Digital Papers--Made to Order

Robert Hieronymus, market manager for imaging papers at Georgia-Pacific, feels the paper characteristics most sought after can be traced to color laser printers and copiers, which fueled demand for smooth laser papers with high whiteness characteristics.

"Printers now have the option to produce short-run promotion pieces either offset or on digital laser equipment, and both technologies coexist in many commercial print shops," Hieronymus maintains. "Demand is growing for higher basis weights, very smooth text and cover grades to support the high-resolution capabilities of the new digital laser equipment. Printers are also placing greater emphasis on paper products that work equally well in both offset and laser printing applications, to help minimize the number of grades they need to carry."