I want to design and print my own postcard, is 80 lb cover heavy enough
to mail?

Thanks,
Melissa

"iehsmith" <inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:BFF2F06E.45C57%inezhsmithspammenot@earthlink. net...
| On 1/17/06 5:59 PM, Melissa commented:
|
| > I want to design and print my own postcard, is 80 lb cover heavy enough
| > to mail?
| >
| > Thanks,
| > Melissa
|
|
| I believe it will do, the usual is 10-12pt or 100lb. But requirements
| change, so always check the usps.com web site or "call your local postal
| master."
|
| http://www.paperspecs.com/resources/...pes/postal.htm
|
| Might ask on the PaperSpecs forum. I don't have a paper caliper to figure
| out the decimal inches for 80#. The post office goes by thickness, but
paper
| comes in weights. Great, huh? The same paper weight can be different
| thicknesses depending on the paper. So maybe go to your the paper
| manufacturer's site or give them a call to get actual thickness.
|
| I need a paper caliper

Go by one of the aftermarket auto parts stores, Home Depot or Lowes. All
have micrometers of varying quality for under $20.

"Melissa" <melliska@mac.com> wrote in message
news:1137542374.771217.206660@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
I'm going to contradict all the other advice you've gotten here, and
thoroughly confuse the issue. I don't think 80lb. cover is heavy enough for
postal regs. The postal spec is 10 pt board, I believe, and that is more
like 100 lb cover. Your best bet is get the stock approved by the post
office prior to mailing.

In article <rbozf.2413$924.145983@news20.bellglobal.com>,
"_+arroo" <zarrookez@zsympaticoz.ca> wrote:

I've sent homemade postcards on that weight and they got to their
destinations just fine.

"_+arroo" <zarrookez@zsympaticoz.ca> wrote


You are correct. I looked it up. Ain't the web wonderful. Here's what the
USPS says about postal regs on postcards:

"You may think that your mailpiece is a "card," because it is a single sheet
of paper. But to qualify for mailing at First-Class Mail card rates, a card
must be:
a.. Rectangular
b.. At least 3-½ inches high x 5 inches long x .007 inch thick
c.. No more than 4-¼ inches high x 6 inches long x .016 inches thick
"If your mailpiece does not meet the dimensions above, then the Postal
Service considers it a letter (and charges letter rate postage). ....

".007 inches? How do I measure that? As a guide, an index card is thick
enough. If in doubt, contact a mailpiece design analyst (MDA) at the post
office near you. MDAs have tools for precisely measuring thickness and can
tell you if your mailpiece is thick enough.
-Make sure your mailpiece meets the minimum thickness requirement. Thin,
flimsy pieces tend to get caught in mail processing equipment. If your
mailpiece gets damaged in the equipment, then your message doesn't reach
your customers."

--
Fred Doyle




"_+arroo" <zarrookez@zsympaticoz.ca> wrote in message
news:WzBzf.14099$xk1.386540@news20.bellglobal.com. ..

Thanks Inez and everyone for the input.
The 'postcard" will end up in an envelope, I don't think that 80lb is
heavy enough.
But it is the heaviest that I could find that came in a pleasant
color..... weird, huh?

There's 80lb text, 80lb offset, 80lb cover. You probably aren't looking at
the cover weight. 80lb cover should micr to about 10pt. Suitable for
business cards and plenty suitable for post cards. There are many different
papers and many colour options to go with it. Also, some stocks can feel
flimsier than others even though they are rated the same weight. It has to
do with finish, water content etc.
Your printer will have (or should have) samples.