Where can I get info about paper?

[Carrie]

Yesterday I called our (only) office supply store and asked if they had
white cardstock, and an impatient sounding woman said I would have to find
out what weight paper my printer would handle. She didn't seem too helpful
or like she wanted my business (LOL)

I looked in the booklet that came with my printer, and online and
couldn't find anything about this. It's not an expensive (or very good)
printer, a Lexmark 5150 all in one, but all I have right now.

I checked the paper I've been using and printer paper is 20 lb and some
off white cardstock (they call it) from Stables is 110 lb. This is what I
use for bookmarks and something like what we called, years ago in school oak
tag. Sort of like dividers in filing cabinets are made of. So, going by
this, it seems like my printer will handle anything between that range. I
think it will print on magnetic and iron on material, too.

From looking online I have decided regular cardstock is around 60-80 or
90 lb weight. But not sure what the difference is, if it's very much. I have
limited stores here but a Staples and Walmart if I can get someone to go for
me or take me) but not sure what I need for what. Ordering paper online,
even if it's low priced, they usually charge so much for shipping it ends up
costing as much or more.

Does anyone know a link or chart that tells about the weight of paper,
and what it's used for? What's used for cards, like notecards and what for
booklets, or business cards, etc?

I know people must have their favorites for this, and some is coated and
some not, but just an overall idea.

I once bought some white cardstock online, that's semi gloss on one side
and not the other (the inside of the card) but I don't remember if it said
what weight it was.I didn't realize it was important at the time. I'd like
to get it in packs and not precut/prefolded like in crafts kits (Avery has,
for example) because of the cost. Even on the Avery card packs it doesn't
say what weight the paper is.

What I picture for note cards is something not too shiney or heavy, but
something a picture or design would print on bright and clear. The idea of a
notecard is to be able to write on it (the inside) so that can't be too
shiney.

Thanks,

~ Carrie

 

[Mary Sauer]

I have used card stock in every printer I've ever used. I think I'm on my fifth color
printer and second laser printer. I bought a package of cardstock this week and
printed colored parking passes for an event. No problem... I bought the stock
(Georgia-Pacific) at Wal-Mart.
I use blank cards from Dick Blick. They are 10 x 7 with a scored fold line. They are
advertised as water color cards, but they do nicely in my color printer.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz129/40/
This site has a good variety. Everything from blank candy wrappers to blank door
hangers.
http://www.edps.com/index.php

 

[Carrie]

I have used card stock in every printer I've ever used. I think I'm on my fifth color
printer and second laser printer. I bought a package of cardstock this week and
printed colored parking passes for an event. No problem... I bought the stock
(Georgia-Pacific) at Wal-Mart.
I use blank cards from Dick Blick. They are 10 x 7 with a scored fold line. They are
advertised as water color cards, but they do nicely in my color printer.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz129/40/
This site has a good variety. Everything from blank candy wrappers to blank door
hangers.
http://www.edps.com/index.php

My daughter's boyfriend, who is a comic book artist used to get
catalogs from DickBlick. I didn't realize it might be something for computer
stuff! I just remembered the name (LOL)

Do you know what the weight of cardstock is you got a Walmart, or does
it just say "cardstock"? Would this be good to print cards on? Maybe 2
cards per paper?

I can get things at Walmart, but it's not near and I have to find
someone to go for me so I like to have it written down specifically if I
can. I don't have much money for this, so can't just buy a lot and see what
I like and what works for me.

Though, I suppose at some point I'll have gotten enough so I'll know this
anyway.

I thought the person at the Office Supply store I called had a funny
(unhelpful) attitude. And she was someone the woman who answered the phione
transfered me to, to help me with my questions.

I used to print everything and anything with my old Canon BJC-250, which
lasted around 6 years. Once my grandkids had a popcorn fight and got some
in it, I dumped it out and ran construction paper through it, and it soaked
up any grease and was fine.

I just never paid attention to the weight of the paper. And still not
sure just what's best for what I want to do (small note cards). Someone got
me some precut, prefolded ones from a big paper supply place in Louisville
(and mailed them to me, to practice on) but they seemed to print dull and
dark, and has a little indentation around where the picture went, so they
had to be lined up just so. Park Ave cards they were called.

Thanks for the suggestions.

~ Carrie

 

[Mary Sauer]

According to the Lexmark manual, the cardstock cannot exceed .025 inches thick. How
one measures that is unknown. The cardstock I bought is 110 lb. The picture on the
package mentions multi-function printers. It cost about $4.95 for 150 sheets. I've
never used an all-in-one printer. Lexmark cartridges seem to be pricey.

 

[Carrie]

According to the Lexmark manual, the cardstock cannot exceed .025 inches thick. How
one measures that is unknown. The cardstock I bought is 110 lb. The picture on the
package mentions multi-function printers. It cost about $4.95 for 150 sheets. I've
never used an all-in-one printer. Lexmark cartridges seem to be pricey.

I didn't know how to measure the thickness, either. What I got is 110 lb
but I got off white, because it seemed to look better for bookmarks. I found
it online several months ago and had someone get it for me at Staples. When
I looked yesterday I couldn't find it.

It was 250 sheets for $9.99 (when I got it)

Yesterday I got confused because of the weights of paper, Thinking maybe
60-90 or so might be a big thicker and softer. But, too soft, the ink soaks
in.

The Lexmark cartridges do seem to run out fast, but I've been getting
deals on them from ebay like 2 in a pack for $40 (with the shipping) I also
got some good ink and refilling syringes, but even when I do it perfectly,
it works for about a week and then stops.

I only got the Lexmark at the time because of not having much money to
put into it and not knowing what I could get. It comes in handy as a copier,
which can be used even without a computer. At some point I'll find the name
of a better printer, and maybe find one used, or on sale. My original
printer the Canon BJC-250 lasted 6 years, and I refilled cartridges at times
with that (the black ones).

The more I know the more I find out I don't know (LOL)

I'd forgotten how much I love this newsgroup! I stop coming here at
times because I never get anything else done. It gets harder and harder to
stop doing "what I love" (photos, Photoshop, art, learning computer stuff,
etc) and force myself to do boring chores like washing dishes and sweeping
floors. But at some point I feel guilty (and my butt gets sore) if I don't
get up and do something.

It would be nice if I could do something that brought in money, with
some of this. But, right now, I don't have anything else I can be doing
anyway. So, I tell myself I'm learning and it will all come together in some
way at some time. Maybe just helping me feel like I'm doing something (my
passion) is the real value.

~ Carrie