Yes, you have to hear this.
The first question: how did you measure it?
By touch...
The main problem is that it’s like ... well, if you compare warm with soft. Or, say, a crocodile that is longer than green. Because it is long both at the top and bottom, and green only at the top.
"Ok, Google, Paper weight !”
Paper density is measured in grams per square meter. If the paper packaging says that it is 350 g/m22 paper, it means that a sheet of paper measuring 1 meter by 1 meter weighs 350 grams.
< p>This is the formulation of paper density. Therefore, the question is: what was there to the touch?
Paper density has nothing to do with the thickness, plumpness, or whiteness of the paper.
It has historically happened that printing houses operate with precisely this parameter: density. And, often, they are easily able to confirm this density in laboratory conditions (yes, in laboratory conditions). Moreover, printing houses have certificates for paper.
Then where do so many variations on the theme of paper come from?
Everything is quite simple.
- Manufacturers. Let me give you an example. BMW and Mercedes car. They are different. They meet safety requirements, they have a steering wheel, headlights and turn signals. Because those are the requirements. But, nevertheless, these are different cars. And they drive differently. It's the same with paper. It is different for different manufacturers. But at the same time it corresponds to the declared density.
- Special types of paper. The so-called "designer" ones. This is a separate category of papers that are produced in a special way and, as a result, have a different structure or rigidity.
- Production technology and post-printing processes. Oddly enough, but this is also important. For example, business cards printed digitally will appear stiffer than business cards printed on the same paper but offset. Varnishing or lamination will also add sensations.
- The direction of the fibers in the paper. Oh yes, that's a separate issue. Take a sheet of paper. We cut out the business card along the sheet. Then, the same one, but across. And believe me, they will already seem different in rigidity.
- Production error. To be honest, this also happens when in a hurry you grab the wrong paper. True, very, very rarely. In my memory, over the 4 years of operation of the online store, this happened a couple of times.
Based on this, what happens? And this is what happens. Typically, printing houses do not often change paper suppliers. Consequently, the printing house produces samples. And, therefore, if paper density is crucial for you, you will probably have to go to the printing house and simply ask the manager for samples. Feel them before printing.
What to do with simpler products such as business cards? And even in a city where there is no representative office of the required printing house?
The answer is simple. Circulations of business cards of 500 pieces and above will be printed in the so-called. prefabricated editions. This means that along with your order, there will be about 60 other business cards on the printed sheet. This means that no normal director of a printing house would want to immediately deceive 60 clients and slip them paper of a lower density.
So rest assured: with a 99% probability you received your order on paper of exactly the thickness you ordered.
Talked about paper
Sergey Shulaev