Specifications

Chapter 1: Printer Specifications
1-5
Media specifications
Paper is a critical item. Select, store and handle it properly to avoid paper jams and poor print
quality. This section provides information on the following:
• Paper and print material specifications
• Paper storage requirements
• Envelope specifications
The paper should be of good quality, free of cuts, nicks, tears, spots, loose particles, dust,
wrinkles, voids, and curled or bent edges. The use of good quality paper ensures good image
transfer and toner fixing without excessive curl. It is recommended that you test a particular
paper, prior to large purchases, to determine if the performance is acceptable. This section
contains guidelines for you to follow when selecting print material to be used with your printer.
Print material that does not meet the suggested guidelines may:
• Increase paper jams
• Cause unnecessary wear in the printer
• Degrade print quality
• Increase service costs
The printer uses plain paper in weights of 16 to 24 pound (60 to 90 g/m
²
). For optimum printer
performance, 20 pound or 75 g/m
²
paper is recommended. Use conventional white xerographic
paper for most printing applications.
The printer can also use special print materials such as:
• Colored paper
• Predrilled paper
• Letterhead paper
• Preprinted forms
• Labels
• Transparencies
• Nonstandard sized paper (e.g. envelopes)
• Card stock
Colored Paper
Do not use paper with a colored coating that has been added after the paper is produced.
Pigments used must be able to withstand temperatures of 392º Fahrenheit (200º Centigrade)
without deterioration. Colored paper should also be of the same high quality as white paper.
Card Stock
For optimum performance, use card stock in weights from 16 to 32 pound (60 to 120 g/m
²
). Card
stock over 36 pound (135 g/m
²
)
may cause printer dysfunction.
NOTE
:
The paper industry uses the term "basis weight." When you see paper listed as 28 pound
paper, you are being given a weight specification. In English units, basis weight refers to the
weight in pounds of 500 sheets of 17 by 22 inch paper. Basis weight is measured on a metric
scale as the weight, in grams, of one square meter of paper.