COMPUTER PAPER and ENVELOPES

This article will discuss paper and envelopes. As there is a large number of different paper on the market we will only cover paper and envelopes that can be ordered or picked up at your local office supply or computer store that can be used on computers.
The different paper that office supply stores will sell is listed as 7-8-11-13-16-20-or 24 lb paper. (For ex. 20 lb paper will weight 20 lb when a ream (500 sheet) 17X22 will weight 20 lb).
The 7-8-11-13 are light weight paper that are used for special service and cannot be used on computers. The 16 lb can, but is not used much as it is used in schools for typing class or when some one would like to keep the price down. You cannot print on both sides.
Most paper that computer stores sells are 20 lb paper. This is also the paper that makes up more then 85% of the paper that office supply stores sells. This paper is some time called bond, copy paper, typing paper, computer paper, printing paper, etc. Some people would like a paper that is thicker so a lot of 24 lb paper is sold.
Most paper that you will use on computers in the U.S. is 8 1/2 X 11. If you are doing some thing for the US government you will use 8 X 10 1/2 or if you are working with some thing overseas the paper will be a little larger. The other size that you will some time use are 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 (half sheet 8 1/2 x 11), 7x10 (fancy stationery), 8 1/2 x 13, 8 1/2 x 14, and 11 x 14. A lot of computers printers will take the 11 x 14. Some computer printer companies are now making 4 x 6 paper so that you can print small pictures.
The different types of paper that you will see are:
1. Mimeo paper. This you may not see. This paper has a very porous serface that was made to work on mimeograph machines. These machines were used in schools stores, and different clubs or groups and made a mess when they were working. These machine are not used much now. Construction art paper is also this type of paper but heaver.
2. Duplicaing paper. This paper has a very, very hard serface. This paper was used in school and had purple printing on it most of the time. This paper will work good on a laser printer and is useable on inkjets but is not made for it. This may not be had as most of these machine are gone.
3. Newsprint. This is the type that your newspaper is printed on. It is used a lot in schools because it is cheap and will work good with a pencil or crayon. It will NOT work on any computer printers.
4. The most expensive paper is made with cloth. It is used by the top of the line business for their official papers, etc. This paper is also used in printing bonds, money, or any thing that the person would like to last 100 years or more. This paper will cost from 2 to 5 times the cost of regular paper. No one can buy or have the paper that U.S. money is made on but some of these paper that is sold comes close to it.
5. Most paper that you will use on computers is what is called #4 sulfite paper that is made from wood.
6. Coated paper. This is higher price sulfite paper that has a coating on the paper. If a person buys computer paper that is marked for "printing pictures" on it they will have coated paper. Some other paper is on the market that has some thing coated on it that will not work on a computer printer because this paper in made for printing presses.
Before we go into envelopes we need to take up brightness. All white paper will have a brightness number on it. This will go from about 65 up to about 100. The higher the number the whiter the paper will be. Most of the paper that you will use on computers is from 80 - 90. Newsprint will be at the lower limit and some of the high priced paper will have the top of the line. Some of the cloth papers on the market will have 100 but this paper will cost a large amount of money. Some of the high price paper will even have a brightness that will look all most blue white.
ENVELOPES
Before we go into envelopes you need to know a few U.S. Post Office and other countries rules about envelopes.
1. No envelopes can be square. One side has to be more then the other by a set degree. All envelopes have to be in the ratio between 1 to 1.3 up to 1 to 2.5. If you are making your own envelopes contact the post office about size. They will give you a quide for you to use. There are a lot of card envelopes for sale that can not be mailed. You can give them, etc but you cannot mail them.
2. No envelope can be smaller then what a size 6 1/4 envelope is. That is 3 1/2 X 5. Also cannot be thicker then 1/4" thick.
3. If the envelope is over 6 X 9 the mimimum postage is for a 2 oz. rate. This year that is $.60 each. Cards used for the post card rate cannot be over 4 1/4 x 6. US stamped post cards cannot be used outside of the US.
5. All envelopes in first class must be sealed. You cannot tuck in the flap, etc.
6. In the U. S. you can have an open window so that the address on item on the inside will show through. Any mail out side of the U. S. requires this window has to have a clear plastic over the hole so that the envelope is not open.
Most of the envelopes that the computer user will use are made out of white 20 lb bond. Some of the envelopes that the computer worker will use are out of 24 lb bond. All most all the envelopes that the home user will use are plain envelopes and they will seldom use any window envelopes. Most businesses will use window envelopes. Window envelopes have a small window on the front so that any thing inside the envelope will be able to be seen from the outside. By doing this the company does not have to type the envelope with the name and address and they will be able to use automatic equipment to insert the items into the envelopes. (See laws about window envelopes above,)
There are a lot of different sizes of envelopes but we will only list the sizes that the computer person will use.
The size that most of the computer users will use are what is called size 10. These are the envelopes that the small stores will stock and the one that most computer stores will stock. The office supply will stock this but may have some other sizes. Some of them will not stock any size other then #10.
The different sizes that the computer may see are: #10, #11, #12, #9, #6 3/4, and #6 1/4.
The #10 is 9 1/2" wide X 4 1/8" high, and is the one that most computers user will use. You can fold a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and fold it in thirds and the piece will fit into the envelopes easily.
Until the home computers came on the market most companies used the #10 and most people used the 6 3/4 envelopes as the size of paper they use then was 7 X 9. Now most people that have computers will use #10 as the computers print out 8 1/2 x 11 paper and a large number of banks are sending out their credit cards bills with 6 3/4 envelopes. Very few people will use the 6 3/4 size any more. This envelope is 6 1/2 x 3 1/2.
If you would like to enclose a return envelope without folding the envelope in a #10 envelope you can use a #9. If you would like to enclose a return envelope in a 6 3/4 envelope you can enclose a 6 1/4 envelope. If you would like to enclose a #10 in an envelope you will use a #11. A # 9 envelope can be used with any U. S. Government form. The # 11, and #12 are used for insurance paper and 9 X 12 sheets.
Allmost all the envelopes flap is on the top except some of the #11, and #12 that are used in the insurance business that have the flap on one end.
The only other envelopes that you may come up with are the 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 and the 6 x9. These are used in sending a number of sheets of paper or small booklets. If you go over 6 x 9 see PO rules above.
This is a very short of article on paper and envelopes. For more information go to an Office Supply store.
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