Does this method also mean that I do not have to sweep the total balance of bitcoins out the paper wallet? In essence I can just transfer whatever amount I wish? Sweeping wallets on Blockchain.info swept the total amount.
Normally, sweeping means to move the whole funds from wallets like paper wallet by proving the private key. Assuming, you have paper wallet, and you want to sweep to Wallet A. First of all, wallet A will have the sweeping feature, and it will request for private key of the paper wallet. Once you input the private key, the whole funds will be moved to the new wallet (wallet A). But, this is just a way a means you will have to just get your bitcoin to be handled by private key that will be online.
But what is explained above, you can send any amount of bitcoin you want (you can send half, you can send all, you can send less than half, or any amount), and yet you paper wallet private key is still offline, and yet the private key of the wallet you send it to is also offline. Nothing private touch online. That is why I will strongly recommend the method.