Not long after revelers congregated in Times Square to watch the ball drop, signaling the start of 1998, paper prices reflected the first increase of the new year. "It was three dollars per hundred weight or roughly 6.5 percent on a typical 40/45 lb. number four or five sheet," relates Bruce Janis, president of MSPGA: Management Science for the Publishing and Graphic Arts, of the first-quarter jump. MSPGA Internal Paper AnalysisMarket Prices Charged by 10 Sample Printers  45 lb. No.540 lb. No.5 Printers(anon.)Nov.Mar.Nov.Mar. A$42.90$45.75$45.76$48.75 B$41.85$44.86$44.20$47.00 C$43.75$46.75$43.00$46.00 D$44.55$48.68$47.52$50.25 E$44.59$47.50$50.55$52.50 F$42.55$45.70$44.10$47.25 G$45.55$48.00$46.85$50.00 H$42.90$45.90$47.52$50.52 I$41.56$44.50$50.22$53.00 J$45.75$48.75$48.50$51.50 Mean$43.60$46.64$46.82$49.68 Source: MSPGA Management Science for thePublishing and Graphic Arts (New York)Questions or comments may be directed toMSPGA at (888) MSPGA14. HTTP://www.MSPGA.com The increase was
Consumables-Paper - Offset
Remember the novelty of flipping over an earthy-colored greeting card to locate on its back the statement, "Made from recycled materials"? Not only did the mainstream introduction of paper recycling in the consumer marketplace signal an effort to reduce waste and keep reusable material out of landfills, it became trendy—the "hot" thing to do. These days, most paper mills offer a plethora of grades containing up to 100-percent postconsumer content. Yet, with recycled no longer the burning issue of the day, has the popularity of such grades lost its fire? When recycled grades were first developed as a viable alternative to virgin paper, environmentalists cheered, but
A crucial element of design, paper can add edge to printed advertisements, refinement to annual reports, and can easily mean the difference between the outstanding and the ordinary. Fortunately for designers and graphic artists, the variety of papers in general has expanded—creating a wealth of choices tailored to improving aesthetic appearances. With more choices, however, comes the need for additional knowledge. The technical demands of pressroom and bindery should be carefully considered when specifying paper for a printed piece. Stock choices inconsistent with the abilities of a printer's machinery can lead to disastrous results—not to mention extra time and cost. So, what is the
