Showerthought: cheap copy paper vs 32lb laser paper changed how my color jobs come out
I print a lot of flyers for my cousin's landscaping crew out of my garage in Fresno, and for a long time I was grabbing the big 500 sheet ream of 20lb multipurpose from the office store because it was cheap. The colors always looked dull and washed out, and the ink looked like it was sitting on top of the page instead of soaking in. Last month I ran out and grabbed a ream of 32lb laser paper at like $14 just to get through a job, and the difference was night and day. The greens actually came out green instead of that grayish olive, and the blacks looked deep instead of faded. I think the heavier paper soaks up the toner better and doesn't let it bleed into the fibers so much. I printed the same 200 flyers on both and held them side by side, and there was no contest. The heavy stock cost me a bit more but the client said the flyers looked like they came from a real shop. What weight do you all keep around for basic color runs?