for black-and-white and color printing using matrix/inkjet/laser printers, fax machines, and for copying using reproduction equipment, including double-sided (duplex) printing. The standard is also mandatory for printed products.
The standard outlines specifications for paper purchased by customers for office equipment.
The requirements of this National Standard of the Russian Federation when purchasing paper for office equipment are MANDATORY for both customers under 44-FZ and customers under 223-FZ in accordance with applicable legislation of the Russian Federation (p.2 of section 1 of art. 33 of Federal Law No. 44-FZ of April 05, 2013, On the Contract System of the Federal and Municipal Procurement of Goods, Works and Services and p.1 of section 10 of art. 4 of Federal Law No. 223-FZ of July 18, 2011 On purchasing of goods, work, and services by certain types of legal entities).
The procurement documentation must justify in writing why other requirements and rules are used to determine conformance of supplied products to the customer’s requirements when customers do not use GOST R 57641-2017, National Standard of the Russian Federation Xerographic paper for office equipment. General technical specifications, to develop terms of reference for paper to be used with printing and copying equipment.
GOST R 57641-2017, National Standard of the Russian Federation Xerographic paper for office equipment. General technical specifications, approved and enforced by Order No. 1022-st of Rosstandart of September 07, 2017 took effect from March 01, 2018.
This National Standard of the Russian Federation applies to every customer purchasing under Federal Laws 44-FZ and 223-FZ as it covers paper for office equipment intended for black-and-white and color printing using matrix/inkjet/laser printers, fax machines, and for copying using reproduction equipment, including double-sided (duplex) printing. The standard is also mandatory for printed products.
The standard outlines specifications for paper purchased by customers for office equipment.
The requirements of this National Standard of the Russian Federation when purchasing paper for office equipment are MANDATORY for both customers under 44-FZ and customers under 223-FZ in accordance with applicable legislation of the Russian Federation (p.2 of section 1 of art. 33 of Federal Law No. 44-FZ of April 05, 2013, On the Contract System of the Federal and Municipal Procurement of Goods, Works and Services and p.1 of section 10 of art. 4 of Federal Law No. 223-FZ of July 18, 2011 On purchasing of goods, work, and services by certain types of legal entities).
The procurement documentation must justify in writing why other requirements and rules are used to determine conformance of supplied products to the customer’s requirements when customers do not use GOST R 57641-2017, National Standard of the Russian Federation Xerographic paper for office equipment. General technical specifications, to develop terms of reference for paper to be used with printing and copying equipment.
The problem is mainly in incorrect printer settings. Set your print parameters to "default" or "high quality". Change the mode and print again. The problem may also originate from non-compliance with the paper storage conditions when paper becomes wet. Replace paper, and set the right paper type in print settings. Faint printing may also be caused by dirty printer components.
Toner material can get smeared on your printed images for a variety of reasons. Specifically, smearing can be caused by wet, crumpled, creased, off-standard or unsuitable paper placed in the printer tray.
As regards paper, you can fix the problem by checking paper quality and replacing any wet, creased or wrong sized paper.
You can also load a new sheet of regular printing paper and press the printer paper eject button. We recommend to repeat this action several times.
As regards paper, you can fix the problem by checking paper quality and replacing any wet, creased or wrong sized paper.
You can also load a new sheet of regular printing paper and press the printer paper eject button. We recommend to repeat this action several times.
Different screen drivers display on-screen colors differently. So when you print, actual colors may differ from the ones you see on your screen.
Paper dusting means the separation of microscopic fragments of fibers, dyes or sizing agents from the paper surface under mechanical impact. When this paper is used for printing, the quality of a printed image decreases sharply. There is a risk of print peeling from the sheet, and the image becoming insufficiently clear. Paper dust separated from the sheet sticks to laser cartridge elements accelerating their wear and tear. Paper needs to be replaced.
Picking occurs when a fragment peels off from the surface of a paper sheet. The reason for picking is insufficient paper strength and lack of sizing agents in paper composition. Paper needs to be replaced.
