Best paper stock for Ordinance Certificates?

MLS allows me to print various certificates (Child Blessing, Baptism and Confirmation, Priesthood Ordination) directly onto blank sheets. However, I don't want to print the certificates onto plain white printer/copier paper. I think that a certificate which is intended to last should be printed on heavier stock. And it would look nicer if it wasn't plain white, either.

So what do you think is the best paper stock for printing ordinance certificates? What weight should it be? And what color?

And for longevity, acid-free paper would probably be the best, right?

We use white 120 gsm paper. Its rigid and will go through the printer without any problem. The choice of colour is entirely up to you, bearing in mind that you normally only get black print.

We use a lightly marbled paper, I think it 40-60 lbs. Looks nice, is stury, but still makes it through the printer if we use the back tray. I don't think it is archival quality or acid-free, and we haven't had requests for such. We had a membership clerk that used the plain white paper for a while, and we did get requests for nicer paper, which is when we switched to what we are using now.

We use parchment paper ordered from Staples EWay accessed through the Online Store. The item is Colors + Textures Fine Parchment Paper, Copper, 24#. The item number is SOUP894CK. It is not acid free nor archive grade.

Consider that your unit printer may be limited to maximum paper weights/thicknesses. Find a users manual or online reference to review. It may also have build-up or damage to feed rollers or feed clutches, and not feed heavier paper easily. Cleaning rollers requires a little experience or a technician. The printer may also need to be told you are using a heavy paper so it will adjust paper path timing and fusing temperature to compensate for paper properties.

Printer abilities vary with brand and model. Ours is an HP 2015. I need to use the bypass feed position so it doesn't struggle with bending the paper tightly into a reverse direction. I also have to tell it I'm using a heavy weight paper so it will fuse toner properly on the page. Without this setting change lettering and graphics will be missing or incomplete.

Some of my experience comes from being a Xerox small equipment tech' for a few years.

Sorry for the late contribution to this post, but I have very strong opinions about this and just wanted to share.

Having had access to a historian, with experience with archived documents, I asked this same question. He suggested that any historical document you want to last should be printed on archival grade paper. This should be a durable, acid-free paper. This is what legal, historical or documents with significant value are printed on. He further suggested that a cotton rag paper be used.

The certificates should be printed on paper that will last. The office paper most certificates are printed on will yellow, become brittle and then deteriorate and decay in a matter of years, considering most people do not store their certificates in a climate controlled location, out of the humidity and temperature fluctuations. Also, just because a paper looks like it is parchment or is a heavier stock, does not automatically mean it is archival quality and will last.

We settled on 100% cotton, 32-lb paper. In the past this was purchased from paper supplier Xpedx, however they have since changed their business model and do not have any retail stores.

Most recently, I have used Southworth, 100% Cotton, 32 lb, white business paper. These come in packages with anywhere from 25-250 sheets per package. And a fairly reasonable price, for the product you are getting (Amazon, 250 sheets, $24).

I really like the look of a parchment type paper, but I had to put my preferences aside and think about the certificate recipient and the desire for future generations to have access to the document. This made switching to the acid-free, cotton paper a no-brainer in my mind.

Thanks for letting me chime in.

falcon771 wrote:I really like the look of a parchment type paper, but I had to put my preferences aside and think about the certificate recipient and the desire for future generations to have access to the document. This made switching to the acid-free, cotton paper a no-brainer in my mind.

Personally, I don't think future generations will be using paper at all in a while.

sbradshaw wrote:Personally, I don't think future generations will be using paper at all in a while.

That is what we said 40 years ago!

drepouille wrote:

sbradshaw wrote:Personally, I don't think future generations will be using paper at all in a while.

That is what we said 40 years ago!

We're getting closer. It is nice to have the document on my mobile app.

It is also nice to know there is a paper copy in my filing cabinet at home.

sbradshaw wrote:Personally, I don't think future generations will be using paper at all in a while.

Well, we don't use gold plates anymore but I'm sure glad Nephi thru Moroni did.

This does make one think about where technology is taking us and how to best preserve records for the future. And I appreciate the tips from falcon771 - I will keep them in mind next time we buy certificate paper.