HP Designjet Printers - Paper Weight and Thickness

How is paper weight and thickness measured?

Paper measurements can be misleading, there is actually no consistency between the media weight and the media thickness. Media weight is affected by type of material, density, and moisture content. Therefore, even though the weight of different media is the same, the thickness may vary.

The thickness of a paper is decided by the paper maker and is measured in one of two ways. There is a US standard, as well as a European system. HP’s paper-based media lists both of these measurement systems in the description of the paper.

The US standard

In the US, paper is typically measured in pounds per ream. This system cannot be used to accurately measure all paper because while a ream will always be 500 sheets, the size of those sheets may vary. HP uses this system to measure the paper-based roll media, per a 17 x 22 inch ream (500 sheets of 17 x 22 inch media).

The European system

The European system of measuring the thickness of a paper uses grams per square meter (g/m<superscript>2</superscript>). This is a more accurate way to measure paper because a square meter measures all papers. A 130 g/m<superscript>2</superscript> Heavyweight Coated Paper means that this paper measures 130 grams per square meter.

Media thickness

The method employed by HP to measure the thickness of non-paper based media, such as HP Banner with Tyvek media, is the mil unit. One mil unit represents 0.001 inch (one thousandth of an inch). HP Banners with Tyvek is 10 mil; this means that the thickness is 0.01 inch (one hundredth of an inch).

Suggested media guidelines for HP Designjet Printers and Plotters

As an example, the HP Designjet CP series can support a thickness of up to that, of the HP Studio Canvas media, which is 20 mils thick. HP does not guarantee that any media over 20 mils thick will work with the HP Designjet CP series printers. Media functionality depends on the individual properties of a specific media.

note:

Information outlined below offers suggested guidelines for HP media designed to be used with HP Designjet Printers and Plotters.

HP Designjet 10,20 and 50ps

Media Supported by Standard Trays

Media Supported by Duplexer

HP Designjet 200/300/400/700/1000 series (CAD, GIS products)

• HP Media ranges from 20 lb. (4 mil) to 42 lb. (158 g/m²)
• HP Bright White Inkjet Bond paper: 24 lb. or 90 g/m²
• HP Translucent Bond: 41 lb. or 67 g/m²
• HP Special Inkjet paper: 24 lb. or 90 g/m²
• HP Heavyweight Inkjet paper: 35 lb. or 130 g/m²
• HP Coated paper: 26 lb. or 98 g/m²
• HP Heavy Coated paper: 35 lb. or 130 g/m²
• HP Paper-based Semi-Gloss paper: 5.7 mil
• HP Semi-Gloss Photo paper: 42 lb. or 158 g/m²
• HP High-Gloss Photo paper: 42 lb. or 158 g/m²
• HP High-Gloss Photo paper (1000 Series only): 7.5 mil
• HP Vellum: 20 lb. or 75 g/m²
• HP Natural Tracing paper: 42 lb. or 158 g/m²
• HP Clear Film: 4 mil
• HP Matte Film: 4 mil

HP Designjet CP series (graphics products)

• HP Media ranges from 26 lb. (98 g/m²) to 42 lb. (170 g/m²)
• HP Coated paper: 26 lb. or 98 g/m²
• HP Heavy Coated paper: 35 lb. or 130 g/m²
• HP Paper-based Semi-Gloss paper: 5.7 mil
• HP Semi-Gloss Photo paper: 42 lb. or 170 g/m²
• HP High-Gloss Photo paper: 42 lb. or 170 g/m²
• HP Banners with Tyvek: 9 mil
• 3M Changeable Opaque Imaging Media: 7 mil
• 3M Lustre Overlaminate 2 mil
• 3M Matte Overlaminate 2 mil

Pen plotters

Following are the specifications of media used in pen plotters:

• Regular paper: 24 lb. or 90 g/m²
• Glossy paper: 110 lb. or 162 g/m²(Note: calculated using 25 x 38 inch paper)
• Vellum: 15.5 lb. or 58 g/m²
• Tracing Bond: 16 lb. or 60 g/m²
• Polyester film: thickness is 3 mm and 120 g/m²
• Transparency film: thickness is 3 mm and 160 g/m²

Electrostatic plotters

Following are the specifications of media used in electrostatic plotters:

• Report grade paper: 20 lb. or 75 g/m²
• Premium paper: 22.5 lb. or 85 g/m²
• Translucent paper: 22.5 lb. or 85 g/m²
• Polyester film: thickness is 4 mm