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Selecting print media
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Understanding paper and specialty media guidelines
Selecting print media
Selecting the appropriate print media for the printer helps you avoid printing problems. The following sections contain
guidelines for choosing the correct print media for the printer.
Paper
For the best print quality, use 75 g/m
2
(20 lb) xerographic, grain long paper. Try a sample of any paper you are considering
using with the printer before buying large quantities.
When loading paper, note the recommended print side on the paper package, and load paper accordingly. See Loading
standard trays and optional trays, Loading the multipurpose feeder, or Loading the 2000-sheet drawer for detailed
tray-loading instructions.
Paper characteristics
The following paper characteristics affect print quality and reliability. We recommend that you follow these guidelines when
evaluating new paper stock.
For detailed information, see the Card Stock & Label Guide located on the Lexmark Web site at www.lexmark.com.
The laser printing process heats paper to high temperatures of 230°C (446°F). For Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
(MICR) applications and for non-MICR applications, use only paper able to withstand these temperatures without
discoloring, bleeding, or releasing hazardous emissions. Check with the manufacturer or vendor to determine whether the
paper you have chosen is acceptable for laser printers.
Weight
The printer can automatically feed paper weights from 60 to 176 g/m
2
(16 to 47 lb bond) grain long in the integrated and
optional 500-sheet trays and paper weights from 60 to 135 g/m
2
(16 to 36 lb bond) grain long in the multipurpose feeder
and optional 250-sheet trays. Paper lighter than 60 g/m
2
(16 lb) might not be stiff enough to feed properly, causing jams. For
best performance, use 75 g/m
2
(20 lb bond) grain long paper. When using paper narrower than 182 x 257 mm (7.2 x 10.1
in.), make sure the weight is greater than or equal to 90 g/m
2
(24 lb bond).
Unacceptable paper
The following papers are not recommended for use with the printer:
• Some chemically treated papers used to make copies without carbon paper, also known as carbonless papers,
carbonless copy paper (CCP), or no carbon required (NCR) paper (see the Card Stock & Label Guide located on
the Lexmark Web site at www.lexmark.com for supported chemically treated papers)
• Preprinted papers with chemicals that may contaminate the printer
• Preprinted papers that can be affected by the temperature in the printer fuser
• Preprinted papers that require a registration (the precise print location on the page) greater than ±0.09 in., such as
optical character recognition (OCR) forms
In some cases, you can adjust registration with your software application to successfully print on these forms.
• Coated papers (erasable bond), synthetic papers, thermal papers
• Rough-edged, rough or heavily textured surface papers or curled papers
• Recycled papers containing more than 25% post-consumer waste that do not meet DIN 19 309
• Recycled paper having a weight less than 60 g/m
2
(16 lb)
• Paper • Transparencies
• Envelopes • Labels
• Card stock