Paper is the most expensive material used in the printing plant, so selecting the most appropriate paper for a printing job is critical. From color, weight, and texture to design, printing process, and end use, a number of details must be considered to successfully meet end-use requirements, production demands, customer expectation, and economic price breaks.

Paper Buying Primer provides a thorough overview of the fundamentals of paper usage, from grades and their uses to handling complaints, as well as available resources to answer your questions. The easy-to-follow nature of this brief work will help the reader understand the procedures and terminology used by paper suppliers and distributors, and make wise and informed decisions in paper purchasing.

From the Preface: “...The buyer who purchases the right product for the job at the best price is one who is knowledgeable about the product lines. This knowledge comes from experience and from resources such as paper merchants, office supply houses, paper mills, and trade organizations. After 30 years in the paper and printing business, however, I have discovered that most buyers don't take full advantage of the available resources. This primer is designed to facilitate communication between buyers and sellers of paper to create a win/win transaction.”

Target Audience: Students, graphic artists, print buyers, publishers, sales staff in the graphic communications industry, and to any other reader who wishes to learn more about the role of paper in the printing process.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Preparing to Write an Order

Paper Types

Ordering Paper in Sheets

Ordering Paper in Rolls

How Paper Is Priced

How to Place a Making Order

Paper Spoilage Allowance

Sampling Programs

Paper Conditioning

Handling Paper Complaints

Selecting Envelopes

Glossary

Index