Is Your Paper Printer Friendly?

In any office setting, high-quality, printer-friendly paper holds significant value. From projects and proposals to memos and agendas, paper is an essential aspect of office life. Having the right paper for the job is even more vital to the success of said job or project. Just as you wouldn’t use a colored pencil to draft a proposal for a client, you also wouldn’t want to use a paper that is low-quality and prone to jamming your printer.

How can you tell the difference between quality, printer-friendly paper and subpar options on the market? Also, why does paper matter so much to the success of a business? To answer this, let’s look at some paper comparisons and the ways that quality paper makes a difference in a professional setting.

Why Does High-Quality Printer Paper Matter in Business?

To explain the overwhelming value behind high-quality printer paper, let’s examine the countless projects that utilize printer paper. Whether you are a work-from-home business owner, executive, or office manager, paper is a necessity.

Think about your daily work routine and the many projects it consists of. You likely begin the day by outlining your projects in a paper planner or on a printed piece of paper. From there, you likely finish work that consists of outlines, proposals, and memos. Then, you share this information with your staff or with your clients on paper. The list goes on and on—and all of it consists of paper and various paper products. 

In fact, according to Daily Infographic, the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. With copy paper being such a large part of all business settings, it’s clear that cost-effective, high-quality paper is key. So, how do you compare paper options currently on the market to find the best choice? Below is a comprehensive comparison guide for you to follow to help you find the right paper for your office space.

5 Things to Consider When Determining if Your Paper is Printer Friendly

When determining what paper is most printer-friendly, accessible, and cost-effective for your office, there are some things you should definitely take into account. The key to high-quality paper is its ability to print smoothly, its versatility, its fiber count and material, and the way it holds ink. By paying attention to these crucial elements when picking the right paper option for your office, you will find an option that works for you.

1. Does It Jam the Printer Often?

When first analyzing a paper option, look at how smoothly it runs through your printer and whether or not it jams said printer frequently. If the paper you are currently using jams your printer, this could be due to its low-quality.

According to Globe News Wire, “low-quality paper often has inconsistent caliper, or thickness, resulting in more jams…low-quality paper can have tiny waves, creases, or wrinkles that cause jams. High-quality paper is manufactured to very specific standards and usually comes with a performance guarantee, which means it will give you the same results ream-to-ream and carton-to-carton.”

Fortunately, when using Double A paper in your office space, you can prevent paper jams easily. Double A’s production process leads to a more consistent and high-quality product that works well with printers.

2. Can Your Paper Deal with a Variety of Print Options?

Just as smooth printing is vital, your paper’s ability to deal with a variety of print options will also ensure that every printed product is done right the first time. Going back to the 10,000 sheets of paper used every year by office workers, imagine how many are used if the paper is of low-quality and the project must be reprinted.

The key to finding the best printer-friendly paper is to take into account how well it does with various print jobs, colors, and formats. For example, if your paper is of low-quality, it is likely to “suck up” ink and use more ink than good paper would use. It may also have trouble printing large pictures or fine print due to rough or low-quality material surfaces. 

In fact, good quality paper ensures fewer breakdowns on your office inkjet printer. To test this, simply use your paper for various projects and see how well it performs. If its performance is subpar, it may be time to consider a paper alternative. 

3. What Is the Fiber Count?

When determining the quality of a paper option, many people look past its fiber count. A paper product that has a high fiber count is likely to be heavier, more consistent, smoother, brighter, and easier to print on.

While many low-quality paper options stick with small fiber counts and bleach their paper to make it brighter, Double A paper has 30 million fibers per gram and this 24 lb. paper makes all the difference during the printing process.

While 20 lb. paper may be the norm, as are lower fiber count paper options, these products are less likely to stand the test of time and be able to print on both sides, provide the best product, and remain printer-friendly.

4. What Material Is the Paper Made From?

You should also examine what material the paper is made from. According to Office Depot, “When quality is important to you, choose a paper with a moderate weight (24-lb or above), crisp brightness (92 or above) and a good composition…The combination of fibers and the way it feels when handled helps convey importance, giving more weight to the page in the most literal sense.”

While low-quality paper opts for mixed fibers and subpar tree options, printer-friendly paper will focus on materials that are of higher quality, and will likely source responsibly for the production process. Double A studied over 2,500 types of trees for over 25 years to create the perfect paper tree and develop a sustainable process. The raw material planted for Double A paper has been developed to provide the best fiber. This is how Double A sets itself apart and creates a reliable paper product each and every time and that why Double A is a sustainable paper.

5. Does the Paper Supplier Have Various Cut Sizes to Choose From?

Although the cut sizes of the paper you choose may not seem like that big of a deal, one of the biggest reasons that paper jams is because of multiple different paper brands being put together in one printer. However, a good way to combat this is to find a paper supplier that has multiple cut size options for all projects you may need to complete in the office.

Think about the various projects you do as a company, ranging from the proposals and outlines you create for clients, all the way to the memos and blueprints you use as an office manager or remote worker. All of these projects take different cut sizes and make an accommodating supplier necessary.

Double A paper provides countless cut sizes ranging from A3 to F14 in order to make any project a walk in the park, and avoid the paper jams caused by low-quality paper fiber breakage. This ensures that projects can be completed in the most crisp, bright, and consistent manner every time.

Printer-friendly paper may be the best way to take your office work to the next level. With a bit of research, the right information, and the right paper supplier on your side, you can finally kiss paper jams goodbye and start creating printed products that reflect your hard work and professionalism every time.