6 Things You Ought to Consider Before Buying Blueprint Paper
A wide-format plotter is a big printer that can produce documents 24 to 60 inches in width, making it the ideal idea for blueprint, photography and artwork, engineering plan printing, and textile patterns.
A blueprint is an on-paper reproduction of a technical drawing on light-sensitive sheets of paper using a contact print process. It dates its origin to 1842 when it was introduced by Sir John Herschel and has been used ever since in industry and construction.
If you have a wide-format plotter that you use to make print-outs, this is what you need to keep in mind when choosing the blueprint paper you will print your blueprint on.
1. The Wide-Format Plotter You Have
The model you are using to make blueprint print-outs matters a lot. There are a lot of different types of wide-format plotters available. You must ensure to choose blueprint paper is compatible with your printer. If you are not sure, ask the dealer you want to purchase from, as it will be a loss to you if you buy bond paper and realize it cannot work with the printer you have.
2. The Dimensions of the Paper
The length and the width of the paper are essential factors to consider before buying plotter paper. You need to ensure that the dimensions of your blueprint paper are in order with what your printer can utilize. Typically, the most common roll widths for wide-format printers are 42, 36, 34, 24, 22, 18, 17, and 11 inches. Make sure to cross-reference these dimensions with the size your plotter can accommodate to give you satisfactory print-outs.
3. The Paper’s Finish
Plotter paper rolls come in a wide variety, and when their textures are compared, these variations become even more visible. For example, vellum papers are expensive, high-quality papers that are best suited for inkjet printers. They are usually used to create official blueprint documents.
Before buying printing paper, you ought to decide on the kind of finish you want for your documents. Do you want glossy paper, or would you instead use dull copy?
4. The Weight of the Paper
This refers to how hefty and thick individual leaves are. For this, do not consider how massive the ream itself is, as this may vary based on a couple of factors. The paper’s weight is measured in grams per square meter and dramatically affects how your paper feels and how the final print looks.
5. The Printing Process Itself
This comes in play, especially if you have specialty printing processes in mind. These processes include embossing, foil stamping, and letterpress. You must ensure that the type of paper you go for can withstand all these techniques. You don’t want to buy printing paper in bulk only to find out it isn’t well suited to these techniques.
6. The Cost of the Paper
Another critical factor you need to keep in mind is how affordable the type of paper is. Although ideally more expensive paper implies better quality and finish, sometimes you are forced to settle on something that fits well into your budget. If the media you are printing out is for sale, for example, photographs and artwork, then make sure you buy paper that costs less than what you intend to charge for your print-outs.
Final Thoughts
A wide-format plotter is an essential piece of machinery to have, especially in these digital media age. Depending on the industry you are in, you may be forced to make a lot of prints regularly. Statistics have shown that today’s architectural and engineering offices generate up to 3500 square feet per month of printing output.
For this reason, you must ensure that you use the most appropriate type of paper for your printer, as this increases the printer’s functionality and generates high-quality print-outs. You must also have your wide-format printer regularly serviced and maintained by professionals, to ensure it doesn’t break down while it is being used.
