Versatile Paper For Flexible Shops

Today's offset paper product lines offer a range of versatility for in-plants.

by Caroline Miller

IS YOUR in-plant flexible? It better be, if you want it to survive. That goes for your paper too.

Paper companies know this. That's why many of them are developing papers that can be used with a variety of output devices.

"Today, we think that it is very important that papers be able to perform for all the ways you print," says Laura Shore, Mohawk Paper Mill's creative director. "A job might be printed four-color process on an offset press one time, but then somebody might go back later and run a very small quantity on a copier."

The use of both toner and offset devices at in-plants is impacting paper in other ways too, Shore says.

"That trend toward digital is putting more pressure on paper to be bright white and smooth, because smooth papers perform better in toner devices," reveals Shore.

The shift toward uncoated papers in general is also driven in part by improved capabilities in four-color process presses, adds Shore.

"You can routinely get much better color with the tools that are now available," she says. "Color printing has become a bit of a commodity, so that it is very easy to get four-color process results in general and on uncoated papers."

To get the best results from your offset paper, Shore suggests taking a good look at the paper's formation.

"I think that formation is an often-overlooked, but really important paper characteristic," she explains. "The way you can see good formation is to hold the paper up to a light. It should look very even—like ground glass. Good formation allows for a smooth, even ink lay, and it improves your opacity. It also contributes to a smooth, even lay of toner. So the same characteristics that make paper good for offset make the paper good for digital printing, if the paper is smooth."

Another tip Shore offers for in-plants is to consider standardization.

"A lot of in-plants are now looking at their paper at a higher level than just quoting individual jobs and going for the best price," she says. "They are standardizing papers based on performance in their facility. So the operator doesn't have to stop and think, 'OK, I need this paper for this thing and that paper for that thing.' Standardization speeds and improves makeready time."

She also notes that in a tough economy, the temptation is to downgrade paper quality in an attempt to extract even more cost savings.

"I really caution people to look at the whole big picture before they downgrade," she says. "Paper really does improve the look and feel of the final printed job—whether it is printed on a copier, printer or an offset press. The paper is going to make that job look more prestigious, if the paper feels nice and is brighter and smoother. If you are spending a lot of money for art and photography you might as well have really nice paper to have investment pay off."

Here are some of the latest offset paper products from a number of paper vendors.

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Cross-platform Performance

Navajo from Mohawk Paper is a high-performance paper designed to improve print quality, speed makereadies and work cross platform on offset presses and color copiers. Super-smooth, 98-bright Navajo is available in all basis weights from 24 lb. to 130 lb. double thick cover. Navajo can reportedly improve the quality of your printed output while improving your operating efficiencies.

Smooth Solutions

Solutions Super Smooth from Domtar takes Solutions premium text and cover to new heights. This extension to the Solutions line adds the benefit of an ultra smooth surface with the enhanced tactile qualities of an uncoated paper. The formation and surface quality of Solutions Super Smooth reportedly result in outstanding clarity and dot resolution. Solutions Super Smooth is available in basis weights ranging from 24-lb. writing to 100-lb. cover.

Pegasus Soars

Fraser Papers has introduced two enhancements to Pegasus, its 98-brightness Brilliant White grade. Pegasus Super Smooth, with its 60 Sheffield smoothness and 98.4 G.E. brightness, provides an ideal finish to complement critical color printing. Pegasus Digital incorporates the Super Smooth finish in a specification tailored to the technical requirements of digital printing. Both finishes come in all popular sizes for offset and digital printing.

High-performance Workhorse

Spectrum Offset, from Georgia-Pacific, is an economical, high-performance workhorse that reportedly provides reliable and consistent results in high-volume printing. It meets all the demands of the modern in-plant. It features an 84 brightness, and basis weights ranging from 50-lb. text to 70-lb. text and 7 pt. reply card. Both vellum and smooth finishes are available.

Brighter Than Ever

Centura, from Stora Enso North America, features a new higher brightness level of 96 and text and cover basis weights up to 130 lb. Centura has a blue-white shade that provides print brilliance and clean optical whiteness, plus a refined printing surface. Productolith, is known for its clean runnability and press performance. With a new formulation that produces a higher brightness and bluer shade, Productolith is now available in matte, gloss and dull.

Ideal For Design Work

Cougar Opaque, from Weyerhaeuser, is a premium opaque, for high-end, design-intensive print jobs. Often used for annual reports, Cougar Opaque is available in white and natural in a variety of text and cover weights, as well as a new 130-lb. Double Thick Cover. With great ink hold-out and brightness, Cougar is an ideal paper to showcase design work.

A Premium Opaque

Astropaque, from Wausau Papers, is a new premium opaque paper. Its super smooth surface is ideal for conventional and specialty printing, and its high opacity ensures that images will not show through. With 96 brightness, it is stocked in cut, folio and roll sizes, and is available in 50-lb to 100-lb. text, 65-lb. to 100-lb. cover, and 50-lb. and 60-lb. rolls.