An Investigation into Papers for Digital Printing , 2006 Papermaker’s Conference
A survey of digital print providers in the U.S was conducted to identify constraints and potential solutions for improved performance and quality of digitally printed papers. The key factors in printers’ decisions about which paper to purchase were identified as runnability and print quality. The leading paper characteristics considered when making a purchase were found to be toner/ink adhesion, accurate sheet dimensions, dimensional stability, and moisture level. Performance- and runnability-related factors were found to be more important than appearance-related factors. Overall, the price of papers charged by manufacturers to print producers was not a leading factor in the paper selection process. Digital print providers are most interested in an improvement in the extent of the available product range, with more sizes, finishes, and basis weights available for their digital presses.