Question 1

Should you use recycled paper?

Accepted Answer

Recycled paper is good because it’s made of reused materials, which prevents
                        sending materials to landfill. But you should have in mind that recycled fibres, since they have already been
                        used and have gone through multiple industrial processing, are weaker than virgin
                        fibres. This means that the paper obtained with recycled fibres won’t perform as
                        well as a virgin paper, as well as require new fibres to be continuously be added to
                        the process. And you can deduce that fibres can’t be recycled forever.
                        The older they get, the less they perform, and in order to obtain a high performance
                        paper, the more virgin fibres you need to add to the process to keep balance.
                        Recycled fibres should be used in less demanding papers, like packaging and
                        tissue for example. So, if you are looking for great copy and print performance, Navigator would be
                            a wiser choice.

Question 2

What is the difference between photocopiers and laser printing machines?

Accepted Answer

The major difference between copiers and laser printers is the way the image
                        information is transmitted. Laser printers transmission happens through a laser beam
                        that passes the information directly to a receptor. Copiers work through a set of lights
                        and lenses that adjust during the process in order to pass the right information to the
                        printing drum. Simply put, copiers scan in order to print, whereas laser printers
                        receive the input in digital form. When we use the word printer, we also mean copier.
                        Nowadays, most people print rather than copy. “...COPIERS SCAN IN ORDER TO PRINT, WHEREAS LASER PRINTERS
                        RECEIVE THE INPUT IN DIGITAL FORM."

Question 3

What are the main causes of paper jams?

Accepted Answer

A paper can jam if is not rigid enough (if it’s “floppy”): compare it with Navigator paper
                        by placing both over the edge of a table to see which one is the floppiest, and therefore
                        more likely to jam. if a paper has been out of its wrap for a long time, it will have absorbed
                        humidity from the atmosphere: when it is printed, the water will evaporate more
                        from the hotter side, which will cause it to curl and jam. This is especially the
                        case on a Monday morning, when paper has been in a cold, damp environment and
                        is then passed through a hot printer without having a chance to warm up. If a printer
                        has used rough, low quality paper in the past, it will cause the pick-up rollers to be
                        worn out, meaning that any good and smooth paper like Navigator may have feeding
                        issues. To get around this, either use a cotton bud to clean the rollers or have the printer
                        serviced by a professional technician.

Question 4

What is the difference between grammage and thickness?

Accepted Answer

Grammage or grammes per square metre is the weight of a sheet of paper. Whilst it
                        is the normal way paper is described, printers and copiers cannot measure it: what
                        matters to them is the thickness of a sheet (measured in microns). a good quality
                            sheet can be thicker but have the same weight as a lower quality sheet,
                            leading to the situation where a 70g/m² sheet can be thicker than an 80g/m²
                            one. One good way of checking thickness is to compare two reams of paper side by side,
                        and see which one is higher: that is the thicker one.
                        It may happen that a printer that cannot cope with a very flimsy 80g/m² sheet will
                        quite happily print a 70g/m² one. Moreover, there are ecological benefits to using
                        lower grammage papers: lower use of raw materials (10/80 = a saving of 12.5%
                        when 70g/m² and 80g/m² are compared) and a reduction in waste generated.

Question 5

When choosing paper, which characteristics should a buyer prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Well, depends on what your purpose is. Important characteristics usually are
                        brightness, opacity and roughness. For instance, the brighter the paper, the better
                        contrast of colors. The more opaque the paper, the more it’s fitted for duplex printing
                        (printing on both sides). The smoother the paper, the easier it is to handle and write
                        on. But all the characteristics really depend on the use you’ll give to the paper.
                        Grammage, for example, is also another important aspect. The higher the
                        grammage, the more professional your work looks (Think of handing out a business
                        card printed on a regular 75g/m² sheet of paper. Not the same thing, right?). “...ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS REALLY DEPEND ON THE USE YOU’LL GIVE
                        TO THE PAPER.”

Question 6

What are the key paper characteristics for colour printing?

