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