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8 Guidelines for purchasing and using print media
Paper
“Plain paper” is a misnomer. All papers are designed and
manufactured for a specific use. Papers designed for the
electrophotographic process used by laser printer and copy machines
are usually called laser, photocopy, or xerographic grade papers.
High quality laser and photocopy papers are usually made from 100%
chemical wood pulp and are characterized by a smooth surface,
controlled electrical properties, heat stability, and cleanliness. These
characteristics ensure good image transfer, fusing without excessive
curl, and reliable printer operation.
Use conventional white photocopy paper for most printing. The paper
should be high quality and free of the following:
l cuts
l tears
l grease spots
l loose particles
l dust
l wrinkles voids
l curled or bent edges
Some print jobs require a paper with a more prestigious look or feel.
Bond papers generally have a watermark and often use cotton fiber.
These papers tend to have a rougher surface, and their properties
might not be controlled like those of photocopier papers. Your
HP LaserJet printer will print black satisfactorily on many of these
bond papers. Using this type of paper with an HP Color LaserJet
printer can degrade color print quality. However, paper manufacturers
are now making laser-grade bond papers, which have properties
optimized for laser printing.
Note Paper can meet the general specifications listed in "Print media
specifications" and still not print satisfactorily because of the printing
environment or other variables over which HP has no control.
This section contains the following two topics:
l "Reading a ream label"
l "Paper types"