Electrostatic charging of paper occurs when paper sheets stick together exposed to an electrostatic charge. With electrified paper, laser printing becomes difficult because several superimposed sheets are fed into the printer at the same time. This results in paper jamming in the printer or an uneven image printed. In addition, electrified paper magnetizes dust particles, which afterwards settle on the cartridge working mechanism accelerating its wear and tear. Static electricity is caused by dry paper and low relative humidity in the area where the paper is stored and printing is performed. Conventional anti-static measures (sprays and powders) are not suitable for digital printing. In winter, the outdoor temperature (and the temperature in vehicles used to transport paper) can drop down to 20 °C below zero. It means that any paper placed inside at a constant temperature of 20 °C above zero experiences a thermal shock (a temperature difference of 40 °C). Temperature and humidity significantly impact electrostatic processes. The surface of immature paper is charged unevenly. Paper jams are also very common. Analyze your paper storage conditions.
Paper is capable of absorbing moisture. Therefore, when it is stored for a long time in a damp room, it loses its ability to hold ink for printing. To avoid an increased moisture content in paper, it should be stored in dry, well-ventilated areas and should not be exposed to moisture.
Paper may become wavy if it is unpacked in a warm room after transportation in the cold season. Moisture condenses on the edges of paper reams due to temperature differentials, which results in the edge deformation. Such “waves” become jammed during printing forming all kinds of creases and wrinkles. After transportation in the cold season, paper must be matured for at least 24 hours.
Sheet curling is caused by different hygroscopic properties of the top and bottom sides of a paper sheet, as well as different orientation of fibers on sheet sides. Cellulose fibers in paper expand by 20 to 30% widthwise and by only 12% lengthwise when paper becomes wet. Therefore, when the cellulose fibers are oriented unevenly on the sheet sides, paper is exposed to different stresses. Paper with high curl tends to curl at the rear edge, which makes it difficult to use it for printing. Replace this paper. Curling can also be caused by excessive drying of paper during printing.
Ink setoff occurs when freshly printed ink is absorbed by the reverse side of the next overlying sheet. If ink setoff is strong, adjacent paper sheets can stick together. In most cases, paper curl leads to ink setoff.
NFCS means National Forest Certification System. If you see the NFCS sign on a product, it means that the product manufacturer runs its business in a responsible manner, complies with national laws, and cares for future generations. Wood used for paper making is harvested without causing damage to our planet and people.
Ilim Group’s forest management system and the system for verifying wood origin were certified for compliance with the National Forest Certification System (NFCS) standards.
Ilim Group’s forest management system and the system for verifying wood origin were certified for compliance with the National Forest Certification System (NFCS) standards.
If you need to store paper for a long time, we encourage you to respect the following rules:
1) We recommend storing office printer paper in its packaging at an ambient temperature of 10 to 30 °C and relative air humidity of 30 to 65%.
2) We recommend removing packaging immediately before printing.
3) Ideal conditions in the room where printing equipment is installed and unpacked office printer paper is stored include temperature of 19 to 23 °C and relative humidity of 45 to 60%.
If relative humidity differs from the specified standards or paper moisture content deviates from the actual humidity in the storage areas by 10%, this paper must be wrapped in a plastic film.
In order to prevent printing defects, we recommend you to purchase paper from proven manufacturers and to follow the storage and use guidelines.
1) We recommend storing office printer paper in its packaging at an ambient temperature of 10 to 30 °C and relative air humidity of 30 to 65%.
2) We recommend removing packaging immediately before printing.
3) Ideal conditions in the room where printing equipment is installed and unpacked office printer paper is stored include temperature of 19 to 23 °C and relative humidity of 45 to 60%.
If relative humidity differs from the specified standards or paper moisture content deviates from the actual humidity in the storage areas by 10%, this paper must be wrapped in a plastic film.
In order to prevent printing defects, we recommend you to purchase paper from proven manufacturers and to follow the storage and use guidelines.
