Paper Samples

Ask Your Print Provider for These Kinds of Samples to Better Understand Their Inkjet Capabilities

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The success of your project depends on the digital inkjet capabilities of your print provider, and one way to ensure that collaborative success is to ask them to provide samples. While that might sound obvious, not all print samples are created equal. You need print samples that demonstrate the full range of their digital inkjet possibilities — this means everything from different types of paper and ink to substrates and resolutions. 

“There’s no better way to learn why various process components are important and how they influence each other than to see the process in action,” write Elizabeth Gooding and Mary Schilling, authors of The Designer’s Guide to Inkjet, 3rd Edition. “The most successful designers understand printing processes and have open communication with the people who will ultimately make their designs a reality.” 

Here are the different samples you should ask for from your print provider to get a better understanding of the print quality that they will produce.

Paper Samples

Samples on various paper types

Paper can make or break a printing project, and it’s critical that you understand how your paper choice will affect the final outcome of your design before you commit to the printing. The samples you’re provided may push you to change your concept or choices to ensure the success of your piece. 

“Certain types of coatings may be less effective on uncoated stocks than on treated or coated stocks,” write Gooding and Schilling. “Your paper choices should take into consideration the quality expectations and finishing requirements particular to the market for which you are designing.”

Here are the different types of paper you should request your printer provide. 

Uncoated paper: Because this doesn’t have any surface treatment, more color can be absorbed into the fiber during the printing process. The result? A duller image that has a smaller color gamut compared to other sheets. 

Inkjet treated paper: Specifically formulated for more aqueous inks, their surface treatment offers a better result in terms of color clarity and gamut because it’s easier for the colorant to separate from the carrier liquid. 

Inkjet coated paper: With a coating that allows ink to dry extremely quickly, that limits the amount of ink that can be absorbed into the fibers and helps improve print quality and color reproduction.

Print samples on different types of substrates

The ability to print on a wide range of substrates — such as plastic, synthetic, or magnetic — can vary by printer or intended use, and you have to ensure that those fit your target requirements. 

“Printing on substrates other than paper has a range of benefits, from adding impact to your design to adding durability to the finished piece, simplifying production processes, and lower costs,” write Gooding and Schilling.

Some of these different substrates include:  

Plastics: Available in a variety of weights and gauges, these are basically clear plastics that can be printed on the reverse or interior of the substrate, which completely protects the printed surface of the material. 

Synthetic: While similar to plastics, the main difference is that this substrate is designed to absorb and lock color into the material, which makes them highly durable and suitable for both indoor and outdoor conditions.

Magnetic: This is laminate paper with a magnetic sheeting, making it a popular choice for promotional items like magnets and display graphics. However, because the magnets stick together, that makes stacks of these printed materials hard to handle during the production process. 

Print samples using all the available ink types

Some printers use more than one ink chemistry within their facilities for different purposes — from aqueous and waterless to oil-based, UV curable, dye, and pigment — and every paper will interact differently with the ink chemistry, delivering a different result. It’s vital that you ask for samples of the inks that are suitable and recommended for your needs. 

“The ways that inkjet presses achieve image quality go well beyond the number of dots,” write Gooding and Schilling. “It is based on the ink volume of drops jetted, the size of the dots that can be created, the number of distinct sizes, the shape of the drops, and uniformity of the resulting dots on the page.” 

Print samples under different resolution and speed conditions 

Designers need to consider the resolution capacity of the inkjet device they’re printing on, as well as the speed at which it will be printed, as this represents how the job will run in production. 

For example, some inkjet devices use a lower resolution when printing at top speed. But if you’re shown proofs printed at a lower speed, your results could change in production — and typically not for the better!

“This is because higher resolution photos may produce larger files with longer processing times,” write Gooding and Schilling. “In a personalized environment, this additional processing time can increase costs if the printer can’t operate at full production speed.”

Asking for these kinds of samples is a good start on the journey toward making your printer a true partner to help ensure high-quality print. 

Paper Samples

Download The Designer’s Guide to Inkjet, 3rd Edition to learn more about how you can make the most out of digital inkjet print.