Cardstock Print publishes technical education about cardstock, paper specifications and print production. Our aim is to explain what a specification changes in the finished job—whether that means feed reliability, ink or toner behavior, folding, cracking, writability, trimming or duplex alignment.
Paper terminology is not always tidy. GSM, basis weight, caliper, stiffness and finish describe different properties, and a convenient conversion chart cannot replace a product datasheet. We distinguish among researched explanations, editorial recommendations, generated illustrations and documented firsthand evidence.
How we describe evidence
Researched explanations
Most technical explanations draw on published information and print-production principles. When an exact media limit or product claim matters, we prioritize current printer-manufacturer specifications, paper-manufacturer datasheets, relevant print-provider requirements and applicable technical sources. Time-sensitive details should be checked when an article is written or updated.
Editorial recommendations
A researched recommendation applies available evidence to a practical decision. For example, a card intended for handwriting may point toward an uncoated or verified writable surface, while a folded piece requires attention to grain direction, caliper, coating and scoring. These are informed editorial judgments, not automatically the result of a physical test.
Documented firsthand evidence
We describe a printer trial, paper measurement, sample inspection, production job or other hands-on result as firsthand evidence only when that activity is documented. When test conditions matter, coverage should identify the relevant equipment, material, method and limitations. A general recommendation should not be presented as though it came from a lab or press-room test when it did not.
Generated illustrations and examples
Diagrams, sample calculations and hypothetical production examples may be created to clarify a concept. They illustrate an explanation; they are not photographs of a completed test or proof that a particular printer, stock or finish will perform identically. Exact compatibility should still be checked against current technical documentation.
Recommendations and documented tests are not the same
A recommendation may combine manufacturer specifications, paper characteristics and production logic without involving a physical test. A documented test reports an observed result under stated conditions. That distinction matters because two stocks with the same nominal weight can differ in caliper, stiffness, coating and feed behavior. The number on the package matters, but it rarely tells the whole story.
Commercial relationships
When a sponsorship, affiliate arrangement, ownership connection or other documented commercial relationship is material to a recommendation, it should be disclosed clearly near the relevant content. A commercial relationship does not replace technical reasoning: recommendations should still explain the practical basis, tradeoffs and specifications readers need to verify.
Corrections and updates
Specifications, product names, software features and provider requirements can change. If you find an error or material omission, email contact@cardstockprint.com. Please include the page URL, the statement in question and, when available, the current manufacturer document, datasheet or other source supporting the correction. We review correction requests and update published material when warranted.
The most useful correction is specific. “This printer’s media limit changed in the March 2026 manual” gives us something concrete to verify; “paper is weird” is true, but less actionable.