STANDARD SAMPLES
General appearance
Government standard samples referenced in this publication may be
obtained from (1) Chief, Paper and Materials Control Section,
Production Planning Division, Stop POL, (2) Chief, Paper and Physical
Testing Division, Stop QC, or (3) the Contracting Officer, at the
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20401.
Samples are available for most specifications and colors. Requests
for samples should include the paper grade identification code, e.g.
JCP A60, along with basis weight(s), color(s), and number of copies.
Note, the ``Government Standard Sample'' cited in the specification
standard in Part 1 of this publication is used to illustrate general
appearance properties of the paper, such as color, finish, formation,
or cleanliness, which are not easily described in quantitative terms.
The standard sample serves as the Government's referee or physical
sample for the referenced properties and is used to determine
conformance of the supplied paper stock to the Government's
requirement for color, finish, formation, and cleanliness.
For example, there is no quantitative means to easily describe paper
formation. Therefore, the ``Government Standard Sample'' is used to
illustrate the Government's minimum requirements for that property.
Color standards
If the color/shade of the paper is not specifically stated in the
requisition or solicitation, the color of the paper shall be
interpreted to mean ``white'' complying with the stated color/
brightness requirement in the specification standard.
Many specifications allow colors other than the ones established by
the Government which are listed below. In these instances, agencies in
cooperation with the Government Printing Office or any Regional
Printing Procurement Office, must objectively describe the desired
color by (1) submitting a paper color swatch consisting of a total 1.5
m\2\ in area to show the color desired for inclusion in the
solicitation, or (2) alternatively, provide a ``brand name paper and
color OR EQUAL'' to identify the desired color. (The brand name and
color should be verified periodically since paper companies often
discontinue colors.)
Generally, colored mimeograph, writing, manifold, bond, ledger,
index, and xerographic papers are required to match the Government's
standard for the colors: blue, buff, green, pink, salmon, or yellow.
The color coordinates for the colors are shown in Table 1. For some
papers, such as for xerographic paper and carbonless paper, the
commercial colors may be acceptable and the following language is
included in the specification: ``When a match to one of the
established Government color standard has not been specified, the
commercial standard for these colors and white is applicable.''
An extensive set of color standards has been established for the
vellum-finish cover grade and their color coordinates are included in
Table 2. A ``good'' color match to any specified color standard can be
obtained when a mill run quantity of paper is purchased. A mill run
quantity can be as small as 5,000 pounds of paper to a minimum of
20,000 pounds depending on color and manufacturer. For paper matching
the colors in Table 2, they are typically available from the GPO
central office or when the color is purchased in a mill run quantity.
Other established color standards often used to specify white and
off-white papers are listed in Tables 3 and 4.
Color matches are measured instrumentally or ``visually'' rated for
acceptability. A critical color match can be designated as precision
or regular. Each one carries a specific set of criteria for evaluating
the acceptability of the color match for hue, chroma, or saturation
difference along with an overall assessment.
Table 1: Business paper colors
Blue
L*=81.5
a*=-10.4
b*=-5.0
Buff
L*=88.5
a*=-2.11
b*=-25.7
Green
L*=78.6
a*=-16.2
b*=5.4
Pink
L*=71.8
a*=35.5
b*=2.1
Salmon
L*=79.7
a*=21.3
b*=27.7
Yellow
L*=91.6
a*=-7.7
b*=40.6
Table 2: Vellum-finish cover colors
Brown
L*=56.8
a*=14.0
b*=30.3
Canary yellow
L*=89.1
a*=-5.3
b*=68.3
Dutch blue
L*=56.1
a*=-3.6
b*=16.3
Killarney green
L*=61.4
a*=-18.2
b*=17.8
Light gray
L*=68.8
a*=0.5
b*=10.2
Peach tan
L*=69.5
a*=8.2
b*=26.0
Pecan brown
L*=63.5
a*=6.7
b*=22.6
Saddle tan
L*=46.1
a*=7.3
b*=18.9
Sand gray
L*=70.4
a*=2.8
b*=16.6
Sun orange
L*=67.8
a*=39.5
b*=49.4
Venice blue
L*=77.4
a*=-17.0
b*=-12.0
Vermillion
L*=43.2
a*=46.5
b*=20
Victoria green
L*=64.7
a*=-23.7
b*=1.1
Table 3: Selected White Standard
B (White 82 Paper dated 3/1/98)
L*=93.3
a*=1.0
b*=-2.0
C (A220 dated 8/1/77)
L*=92.0
a*=-0.5
b*=7.5
D (E30 dated 8/1/77)
L*=93.5
a*=-0.5
b*=1.5
E (Cotton dated 8/1/94
L*=94.0
a*=-0.5
b*=4.0
F (Chemical pulp dated 8/1/94)
L*=93.5
a*=-0.1
b*=3.0
Table 4: Other color Standards
Cream White
L*=92.4
a*=10.9
b*=-19.2