FAQS
If you cannot find the answer you are looking for here, please contact Longbottom with your question.
- What do these Paper Terms mean?
- Environmental Symbols on each product... what do they mean?
- What does "Reverse Print" mean?
- What are "Dye Sublimation" inks?
- What are "UV-Curable" inks?
- What is the difference between "Dye" & "Pigmented" inks?
- What is a Piezo Inkjets?
- What is a Thermal Inkjet?
- What is "FSC"?
- Why do you get different results from two printers of the same make when using the same media and ink combination?
- What is Fogra Certification (or PSO)?
- What does gsm mean?
- What is recycled white paper used for?
- What is CIE L*, a* & b*?
- What is CIE Whiteness and Tint?
- What is ColorLok Technology?
- Do "Solvent" inkjet printers use different media than "Water based" (aqueous) inkjet printers?
- Common sizes of PAPER...
- Common sizes of ENVELOPES...
- Common CONVERSIONS...
- Is gsm the same as thickness?
- How much wood is required to make a tonne of paper?
- Why is pulp bleached?
- What part of the wood is used to make paper pulp?
- What does "Front Print" mean?
Alternative Fibre
Plant fibres, other than timber, that can be used to make paper, e.g.: cotton, hemp, bamboo or sugar cane. These fibres may be waste products from other industries, therefore diverting organic waste from landfill, or they may be grown specifically for paper making.
Archival Paper - long life
paper made in accordance with ISO9706. It meets ISO standard for long life properties and characteristics of permanence. 100 years plus.
Bleaching
Bleaching is a method using chlorine or other chemicals to whiten the colour of woodpulp used in papermaking. Bleaching is a method using chlorine or other chemicals to whiten the colour of woodpulp used in papermaking.
TCF = Total Chlorine Free.
The pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine chemicals, i.e. no chlorine gas or chlorine dioxide, giving a zero AOX reading.
The pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine chemicals, i.e. no chlorine gas or chlorine dioxide, giving a zero AOX reading.
ECF = Elemental Chlorine Free.
This pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine gas. However, some chlorine dioxide is used, plus other non chlorine based products such as Oxygen. Pulps using this bleaching method contain up to 0.5 kgs AOX per tonne of air dried pulp.
This pulp is bleached without the use of chlorine gas. However, some chlorine dioxide is used, plus other non chlorine based products such as Oxygen. Pulps using this bleaching method contain up to 0.5 kgs AOX per tonne of air dried pulp.
PCF = Processed Chlorine Free.
The process of de-inking and bleaching of recycled pulp using non-chlorine bleaching agents such as liquid oxygen, hydrogen peroxide or sodium hydroxide. Because the bleaching agent of the original paper cannot be traced, the recycled pulp cannot claim to be totally chlorine free (TCF).
The process of de-inking and bleaching of recycled pulp using non-chlorine bleaching agents such as liquid oxygen, hydrogen peroxide or sodium hydroxide. Because the bleaching agent of the original paper cannot be traced, the recycled pulp cannot claim to be totally chlorine free (TCF).
Blue Angel Award
The German Environmental label for 100% Recycled Products. The main restriction for products classified under the "Blue Angel" is:
The product must be based on 100% waste paper as fibre (tolerance level of 5% acceptable)
A minimum of 51% of the recycled fibre iself must derive from either low / medium grade or wood containing paper products. The paper grade must be in line with the required DIN standard for copy paper. The use of bleaching halogens eg: chlorine or chlorine compounds or Ethylene Diamin Tarea Acetate (EDTA) during production is strictly prohibited.
Brightness
Brightness is the reflectance of blue light. Results are expressed as a percentage.
Caliper
Caliper is the thickness of a single sheet. The results are expressed in microns, 1000 microns equals 1 millimetre (called "mils" when referring to paper, "point" when referring to paper-board).
Chain of Custody
The means of tracking a product along the supply chain. For instance, being able to trace paper from the forest of origin, through the pulp and paper mill, paper merchant and printer to the end user. Often a third party audits the Chain of Custody system, as with the FSC and PEFC schemes.
EMAS - Eco-management & Audit Scheme
A European Union, (EU), which is a voluntary instrument which acknowledges organisations that improve their environmental performance on a continuous basis. EMAS registered organisations are legally compliant, run an environment management system and report on their environment performance through the publication of an independently verified environmental statement. They are recognised by the EMAS logo, which guarantees the reliability of the information provided.
EMS - Environmental Management System
A business process, that ensures that environmental matters are addressed through a documented system. ISO 14001 and EMAS are examples.
FSC - Forest Stewardship Council
An international, non government organisation, which promotes responsible and sustainable forest management. The FSC system of forest certification and product labeling allows papermakers to identify woodpulp that comes from well managed forests.
