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12 Paper and Other Media
Print Media Guidelines
Print media is paper, labels, envelopes, and coated paper among others. Your machine
provides high-quality printing on a variety of print media. Selecting the appropriate print
media for your machine helps avoid printing troubles.
This section describes selecting print media, caring for print media, and loading the print
media in the paper trays.
Paper
For the best print quality in color, use 75 gsm xerographic, grain long paper. For the best
print quality in black and white, use 90 gsm xerograhic, grain long paper. It is recommended
that you try a sample first before buying large quantities of any print media.
When loading paper, identify the recommended print side on the paper package, and load
the paper accordingly. See "Loading Paper" (P.207) for detailed loading instructions.
Paper Characteristics
The following paper characteristics affect print quality and reliability. It is recommended
that you follow these guidelines when evaluating new paper stock.
Weight
The tray automatically feeds paper weights from 60 to 216 gsm grain long. Paper lighter than
60 gsm may not feed properly, and could cause paper jams. For best performance, use 75 gsm
grain long paper.
Curl
Curl is the tendency of print media to curve at its edges. Excessive curl can cause paper
feeding problems. Curl usually occurs after the paper passes through the machine, where it
is exposed to high temperatures. Storing paper unwrapped, even in the paper tray, can
contribute to paper curling prior to printing and cause feeding problems regardless of
humidity. When printing on curled paper, straighten the paper and then insert it into the
Tray 5.
Smoothness
The degree of paper smoothness directly affects print quality. If the paper is too rough, the
toner does not fuse to the paper properly, resulting in poor print quality. If the paper is too
smooth, it can cause paper feeding problems. Smoothness between 150 and 250 Sheffield
points produces the best print quality.
Moisture Content
The amount of moisture in the paper affects both print quality and the ability of the machine
to feed the paper properly. Leave the paper in its original packaging until you are ready to use
it. This limits the exposure of the paper to moisture changes that can degrade its
performance.
Grain Direction
Grain refers to the alignment of the paper fibers in a sheet of paper. Grain is either grain long,
running the length of the paper, or grain short, running the width of the paper. For 60 to 135
gsm paper, grain long fibers are recommended. For paper heavier than 135 gsm, grain short
is preferred.
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