Accepted Answer

Colour printing requires a good quality, smooth, ultra-white paper, because if
                        you use a regular paper, the result is mottled and poor quality. Formation of the
                        paper is also an important attribute, since it defines the uniformity of the surface of
                        the paper. The more uniform the paper is, the best your printouts will look. You can specify the printer to print in higher quality printing modes, but this makes it
                        use more toner, thus making your work more expensive. It’s more cost effective to use a
                        good quality paper. In fact, paper only accounts for some 8-15% of the final printed
                        cost: it’s like putting a two-carat diamond on a brass ring: definitely not worth it! Ultra
                        white paper such as Navigator (it is 169 on the cie scale) means that colours
                        have a much greater contrast and therefore look much better.

Question 7

How is Navigator one of the whitest papers available in the market?

Accepted Answer

Whiteness is provided by 3 factors: whiteners (which in Navigator’s case is Elemental
                        Chlorine Free (ECF) bleach), by the quality of the filler, a chalk-like substance which fits
                        between the wood fibres to add opacity, which is called PCC (precipitated calcium
                        carbonate) and the use of Optical Brightening Agents, which absorb light from part of
                        the invisible spectrum (UV) and emit light visible blue/white range of the spectrum,
                        resulting in a whiter paper. Navigator’s filler (pcc) is produced on-site from the pulp production byproducts
                            and allows higher quality and whiteness, along with cost reduction and
                        efficiency.

Question 8

What does cie whiteness measure?

Accepted Answer

Whiteness is a measure of light reflectance across all wavelengths of the visible
                        spectrum. It is commonly measured through the CIE Whiteness index, developed
                        by France-based International Commission on Illumination. This index refers to
                        measurements made under D65 illumination (standard outdoor daylight). Perfect
                        natural whiteness would be CIE 100, but it is possible to reach higher CIE values by
                        adding fluorescent agents such as Optical Brightening Agents (OBA). That’s why
                            Navigator has a whiteness of 169 cie. The higher the value, the whiter the paper. “THIS INDEX REFERS TO MEASUREMENTS MADE UNDER D65 ILLUMINATION...”

Question 9

How does Navigator prevent paper dusting on printers?

Accepted Answer

The filler used to produce Navigator is star-shaped, which makes it lighter for the
                        same surface area and also enables it to better stick to the paper fibres, meaning that
                        the paper is less likely to dust. Furthermore, Navigator undergoes a surface treatment to prevent the fibre and/or filler
                        particles to be released from the surface of the sheet.
                        This also makes Navigator a higher quality paper.

Question 10

How is Navigator an extremely smooth paper?

Accepted Answer

Navigator paper is extremely smooth because of the final stage of its manufacturing
                        process. At the end of the production line, the paper goes through a calander,
                        which is a set of rolls that induce heat and pressure upon the sheet. This process
                        allows the paper to get a more even surface, making it smoother. The calander
                        process controls the thickness/smoothness ratio. The characteristics of the
                            eucalyptus globulus fibres and the unique combination with our tailor-made pcc
                            allow us to have a high smoothness level, while maintaining a high bulk index
                        (thickness/grammage).

Question 11

How does Navigator compare to a recycled paper, quality-wise?

Accepted Answer

The fibres used in Navigator paper are virgin fibres, so they are at full performance
                        capacity. Recycled fibres have already undergone several recycling processes and their
                        cell walls are worn off, meaning they won’t perform as well and this paper will have less
                        quality, namely in stiffness and bulk.
                        Typically, fibres can be recycled 5-7 times, maximum. Also, Navigator paper
                        benefits from special surface treatment which minimizes dusting and consequently
                        increases your printer’s lifespan, unlike recycled papers. “THE FIBRES USED IN NAVIGATOR PAPER ARE VIRGIN FIBRES...”

Question 12

What impact do modern paper machine have on paper quality?

Accepted Answer

They reduce energy costs and chemicals’ consumption since they are more efficient,
                        but they also have better quality control sensors and increase paper uniformity. This
                        efficiency impacts paper quality because it guarantees the exact usage of chemicals
                        and correct process parameters, resulting in the best quality paper. modern paper
                            machines are designed to achieve the best paper characteristics.
                        As they are controlled by a sophisticated process control system, the paper that they
                        produce is very stable and with optimized characteristics. This allows to control fibres
                        direction (Machine Direction - MD; Cross-machine Direction - CD) in order to get an
                        homogeneous paper.

Question 13

What are the most important attributes to ensure good runnability?