Grain
The direction along which the majority of fibres run.
LG - the fibres run along the long edge of the sheet.
SG - the fibres run parallel to the short edge of the sheet.
ISO9002
This is for organizations that produce, install and service products. It is a quality assurance model made up of Quality System Requirements
ISO9706
International standard for paper permanence. Measures pH levels as well as tear resistance and chemical content.
ISO14001
International Environment Management Standard. It specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system.
Lignin
A brown organic substance that acts as an inter-fibre bond in woody materials.
O.B.A.
Optical Brightening Agent used to brighten the paper. Absorbs white light and re-emits in the visible spectrum giving the appearance of a whiter or bluer sheet.
Opacity
Opacity is the percentage of light which is reflected from the paper surface. The greater the value, the more opaque the material, therefore reducing the degree of show-through. The results are expressed as a percentage.
Oxygen Bleaching
A process in which oxygen is used to facilitate a reduction in other bleaching compounds and an essential component for TCF woodpulp production.
PEFC
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. This is a scheme for auditing forestry operations, taking into account the effects on the environment.
pH Neutral
This indicates the neutral status of the paper, generally determined by the use of so called "acid free" production processes. The pH is calculated from a water extract of the paper.
Plantations
Those areas planted to selected species (either hardwood or softwood) specifically for timber and/or fibre production.
Post Consumer Waste
Waste collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it. Recovered printed materials collected from retail stores, offices, homes etc., after it has passed through its end usage as a consumer item. This can be de-inked to form a recycled pulp.
Pre-Consumer Waste
Paper that has been reclaimed for example, waste paper produced by mills during the paper making process that has traditionally been reused in manufacturing paper. Also known as "Mill Waste".
Recycled Paper
Paper made all or in part from recycled pulp. Fibres can normally be recycled 5-6 times before they break down. In Australia recycled papers should contain a minimum of 25% recycled fibre (pre or post consumer waste). Paper cannot be recycled indefinitely, as the fibres get shorter and weaker each time. Some virgin pulp must be introduced into the process to maintain the strength and quality of the fibre. Recycled papers can be 100% recycled or made up of a mix of pre & post consumer waste along with some virgin fibre for strength.
Recycled Pulp
Pulp made from waste paper or board and used to make paper. It may or may not be de-inked. The quality of the fibres deteriorates with recycling, so paper cannot be endlessly recycled.
Sustainable Forests
Sustainability is all about the preserving the world's natural resources for future generations. A fully sustainable industry would be one that has zero impact or a positive impact on the environment.
Well Managed Forest
Forests that are certified and audited to ensure they comply with environmentally sustainable practice and principles. Typical hardwood and soft wood trees are now grown in well managed forests.
Woodfree
Description used of pulp and paper meaning that they contain little or no mechanically ground fibres. Implies that fibres are chemically treated, thereby eliminating lignin and making the product purer, whiter and stronger. Woodfree is an historical paper-making term shortened from "ground wood-free" and does not denote a paper or pulp made from materials other than wood.
Reverse Print or Backlit - The image is printed in reverse (backwards) on the coated side of the media. The media is then fixed in a light box with the printed side facing the light source. The image is viewed through the non printed side. The image when viewed is the right way round.
These inks contain special sublimation dyes and are used to print directly or indirectly on to fabrics which consist of a high percentage of polyester fibres.
A heating step causes the dyes to sublimate into the fibres and create an image with strong colour and good durability.
These inks consist mainly of acrylic monomers with an initiator package. After printing, the ink is cured by exposure to strong UV light.
The advantage of UV curable inks is that they "dry" as soon as they are cured. They can be applied to a wide range of uncoated substrates, and they produce a very robust image.
The disadvantage is that they can be expensive, requiring curing modules in the printer to cure the ink.
Dye based inks
- Poor light fastness
- Indoor use only
- Suitable for most media types
- Produce larger range of colours
Pigment (UV) inks
- Excellent light fastness
- Designed for outdoor use
- Suitable for pigment compatible inks only
- Slightly reduced colour range
Most commercial & industrial inkjet printers us a piezoelectric material in an ink filled chamber behind each nozzle instead of a heating element. When a voltage is applied, the piezoelectric material changes shape or size, which generates a pressure pulse in the fluid forcing a droplet of ink from the nozzle.
Piezoelectric (also known as Piezo) inkjet allows a wider variety of inks than thermal or continuous inkjet but the print heads are more expensive. Piezo inkjet technology uses stationary heads, robust construction and are designed for high volume production, faster print speeds and lower costs.
There is a drop-on-demand process, with software that directs the heads to apply between 0 to 8 droplets of ink per dot and only where needed.
