The Right Paper For The Right Job

Bulk is crucial in smooth paper, because the process of making the paper smoother also makes it thinner—which can, again, cause paper jams. So while copy paper is usually between 3.9 and 4.1 mils, robust laser paper requires 4.2 to 4.4 mils of thickness. For color copier paper, the thickness should be at least 4.4 mils. Thicker papers tend to be less transparent. But according to Andrea Day, technical marketing manager of Champion International, in Stamford, Conn., "Paper of any weight can be made more opaque at the mill by adding fillers such as calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and clays."