Accepted Answer

A good runnability is ensured by several paper attributes. For small printers, the
                        most important are stiffness and thickness. A paper which is too stiff won’t move
                        easily through the printer rolls. Normally stiffer papers will run better trough laser
                        printers. Thickness is also an important aspect because average printers are not
                        prepared to run many different paper thicknesses. They are prepared for standard
                        thickness so if you try printing on a thicker paper you might have problems. Other
                        important characteristics are the paper curl and friction coefficients, which for larger
                        printers makes more difference than for smaller ones. “FOR SMALL PRINTERS, THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS ARE
                        STIFFNESS AND THICKNESS.”

Question 14

How should you handle paper in order to retain the highest possible quality?

Accepted Answer

Paper should be handled carefully and kept away from dust and moisture. In order to
                        avoid runnability problems, paper shouldn’t be left in the printer or copier feeding trays
                        during the weekend.
                        It should be kept inside its original wrapper, re-sealed, with sheets taken out only when
                        required.
                        You can check out more tips on how to better handle paper on our “Navigator Printing
                        tips” factsheet.

Question 15

Why is uncoated office paper a good entry point for virgin fibre?

Accepted Answer

Virgin fibres are at full performance capacity. Office paper is one of the products of
                        the paper industry that requires good performance fibres (for high speed printing and
                        colour reproduction), as opposed to, for example, tissue and packaging paper. These
                        papers can use recycled fibres with no impact on their products, but on office paper,
                            recycled fibres have a severe impact on performance. That’s why uncoated
                            office paper is a good entry point for virgin fibre (also because paper fibres
                        cannot be recycled indefinitely and new fibres are always necessary).

Question 16

How does curl impact printing?

Accepted Answer

Curl occurs because of the temperature paper undergoes while being printed (and is
                        seriously impact by moisture levels of the paper). When paper curls, its flat surface
                        is affected and so is its runnability, because its shape will notfollow the printer’s rolls
                        so easily, causing paper jams. Also, the curlier the paper, the more time is spent
                        organizing the printouts because sheets don’t stack in a uniform pile, making the
                        whole process more time consuming. “ALSO, THE CURLIER THEPAPER,THE MORE TIME IS SPENT ORGANIZING
                        THE PRINTOUTS...”

Question 17

Why should I buy premium paper?

Accepted Answer

A premium paper means guarantee. Premium papers have better quality, which
                            means you’ll be able to work efficiently without worrying about paper jams or
                            curl effects. The printing quality is optimized, the paper jams are minimized and costs
                        are reduced. Our premium paper is suited for suited for all kinds of applications, no
                        matter what you want to print, you’ll always get superb results.

Question 18

What savings could I get when buying Navigator?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a ream of paper is not the only cost that you should consider: you
                        should think of the cost of the toner (see Printing in Colour) and the cost of the
                        printer (electricity, maintenance and depreciation). Using poor quality paper
                            may imply more costly maintenance (see Runnability & Jamming). When you
                        use a standard quality paper instead of Navigator, you should also consider the
                        impact of time lost solving printing jams (can be up to 3 minutes per paper jam). Not to mention the frustration caused by jams or the loss of productivity: imagine
                        leaving a printer to print for a half-hour job and it jams after five minutes...

Question 19

Premium paper can save costs, but does it add value?

Accepted Answer

Consider also the target audience. When service companies print a report or
                        presentation for customers, that is usually the only “physical evidence” of the work
                        they charge for, which often runs into hundreds of euros for hours for solicitors,
                        accountants or lawyers. The cost of paper itself is just a tiny fraction of the global printing cost, yet the
                        recipient forms a good subconscious impression of the report due simply to the
                        quality of the paper: how much value can you place on that? It is very likely that a
                        more expensive paper is cheaper in the long run, without taking into account the
                        positive subliminal messages it sends. “...A MORE EXPENSIVE PAPER BECOMES CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN...”

Question 20

Why not buying a cheaper paper if I use a printer that guarantees the best results?

Accepted Answer

As technology improves, printing equipment is consistently adapted to allow
                        different types of paper to be used while ensuring good results. Nevertheless,
                        printing speeds also increased and, more than ever, colour printing is a reality
                        for most applications. And, as you know, printing in colour is more demanding
                        of paper quality – ink absorption, waviness, ink drying time, among other
                        factors. Altogether, this means that paper quality needs to be adapted to the printer you
                        have, the application you do and the purpose of the document (internal/
                        external). These factors should influence your choice of paper to use.

