1. Using basic size and basis weight to calculate the weight of paper
Paper Weights
Using basic size and basis weight to calculate the weight of paper

2. Learning Goals
After completing the activities in this slideshow lecture you should be able to…
Define and identify basic sizes of paper
Define and identify basis weights of paper
Understand how basic size and basis weight are used to calculate paper weights
Calculate the number of sheets needed to print a job
Calculate the weight of paper for a job based on client specs

3. Basic Size What is BASIC SIZE?
The basic size of paper refers to the traditional size a particular type of paper is manufactured in. Coated papers (glossy, dull, satin, etc…) have a different basic size than Writing papers (papers used for stationery). All calculations in regard to a specific type of paper (bond, writing, coated, offset, etc…) are made based on the BASIC SIZE of that particular type of paper.
Paper can be purchased in many different sizes in addition to its BASIC SIZE.
BASIC SIZES vary from one type of paper to another.
“In the U.S. paper industry, measurements of paper density and weight are based on traditional sheet sizes which vary with the type of paper. These standard sheet specifications have persisted, even though in many cases sheets of those sizes are no longer manufactured. Paper is described as, say, 24 pound weight if one ream (500 sheets) cut in the basic size would have a mass of 24 pounds.”

4. Types of Paper Types of Paper
Commercial printing papers are manufactured at a mill (Sappi, New Page, etc…), sold through a paper company (XPEDEX, Lindenmeyr Munroe, Unisource, etc…) and distributed to printing companies (Sun Litho, Carr Printing, Peczuh Printing, etc…).
Paper comes in many shapes and sizes.
It is important to know the following paper types for our class:
Coated Papers (dull, gloss, satin, etc…)
Uncoated Papers (offset, opaque, etc…)
Writing & Bond Papers (uncoated papers used for stationery)
& the difference between text/book weight paper (paper used for the interior part of a book) and cover weight papers (heavier weight paper used for the exterior of books)

5. Types of Paper Types of Paper
Please follow the following links to learn more about different types of paper. These are mills that manufacture paper.
Sappi Fine Paper:
New Page Paper:
French Paper Company:
Neenah Paper:
Finch Fine Papers:

6. Free Paper Swag
FREE Paper Swag Paper companies love to give out free stuff. Here are 2 specific places to get free stuff. Sappi Fine Papers: Go to the ‘Sappi Samples’ link on the bottom right-hand corner. You’ll have to register for a free account, but then you’ll be able to add free paper samples and books to a shopping cart. It’s all free including the shipping. The ‘STANDARDS’ book are amazing.

7. Free Paper Swag
FREE Paper Swag New Page Papers has a series of educational books called the ‘Ed Series’. They are free, but you have to fill out the same form over and over again to get the free books. You can only request one book per form. New Page Papers:

8. Basic Size BASIC SIZES OF PAPER
The basic size of paper is set in stone. Every type of paper has its own basic size for calculating paper weight, etc… The easiest way to know what the basic size of a particular stock is to keep a chart handy. The chart does not change. Everyone in the printing/graphics/paper industry references the same chart.
We will be concerned with the following basic sizes for this class. See if you can find them on the next slide:
Book, Text, Offset, Opaque (they all use the same basic size)
Bond, Writing (they use the same basic size)
Cover

9. Basic Sizes Standardized Chart
BASIC SIZES OF PAPER
What is the basic size for Book, Text, Offset, Opaque stocks?
What is the basic size for Bond, Writing stocks?
What is the basic size for Cover stocks?

10. Basic Sizes Standardized Chart
BASIC SIZES OF PAPER
Write down the following BASIC SIZES. We will be using them in this course. You should memorize them as they will be used over and over again.
Book, Text, Offset, Opaque (they all use the same basic size) in x 38in
Bond, Writing (they use the same basic size) 17in x 22in
Cover in x 26in

11. Why is the BASIC SIZE of paper important?
Why is the BASIC SIZE of paper important? When we talk about paper we say it is 20lb bond (copy paper) or 80lb cover, etc… The weight (or basis weight) of the paper (20lb or 80lb) is calculated using the basic size. The weight of 500 sheets of stock in its basic size = the basis weight. So, 500 sheets of 17in x 22in 20lb bond (copy paper) weighs 20lbs. I was able to calculate this because the basic size of bond paper is 17in x 22in (I pulled that information from the chart on slide 10) and the basis weight from the problem is listed as 20lb. If we were talking about 17lb bond paper then 500 sheets of 17in x 22in would weight 17lbs. Pounds can be written many ways. It is usually written as “#” in printing but you may also see it spelled out like ‘pounds’ or abbreviated as “lb.” or “lbs.”