Most consumer inkjet printers use print cartridges with a series of tiny electrically heated chambers. The printer runs a pulse of current through the heating elements causing a steam explosion in the chamber to form a bubble, which propels a droplet of ink onto the paper. The surface tension as well as the condensation and thus contraction of the vapour bubble, pulls a further charge of ink into the chamber through a narrow channel attached to an ink reservoir.
The ink used is known as aqueous (waterbased inks using pigments or dyes) and the print head is generally cheaper to produce that other inkjet technologies.
NOTE: Thermal inkjets have no relation to thermal printers, which produce images by heating thermal paper (old fax machines, ATM receipts etc)
FSC - Forest Stewardship Council - (COC) Accreditation
Longbottom Digital Papers is an FSC accredited supplier.
The FSC is an international body committed to promoting sustainable forestry operations. They have devised a set of forest management standards accredited forests must meet in order to retain accreditation, which ensures that wood fibre is managed sustainably.
Chain of Custody (COC) is an accreditation that applies to paper and pulp mills, agents, paper merchants and printers who are handling FSC accredited products. In order to continue the chain each party must be FSC accredited ensuring the FSC product is suitably separated from non FSC product. The end result is that the FSC logo can be printed on the final product.
The FSC is working to ensure their logo is consumer recognised and educating consumers of the absolute need for sustainable managed forests.
We have a number of FSC products - take a look...
- Color Copy Laser
- 26 Gloss & Satin
- Enviro Gloss & Satin
- Neox
- Recycled 100%
- Splendorgel
- Tintoretto
- IQ Appeal Copy Paper
- Maestro Triotec TCF
A combination of things can cause this to happen including different
- RIP software
- Profiles
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Condition of printer (particularly print heads)
- Age of inks and media
It may seem that the only thing to do with recycled copy paper, is to turn it back into copy paper, but, there are many other good uses.
| Brown Cardboard | White / White topped Cardboard | Newsprint |
| Envelope Papers | Bag & Sack Papers | Tissue Paper |
| Offset Papers | Photocopy Paper | Specialty Papers |
These are 3 quantities used to define the colour of paper, calculated from reflectance values.
- L* measures lightness on a scale from 0 (black) to 100 (snow white)
- a* measures greenness if negative, redness if positive
- b* measures blueness if negative, yellowness if positive
Whiteness and tint play a similar role to a* and b* for white papers.
- Low values of whiteness correspond to cream shades of white.
- High values of whiteness correspond to blue shades of white
- Negative values of tint correspond to reddish shades
- Positive values of tint correspond to greenish shades
ColorLok Technology is based on a class of paper additives that visibly enhance the print quality of inkjet document printing while also providing fast drying time. A specific chemical interaction between additives and the pigment in the ink penetrates deep into the paper.
The results in a paper that is highly absorbant (for fast drying) & also keeps the colorant near the paper surface for rich, crisp, vivid print quality.
This specific interaction between the ColorLok additives and the ink colorant enables a paper design with the unique combination of increased print quality and fast drying time.
In addition since consistent and reliable printing in the office setting with many different types of printers and copiers is essential, ColorLok Technology also meets a range of concise physical and electrostatic specifications relevant to inkjet and laser printing.
Try this paper and see the difference.
Maestro Triotec TCF now with ColorLok Technology
- Archival 200 years
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
- Acid Free
- Sustainable Forest
- TCF (total chlorine free)
Aqueous inkjet printers require a top coating on the media to ensure that the ink keys well without beading or running.
Solvent inkjet printers use stabilised uncoated media. The solvent ink essentially impregnates the media, meaning that a top coating is not required.
PAPER SIZES - For your convenience and quick reference
You can also print this Size Chart to keep on your desk.
Here a few simple conversion.
Click here to view this pdf on more complex conversions and paper calculations
- How to work out weight of paper in kg
- How to calculate grammage of paper
- How many linear metres on a reel
- Millimetres to inches / inches to millimetres
Not exactly. Thickness is measured in microns (millionths of a metre, or thousandths of a millimetre). Standard copy paper typically has a thickness of about 100 microns but is approximately 80gsm.
Grammage is the weight of the paper over a square metre.
Green wood consists of roughly 50% moisture, 25% cellulose and 25% lignin. 4 tonnes of green wood are required to produce 1 tonne of chemical pulp.
For a typical fine paper containing approx 3% starch and 15% calcium carbonate filler, this would make approx 1.4 tonnes of paper.
Mechanical pulps are fairly bright as prepared, but usually require some brightening to reach an adequate level of brightness and whiteness.
Chemical pulps as made are brown. This is fine for many packaging paper grades but is totally unsuitable for printing and writing grades. Bleaching is therefore necessary to remove the coloured compounds from the fibres, and allow a white sheet of paper to be made.