Question 21

Is uncoated paper suitable for inkjet printing?

Accepted Answer

Any uncoated paper (without “plastic” coating as found in photo papers and
                        magazines) can be used for printing in inkjet printers. However, results vary massively:
                        because inkjet is a liquid technology, it affects the paper more than (dry) toner used in
                        laser printing. We therefore recommend that a higher grammage paper with a better
                        quality is used, such as Navigator Expression 90g/m² and above, which resists
                        waviness in the sheet and prevents show-through. Besides, you will be able to print in
                        lower quality settings, therefore saving ink. When you consider that inkjet ink is five times more expensive per litre than vintage
                        champagne, it is definitely not worth using cheap paper for it.

Question 22

Can I use Navigator for double sided printing?

Accepted Answer

When paper is printed, it tends to curl due to the higher heat applied on one side rather
                        than the other. If you try to print on the reverse side, it may jam. A higher quality
                            paper such as Navigator will resist curling and can therefore be used for duplex
                            printing (the more toner or inkjet coverage, the higher the weight of Navigator paper
                        should be). Good paper opacity is also very important for double sided printing.
                        As Navigator has high opacity, the print will be greatly legible on both sides, not being
                        shaded by the opposite side. Printing on both sides gives a better look to reports and presentations and
                            reduces the number of sheets used: even if you use Navigator Colour Documents
                        120g/m², you are only using the equivalent of 60g paper printed on one side only.
                        This is both economically and environmentally friendly. “...A MORE EXPENSIVE PAPER BECOMES CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN...”

Question 23

How does roughness / smoothness impact maintenance?

Accepted Answer

The rougher the paper, the more it will damage the rolls of the printer. When the rolls of
                        the printer lose their original shape, the printing process won’t run as smoothly as
                        expected and may lead to paper jams. Thus, a smoother paper will preserve your
                        printer, the printer will stay in good shape for a longer period of time and you won’t
                        need to pay for new pieces of equipment so often. Since Navigator paper is
                            approximately 1/3 less abrasive when compared with a typical office paper with
                            ~200 ml/min bendtsen roughness, you can count on up to 50% increased lifetime
                            of your equipment when using our brand.

Question 24

Can I use Navigator in any type of machine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Navigator paper is suited for any type of equipment. Actually, it is tested daily
                        in the most demanding and well-known machine manufacturers, like Brother,
                        Canon, Epson, HP, Kyocera, Lexmark, OKI, Ricoh, Tektronix and Xerox.
                        Furthermore, Navigator is tested by the most recognized laboratory in the World,
                        BLI, which provides independent certification for the high performance levels of
                        Navigator, 99,99% paper jam free. “...NAVIGATOR PAPER IS SUITED FOR ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT.”

Question 25

What is TCP (Total cost of printing)?

Accepted Answer

When printing, people usually define the printing cost based on how much they
                            paid for a ream of paper. tcp is the correct way to think about printing costs. The
                        price of paper has in fact to be considered, but there are other factors, such as
                            energy, ink/toner, paper wasted because printing didn’t go well or time needed to
                        solve printing jams, in order to get the Total Cost of Printing and better understand how
                        much is spent in your printouts. “TCP IS THE CORRECT WAY TO THINK ABOUT PRINTING COSTS.”

Question 26

Where does printing dust come from?

Accepted Answer

Dusting is the white powderfound in printers.This happens when printers run lower
                        quality papers, which cause problems that jeopardize the proper functioning of the
                        equipment. To avoid this, dust needs to be removed regularly to enable printers to
                        function well. Because Navigator incorporates excellent filler, as well as having a
                        special surface treatment, it is able to minimize dusting, meaning printers and
                        copiers using it need to be serviced less often. “DUSTING IS THE WHITE POWDER FOUND IN PRINTERS.”

Question 27

Should I use different Navigator products for different applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes, different applications require different kinds of paper. For example, if you are
                        looking to print some emails or copy drafts, you should use a lower grammage, such as
                        Navigator Eco-Logical, since it implies cost and environmental benefits. If you are looking
                        to print something colourful that is meant to impress, Navigator Colour Documents
                        would be a better option. For more tips about how to choose the right paper, you can visit our website.

Question 28

My company needs to reduce paper costs. How can I do it?

