Cold, Dry Winter Air May Cause Paper to Curl
It’s a particularly brutal winter here in New England and as it turns out, we’re not the only ones struggling with the conditions – our specialty papers and envelopes are too! If you are experiencing curled or warped edges on your papers or envelopes, it is likely due to the cold, dry winter conditions during storage and shipping. In this post, learn more about this and how to fix it.
Printing Trouble? Your Paper is Probably Cold!
If you’ve recently received an order of envelopes, cards, or papers that simply won’t lay flat and you’re having trouble printing them, don’t worry – there’s a simple explanation and solution. Your order was shipped from LCI Paper’s central Massachusetts headquarters where we’re experiencing an unusually cold, dry winter.
Paper is very sensitive to temperature and humidity, and although our warehouse is heated, your order was exposed to cold temperatures and dry air* during storage and shipping which often causes bowing, curled edges, or an otherwise warped appearance.
*Warping may also occur in extreme heat and humidity.
A Simple, 2-Step, 24-Hour Fix for Curled Paper
If your order arrived warped, there’s a quick easy fix that works better than a big book! Your items will be flat and print-ready in no time.
Before leaving our warehouse, your order is counted, shrink wrapped, and carefully packed to ensure its safe arrival. The same wrap that protects your order also tends to trap the temperature and moisture levels your order passed through during packaging and shipping. The simple fix – remove the protective wrapping!
How to Flatten Curled Paper or Envelopes for Printing
- Remove any shrink wrap and banding – A day before printing, remove any banding and cellophane wrap from your papers, cards, and envelopes. This allows your products to acclimate to your environment and take moisture back in.
- Let your unwrapped products rest for 24 hours – Place the unwrapped papers and envelopes you want to print in a comfortably warm room with average humidity (40-50%) for 24-hours. If you are in a cold climate, you may find it helpful to run a humidifier, but don’t overdo it! Remember, paper is very sensitive to extremes in humidity and too much may cause warping or other adverse effects as well.
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