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MyPRINTResource.com 24 Quick Printing | January 2015 A duo of inkjet substrate experts answers some common questions raised by PSPs curious about the science behind the process. By Jeffrey Steele What's Read and Green All Over? Inkjet Papers A s inkjet printing continues to evolve, and inkjet papers evolve right along with it, it's only natural print service providers should have a number of questions. How important is it to use treated inkjet papers? What are the benefts of a treated inkjet paper? What's the latest in sustainable ink- jet paper technology? And how can speed, quality and effciency be op- timized when using inkjet papers? This month, we turn to a duo of inkjet paper experts for answers. Inkjet technology is advancing swiftly, and new technologies related to inkjet printing are being unveiled to the market every month, said Normande Champagne, VP of sales and marketing with Rolland Enter- prises, Inc., formerly Cascades Fine Paper Group, in Ste. Jerome, Quebec, Canada. "We can see a decline in standard digital demands that have now migrated to the inkjet side," he added. "We see the same trends with demands for offset printing, which have also migrated to the inkjet side." The focus now is on offering different options, such as inks that enhance quality. That's why paper manufacturers must remain alert to the developments and adapt their paper technology to these advance- ments. "Trans promo, direct mail, book publishing, these are market segments where the use of variable data can add more and more value to the service bureaus," Cham- pagne said. Inkjet Intelligence Champagne noted that print service providers (PSPs) should keep in mind several issues when working with inkjet papers. One is that if they are not using treated inkjet papers, qual- ity can be affected. Treated papers control ink absorption, so inks don't as totally penetrate the sheet and desired color intensity is more likely. Inkjet paper also tends to be more expensive than non-inkjet counter- parts because of the surface treat- ment. Costs related to the surface treatment have an impact on the paper's formulation and, as a result, there is a small price premium attached to the prod- uct, Champagne said. In addition, he added, PSPs need to choose appro- priate papers for the ink technology used. Not all papers perform equally well. "Quality of inkjet printing has improved not just because of the improvement in paper quality, but because of the improvement in the quality of presses and inks," he said, adding the latest advancements have led to inkjet quality "looking very much like offset. Sustainability's Value Rolland Enterprises' Enviro Jet inkjet paper was introduced in September 2013. Among its benefts is that it provides vivid colors, an excellent density of black, remarkable sharp- ness, and a strong color reproduction. In addition, it has a robust opacity and can be used with dye or pigment inks. Suggested for use with direct mail, transactional documents, and in book publishing, the product is 100 percent post-consumer, is processed chlorine free, is FSC-certifed, and is manufactured using renewable biogas energy. The environmental story is key. "Our current effort with the product is to make those end users who value sustainability aware of the potential of our product in relation to their sus- tainability programs," Champagne reported. When meeting with uni- versities, IT companies, and fnancial institutions that have robust environ- mental programs, most are not aware of the existence of the product. "Because we are unique with this product, not a lot of end users are aware they can access the product," he explained. "Our main efforts are educating them to this option, and we are seeing results. We educate them to the fact they can meet their sustainable objectives without