Each month, Sylvamo's Digital Expert writes a Digital Dish newsletter to fuel your digital cravings. Choosing the right digital paper for the job can be difficult. Read on for tips to consider when printing on an Indigo press.
"There are two main paper attributes to consider when printing on an Indigo press. The first is the star rating, which can be ranked out of 1, 2 or 3 stars, and the second is the grain direction of the paper.
The main difference in star ratings is the percentage of liquid ink adhesion the paper delivers. A paper with a 1 star rating delivers ink adhesion of 70%-79%, a 2 star rating delivers 80%-89%, and a 3 star product delivers 90%-100%. Thus, for a heavy coverage piece that you want to last, a 3 star product is recommended.
Grain direction is another important factor and varies depending on the weight of the paper and series of the press. When printing on a Series 3 press, the text weights should be run grain long and cover weights grain short. The reverse is true on a Series 4 press where the text weights should be run grain short and cover weights grain long. This helps the paper to form around the roll and ensures the best blanket coverage during ink transfer."
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