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Print Media Guidelines
Print media is paper, card stock, transparencies, labels, and envelopes. Your printer provides
high quality printing on a variety of print media. Selecting the appropriate print media for
your printer helps you to avoid printing problems. This chapter provides information on how
to help you make print media selections, how to care for the print media, and how to load it
in the tray 1, optional tray 2, or MPF.
Paper
For the best print quality, use 80 g/m
2
(20 lb) xerographic, long grain 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 the
paper accordingly. See "Loading Print Media in the Paper Tray" and "Using the MPF (Multi
purpose feeder)" for detailed 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.
Weight
The printer can automatically feed paper weights from 60 to 105 g/m
2
(16 to 24 lb bond)
grain long in the DADF and from 60 to 105g/m
2
(16 to 24 lb bond) grain long in the paper
tray. Paper lighter than 60 g/m
2
(16 lb bond) may not be stiff enough to feed properly,
causing jams. For best performance, use 80 g/m
2
(20 lb bond) long grain paper.
For duplex printing, use 75 to 90 g/m
2
(20 to 24 lb bond) 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 printer, where it is
exposed to high temperatures. Storing paper unwrapped in humid conditions, even in the
paper tray, can contribute to paper curling prior to printing and can cause feeding
problems.
Smoothness
The degree of smoothness of the paper directly affects the 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 should be between
100 and 300 Sheffield points; however, smoothness between 150 and 250 Sheffield points
produces the best print quality.