How to Choose Paper for Your Printer

Check the specifications of the paper you buy to make sure you're getting the most out of your printer.


Steps:
1. Use scrap paper if you are printing a draft or rough copy of a document.

2. Pick generic 20-lb. paper if the appearance of your printout is unimportant.

3. Choose a 24-lb. to 40-lb. white paper with high ISO brightness if you want better-than-ordinary quality from an ink-jet or laser printer.

4. Select coated paper made for ink-jet printers if you want to approach laser-printer quality, or if you are printing color graphics or pictures that you want to look nice.

5. Use a heavyweight, high-resolution, glossy coated paper with an ink-jet if you are printing a photograph that you want to look like a film print. (You can even buy 4-by-6-inch stock to make the print look more like a "real" photograph.)


Tips:
Ink-jet ink soaks into plain paper and spreads. Coated papers prevent that saturation.

Check your printer manual before using heavy stock. The manufacturer usually suggests a weight limit. Even under the limit, though, stiffer media tends to jam.

Linens, other textured papers and most recycled papers work poorly in both ink-jets and laser printers.

Although printer manufacturers would like you to believe that you will get the best results using their brand of papers, this isn't always the case.

You can buy chemically treated papers for making iron-on transfers to use on T-shirts, but you must use the manufacturer's own papers.


Tips from Users:

Always remember to read the instructions on the printer and the paper. What I mean by this is that some printers have settings to T-shirts in which the design is put on backwards.
 

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