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Card Stock
Card stock is a rigid, stiff material that can have a wide variety of constructions. Orientation of paper
fibers (grain direction), moisture content, thickness, texture, and other properties can significantly
impact printing, as can preprinting, perforation, creasing, and other features common to forms. For
example, preprinting introduces semi-liquid, volatile components that must withstand the high
temperatures used in laser printing. Perforation and creasing may cause nesting, or interlocking,
which can cause paper jams and double sheet feeds.
The following sections describe some of the basic characteristics of card stock. In general, we
recommend a single-ply construction of 100% chemically pulped wood with a vellum finish. Before
purchasing large quantities of card stock, make sure you test samples of the print material in your
printer.
Weight
The weight of card stock plays a significant role in the print quality and feed reliability of the stock.
Confusion often arises when specifying the basis weight of a stock. The basis weight, measured in
pounds (for example, 60 lb Cover stock), is determined by a specified number of sheets for a
particular sheet size. Since the sheet size varies from one type of card stock to another, the basis
weights are not always easily comparable. For example, a 100 lb Tag stock may at first glance
appear to be heavier than a 65 lb Cover stock, when in fact the Cover stock is heavier. The area of
the Cover stock is smaller, thus making the weight per sheet higher.
It may be much easier to compare metric weights for card stock (g/m
2
). If you look at the metric
weights of the two stocks in the previous example, it is immediately evident that the 65 lb Cover
(176 g/m
2
) is heavier than the 100 lb Tag (163 g/m
2
).