Digital Printing Paper Trends

Key Factors in the Purchasing Decision and the Exact Digital® Solution

Andrea Alstad Brand Manager for Wausau Paper’s Printing & Writing sector

With the growing demand of digital printing, paper manufacturers have the added challenge to produce substrates with a high performance for digital presses. The increasing need for this technology has caused paper companies to respond by launching new digital paper lines and expanding others to create more options for their customers. To keep in line with the growing trends of this business, paper companies have had to consistently track this fast-paced market and the key factors affecting the digital printer’s purchasing decision.

Based on recent surveys and analysis, digital printers primarily choose digital papers based on the values of runnability and print quality, most frequently considering ink and toner adhesion, sheet dimensions, dimensional stability and moisture level (Paper 360° survey of North American print providers). In addition, availability and the breadth of the paper line weighed heavily on a decision, illustrating the importance of reliability and service within the purchasing process.

At Wausau Paper®, we understand that the digital revolution has unleashed an array of print possibilities and with that, the call to create papers that go beyond the aesthetic to fit our consumers’ needs. Based on market research and purchasing factors, our line of Exact Digital® papers has recently been expanded to include new grades, sizes, basis weights and environmental certifications.

Created for the unique characteristics of the digital environment, all Exact Digital® papers are approved for Kodak NexPress digital production color presses by the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Printing Application Laboratory. Proving that runnability and print quality are the underlining key factors in the development of our papers, all coated items in the line are also certified for the HP Indigo press, including both gloss and matte finishes. Stringent media evaluation programs at the RIT on behalf of HP Indigo and Kodak NexPress help assure users of Exact Digital® products that our papers will perform satisfactorily in the equipment each and every time. Pre-testing and scripting of the papers mean guaranteed, no-worry performance.

In addition to the aforementioned trends, the growing concern for environmental sustainability has played a crucial role in determining the papers used for digital print. Wausau Paper® plays an aggressive leadership role in minimizing the environmental consequences of papermaking and has a sharp focus on energy consumption, manufacturing impact and forest stewardship. Within our Exact Digital® line specifically, 44 items are FSC certified and 25 items carry the Green Seal™ certification.

The improvements to Exact Digital® provide an even broader range of digital solutions that will only better serve Wausau Paper’s customers and further support the demands in the growing digital market. In addition to its Exact Digital line®, Wausau Paper has a comprehensive digital paper portfolio. From Astrobrights® to Exact Digital ® to Royal writing, text and cover grades, Wausau Paper’s portfolio contains hundreds of items, all offering excellent runnability and print quality necessary for digital projects. For information on how to choose the right paper to match every digital need, Wausau Paper’s Digital Compatibility Tool features an industry-exclusive print-fidelity rating to help printers select the paper best-suited for their project.

Digital paper is now the fastest-growing category in paper manufacturing and mirrors the growth in digital presses. Printers and print specifiers alike are increasingly demanding a wider, more diverse selection of papers usable by digital presses. As this market continue to broaden in reach, the digital offerings made available will be developed and enhanced to respond to the changing trends and needs of the digital customer.