12. Basis Weight
What is BASIS WEIGHT? The basis weight of paper is the weight of 500 sheets of paper in its basic size. Some people use the basis weight of paper to help identify the thickness of paper. Please do not get it confused. Caliper is the exact thickness of paper. In most circumstances, knowing the basis weight of a stock can help users identify a thicker or a thinner stock, but it does not always work this way. For example, 80lb HannoArt Gloss Coated Cover is going to be thinner than 100lb HannoArt Gloss Coated Cover. I know this because I am comparing apples to apples. I’m comparing the exact stock in 2 different weights.

13. Identifying Basis Weights
Identifying Basis Weights Basis weights are posted in many different locations in many different ways. Here are just a few places you may find basis weights. Try to identify which numbers on the packaging, etc… are the basis weights for that particular stock. The answers will be on the next slide. 1

14. Identifying Basis Weights
This is 24# Neenah Environment Writing Stock. That means that 500 sheets of 17in x 22in stock will weigh 24lbs. (17x22= writing stock basis size) How much do you think this ream should weigh? 1

15. Identifying Basis Weights
How much do you think this ream should weigh? This ream (500 sheets= 1 ream) is 8.5 x 11. Four (4) 8.5 x 11 sheets can fit ‘out’ on one 11 x 17. That means this is ¼ of the 17 x 22 basic size of writing stock. So, this ream should weight ¼ of 24lbs, or 6lbs. 1

16. Identifying Basis Weights2

17. Identifying Basis Weights
This is 20# FraserPapers Torchglow Writing Stock. 2

18. Identifying Basis Weights3

19. Identifying Basis Weights
This is 80# Neenah Conservation Cover. 3

20. Identifying Basis Weights4

21. Identifying Basis Weights
This is a page from a paper swatch book. It lists 2 basis weights that this particular paper is available in (60# and 70#). The 89gsm and 104gsm is the European way to weigh paper. We use pounds. They use grams per square meter. 4

22. Paper Weight
The weight of paper is calculated using a very specific formula. Use the following formula to calculate the weight of paper. This formula requires the user to know the following information:
How many sheets of paper do you need?
What size paper are your purchasing?
What is the basic size of the paper you are purchasing?
What is the basis weight of the paper you are purchasing?
If you do not know this information or are not given this information you must calculate it.

23. Paper Weight Formula for Calculating Paper Weight: Your paper size
# of sheets x
Basis Weight x =
Total Weight of Paper
Basic paper size
500
This is the only value in the equation that does not change. It will always be 500. We divide by 500 because the basis weight is the weight of 500 sheets.

24. Paper Weight Let’s try an example together.
How much does 117,000 sheets of 24in x 36in 80# Gloss Coated Cover weight?
24 x 36 is the size of paper we are purchasing
20 x 26 is the basic size of cover stock (see slide 10)
117,000 is the number of sheets and 80# is the basis weight of the paper we’re purchasing
24 x 36
117,000 x
80# x =
Total Weight of Paper
20 x 26
500
Do not round any values until you have found the final answer. Some of the values will be very long decimals. DO NOT ROUND THEM! Round the final weight to 2 decimal places. This example is unique. By rounding to 2 decimal places the answer becomes a whole number.

25. Paper Weight
Let’s try an example together. How much does 117,000 sheets of 24in x 36in 80# Gloss Coated Cover weight?
24 x 36
117,000 x
80# x =
Total Weight of Paper
20 x 26
500
864 x
234
80# x =
Total Weight of Paper
520 x
234
80# x =
31, or 31,104lbs
Do not round any values until you have found the final answer. Some of the values will be very long decimals. DO NOT ROUND THEM! Round the final weight to 2 decimal places. This example is unique. By rounding to 2 decimal places the answer becomes a whole number.

26. Paper Weight
Try example # 2 on your own. How much does 82,500 sheets of 17.5in x 22.5in 70# opaque text weight?
Do not round any values until you have found the final answer. Some of the values will be very long decimals. DO NOT ROUND THEM! Round the final weight to 2 decimal places. This example is unique. By rounding to 2 decimal places the answer becomes a whole number.

27. Paper Weight
Try example # 2 on your own. How much does 82,500 sheets of 17.5in x 22.5in 70# opaque text weight?
17.5 x 22.5
82,500 x
70# x =
Total Weight of Paper
25 x 38
500
393.75 x
165
70# x =
Total Weight of Paper
950 x
165
70# x =
4, or 4,787.17lbs
Do not round any values until you have found the final answer. Some of the values will be very long decimals. DO NOT ROUND THEM! Round the final weight to 2 decimal places. This example is unique. By rounding to 2 decimal places the answer becomes a whole number.

28. HW: Paper Weights Q1: Paper Weights
What’s Next?
HW: Paper Weights
Q1: Paper Weights