How to Select the Right Paper to use With an Inkjet Printer

The right paper for your inkjet printer depends on the design and manufacture of the printer, as well as the printing job you are trying to complete. Use these three considerations as anchor points in the decision-making process to avoid being swamped by the choices in the paper market. Follow these steps to select the right paper to use with an inkjet printer:

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Inkjet printer
• Printer paper

1. Take a look at your printer’s instruction manual. You should find a list of recommended papers to use for some of the more common printing tasks. These recommendations are largely advertising for the manufacturer, but the paper types listed there are a decent place to start.
2. Examine a package of the manufacturer’s recommended inkjet paper. Note the specifications for weight, finish and thickness.
3. Get paper with the same or nearly the same specifications from another paper manufacturer. Make identical prints with the manufacturer-recommended paper and the paper from a different supplier and compare the results.
4. Experiment with different paper weights and thicknesses. Heavier and thicker papers have a more “authoritative” feel that is well suited for photos and for archiving purposes.
5. Try out other finishes. The finish is a composite of two characteristics: brightness, which is a measure of the smoothness of the sheet; and absorption, which determines how fast the ink is drawn into the paper fibers. Different finishes will alter the final look of the print.
6. Choose papers with a high rag or cotton-fiber content for quality documents. These papers are more durable than stock made from wood pulp and feel nicer to the touch.
7. Keep experimenting.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your inkjet printer’s paper feed path. If it goes more or less straight through, whether horizontally or vertically, the printer can handle heavier-weight paper better than a design that draws the paper around a sharp corner as part of the printing process.
• Store inkjet-printer paper flat on its back, not standing on edge. Also, store the paper in the original packaging at normal room temperature and humidity.
• Some paper types are not two-sided when it comes to printing. Sheets with special coatings are noted for this. Check the packaging for loading and printing instructions.
• Touch the printing surface of coated papers as little as possible. The oils and moisture on your fingers can mar the coating and introduce flaws into the printing process.

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