Yet another paper question

[AppleQueso]

Now I normally go to kinko's for printing out covers, but seeing how the cost for that racks up I'm considering just finally buying some ink and paper for my mom's printer (she's totally out of ink) and going over there to print covers.

Now as for paper types, I know I should get legal size paper (I plan on printing UGC's in the future too). The paper that Kinko's used for me was a pretty average weight semi-gloss kinda thing I think, and those, despite being on the thin side, look great in a case on my shelf next to my other officially cased games, so I could try to find something similar but...

I'm wondering, cost effectiveness in mind, how does regular ol' printer paper look in a case?

Does anybody just use standard legal sized printer/copy paper? And if so, can you tell me how it looks next to other DVD cases and perhaps provide a photo?

[Seraph Man]

Well, that partially depends on the printer as well. The quality is noticeably different, but by no means is it bad. Just lower. If you can get a glossy legal size paper, then I say go for it.

Of course, I've never seen legal size come in any other way than 500 pack standard print/copy paper and a "green" version, which used recycled paper, and was more expensive.

[AppleQueso]

Well, that partially depends on the printer as well. The quality is noticeably different, but by no means is it bad. Just lower. If you can get a glossy legal size paper, then I say go for it.

Of course, I've never seen legal size come in any other way than 500 pack standard print/copy paper and a "green" version, which used recycled paper, and was more expensive.

You'd think that "green" paper would be cheaper actually 

[Zelimpdna]

Unfortunately it's cheaper to cut down a tree than it is to recycle.

At least here in Australia, recycling [of paper, bottles, glass etc] is more costly than regular disposal and new manufacturing. That extra cost has to be passed on to consumers.

As for paper, I print my covers on regular paper. I have quite a good printer, and the covers all look good to me when cased. But, with a few exceptions, you can tell the difference between a retail cover and a printed one. But I keep spending my money on games and never leave enough to get some glossy paper.

[PDDestro]

Of course it's cheaper to cut down a tree than recycle, because there are specific tree farms for that very reason. In other words, there are trees grown purely to be used for paper and paper products. It's actually better for the environment to buy new, instead of recycled paper, because it means more trees are planted and grown for that purpose thus producing more oxygen. While recycled paper causes more pollution with the amount of manufacturing required to produce it, while not adding the amount of trees needed to offset the pollution produced. It's a popular misconception that paper, in this day and age, comes from cutting down natural forests. By and large it doesn't.

[Zelimpdna]

Very true.

In fact Australia has a very good system of managing tree-felling, as does Guyana, who replace every single tree felled with a new one.

Unfortunately though, not all countries operate a 'replace whatever is taken' policy, or have specific tree farms for paper, wood etc. Plus, despite the fact that for the reasons you outlined it's better to buy new, the fact remains something needs to be done with the waste. Recycling in its current form isn't the answer, but neither are landfills or incineration.