Accepted Answer

You can, for example, use paper with a lower grammage. This way, you can have the
                        same amount of paper sheets to print and copy, without necessarily reducing your
                        overall printing volume. Navigator Eco-Logical 75 g/m²would be a good choice. “...USE PAPER WITH A LOWER GRAMMAGE. THIS WAY, YOU CAN HAVE THE
                        SAME AMOUNT OF PAPER...”

Question 29

What is the impact of printed documents using colour?

Accepted Answer

The use of colour documents has major impact in business and is greatly preferred by
                        end-users. Usually people agree that colour is more effective in helping
                        consumers notice mail and thus will be more likely to read it. Also, colour
                        increases the general value of the piece and people take it more seriously. It helps
                        enhance the company’s reputation and products, since colour and well-designed
                        documents are associated with quality.

Question 30

What is the meaning of show-through? What about print-through?

Accepted Answer

When looking on the opposite side of your printed work, the more you can see the
                        printout through the paper, the more show-through there is. Print-through happens when you’re able to see ink on the opposite side of your
                        sheets. These aspects are very important when there’s the need to print double-side,
                            since the more show-through and print-through there is the less clear your
                            work becomes. “...VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THERE’S THE NEED TO PRINT DOUBLE-SIDE...”

Question 31

Why does printing with Navigator mean fewer costs?

Accepted Answer

Navigator characteristics make it a less stressful paper because since it has the best
                        quality in the market you’ll avoid technical problems, such as paper jams
                        and interventions on the equipment. You’ll also be able to optimize your paper and
                            ink consumption because with fewer technical problems and better paper
                            properties you’ll have less paper waste and better printing quality. Navigator
                        paper is 99,99% jam free and it can achieve 7% improved printing quality or toner
                        consumption savings when compared with standard brands in the market. “...SINCE IT HAS THE BEST QUALITY IN THE MARKET YOU’LL AVOID
                        TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS PAPER JAMS AND INTERVENTIONS ON THE
                        EQUIPMENT.”

Question 32

How does Navigator manage to have better printing quality?

Accepted Answer

Printing quality is valued by all office paper users and is especially
                            important for external communications when using colour. This is measured
                        through the optical density of a printed document, which led Navigator to develop
                        an improved surface which would provide the best possible printing quality. By
                        improving toner adhesion and ink absorption, Navigator maximizes print results -
                        more printed sheets with the same cartridge or a better printing quality.
                        But the type of fibre and production equipment used to manufacture Navigator play
                        a big role in achieving the quality levels end-users require “TCP IS THE CORRECT WAY TO THINK ABOUT PRINTING COSTS.”

Question 33

What does it mean when you say Navigator paper has a high performance?

Accepted Answer

Navigator paper jams once, at most, every 10.000 sheets, as opposed to 5 jams
                        of other office papers, on average.
                        Taking into consideration that a paper jam can take up to 3 minutes to solve,
                        depending on the type of printing equipment or photocopier used, this can translate
                        into a potential gain in productivity. Because of that, Navigator’s performance is certified. The BLI seal certifies that our paper successfully completed demanding quality tests
                        that confirm its high working performance and that no problems with image quality,
                        misfeeding, multi-sheet feeding, curl, dust accumulation
                        or puckering were found. Before awarding this certification, BLI carried out a series of thorough tests on
                        Navigator paper, using a wide range of state-of-the-art office reproduction equipment
                        (namely photocopiers, printers, faxes and multifunctional devices) from various
                        manufacturers.

Question 34

Why is the thickness important in printing?

Accepted Answer

Thickness is important from 2 points of view. One is because a lighter paper has less
                        impact on your wallet and on the environment since it needs fewer raw materials to be
                        produced and generates less waste.The other is associated with image. A thicker paper
                            gives a more professional look to your work, so whether you’re handing out reports
                        and other important documents to your boss or wanting to communicate externally
                        with business cards or marketing and sales materials, a good quality paper enhances
                        your image and makes you and your business look better in the eyes of your
                        audience. “A THICKER PAPER GIVES A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOK TO YOUR
                        WORK...”

Question 35

How can I achieve the best printing quality possible with Navigator?

Accepted Answer

Navigator alone gives you high printing quality but you can still improve it
                            with the printing settings you use. For instance, to improve results you should
                        define the settings on your printer to high printing quality or vivid colour (definition
                        depends on printer brand and model), so you achieve the best colour output.

Paper & Printing