Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'd like to start off this review by going head on with the most frustrating issue that bothers many people who are hunting for the perfect paper for them: paper's weight. Most of the paper products will disclose the weight in pounds (lb) unit only. This is particularly confusing because when a "lb" weight is quoted, it has to be in reference to a specific weight measurement (e.g. cover; text; index; etc), thus making it almost impossible to compare between the weight of products for consumers, especially when the product fails to mention which weight measurement it is referring to. For example, 90lb cover, 90lb text and 90lb index all mean different paper weight or thickness. A lot of consumers are disappointed because they thought that by buying a 110lb (index), it will be thicker than a 90lb (cover): wrong! in this case, 90lb cover is actually thicker and heavier than 110lb index. A more precise measurement will be the European method which uses gram per meter square (g/m2; gsm). there is no category of weight measurement in this method, thus making it very convenient for consumers to make direct comparison of the papers weight that cited this type of measurement. Neenah cardstock has done it right by disclosing the papers weight in both lb and gsm. this makes it extremely easy for us to make direct comparison with other paper's weight and get exactly what we intended or expected. This cardstock is actually 110lb index or 199gsm, as stated clearly on the cover. The second important issue I'd like to discuss will be whether the paper is acid free and lignin free. If you are an avid scrapbooker or crafter or doing any work related to preserving the longevity of the document or artwork, these terms should be familiar to you. In summary, acid and lignin are typically present in papers and these substances cause the paper to become yellowish, brittle and deteriorates over time and this process is accelerated with exposure to sun or light. some manufacturers will take the extra step to remove the acid and lignin during the manufacturing process and usually, this would also mean increase in the paper's cost. there are also some products out there that can neutralize the acid present in your paper when you spray on it, but I wont go into that for now. Coming back to Neenah Exact Index Cardstock White, Amazon claims the paper to be acid and lignin free in the product description (even though none of this is stated on the cover of the product shown). i've taken the extra step to contact Neenah to clarify about this issue as their website only says "acid free" and nothing about lignin, but I have yet to receive any reply from them for weeks now. Regardless, I still purchased this product to give it a try. I'm mighty glad that when I receive this paper, the cover has been updated and it now includes the description "acid free" on it. However, there is still a slight concern whereby some references claim that acid free may not be equivalent to lignin free. The paper may be acid free and still contains lignin, which over time will produce acid and will still deteriorate the document. However, being acid free does mean that this paper will last longer than typical paper that is not acid free. i've also encountered another reference claiming that acid free paper also means that the paper is lignin free as well. Finally, let's go into the other details of the paper. Neenah Exact Index Cardstock White has a smooth finishing, just as it claims and it does not disappoint there. some will prefer this smooth texture to make their cards or paper projects while others will prefer to have a rougher surface. it all depends on your preferences and suitability for your type of work. i purchased this product specifically to make a pop up book because i needed a paper that is moderately-thick, solid and durable enough (between 200gsm to 230gsm) to hold the pop up but at the same time, it has to fit through my laser printer (and most printers). before this, I purchased a very solid paper by Wplus9, which is 110lb (it fails to mention what type of measurement it is referring to). it looks very promising, but unfortunately, it does not fit through my printer and any other printer i tested, laser and inkjet alike. I made a wild guess that the Wplus9 cardstock is actually 110lb cover, which is 298gsm. it's not surprising that it doesnt fit through any printer i tested. Speaking of printer, rest assured, the paper works well with both inkjet and laser printer. Although the brightness of the paper is not stated on the cover or product description, it is written on the packaging. the brightness is 94. I compared this paper's brightness to other paper which has similar brightness and found it to be very slightly more yellowish than others, but it is not obvious and impossible to notice without making direct comparison and under bright light. Conclusion: the paper does feel a little less premium compared to other more expensive white cardstock that I had purchased before, but considering the price of this paper and the details which they put into manufacturing it, delivering so many good qualities at a very affordable price, it still deserves a 5-star from me and I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for good quality & yet economical white cardstock. I hope this review will give you some insight and assist you in your quest to find the right paper for you!