EDUCATION SERIES

DIGITAL HANDLING TIPS

PAPER STORAGE AND CONDITIONING Like any other high-performance, high-quality product; a little conditioning goes a long way with digital paper. It can be the difference between ‘okay’ and ‘outstanding’ when it comes to print results!

At Paper Mart, we’re proud of our digital paper selection. It’s top quality and, when properly cared for, you can expect optimal performance. While the guidelines of paper storage & handling may seem obvious, the subtle guidelines that we’ve outlined below will ensure best results.

FOR OPTIMUM CONDITIONING follow these storage guidelines

1. Leave paper in its wrapper until you are ready to load it into the machine. 2. Do not store paper directly on the floor. Keep it on pallets, on shelves or in cabinets 3. Store paper at a temperature between 68°F/20°C to 76°F/24.4°C with a relative humidity between 35 to 55 percent.

PAPER STACKING to avoid crushing Your paper order will normally be shipped to you in sturdy fiberboard . The number of reams in each depends on the size and weight of the paper. If you have ordered a large quantity, the cartons will be stacked on wooden pallets. DIGITAL Stack individual reams or cartons carefully on top of one another. This will help you to avoid crushing the edges or causing any permanent damage. Pile cartons no PAPER more than five high. Pallets can be stacked three high.

HANDLING PAPER HANDLING to avoid unnecessary damage TIPS Treating paper cartons with care is extremely important. Dropping, throwing, striking with a forklift, or otherwise mishandling paper cartons can result in damaged to en- paper. You may not even notice the damage until you have paper jams or other to ensure feeding problems. sureoptimum optiperformance- CLIMATE AND MOISTURE CONTROL to prevent production problems Store your paper on shelves, pallets or in cabinets rather than on the floor to avoid moisture absorption. Choose an area that’s protected from extreme temperatures and humidity. Temperature and humidity are critical factors in how digital paper performs in your copier or printer. Most environments with air conditioning systems provide the proper mix of temperature and humidity.

If you are in an environment that is not air conditioned, follow these guidelines: 1. Minimum temperature of 50°F/10°C with 15 percent relative humidity 2. Maximum temperature of 81°F/27.2°C with 85 percent relative humidity 3. Optimum temperature of 68°F/20°C to 76°F/24.4°C with 35% to 55% relative humidity

P: 1.800.772.2001 • E: [email protected] • W: www.papermartinc.com DIGITAL PAPER EDUCATION HANDLING TIPS SERIES

UTILIZE ORIGINAL PACKAGING to maintain proper consistency

To achieve best results, we recommend you leave packages sealed in their original wrapper within the shipping carton. Do not open the wrapper until you are ready to load the paper into your copier or printer. The package wrapper has an inner lining that will guard against moisture absorption. Once you open the wrapper, the protective barrier is gone and moisture can seep in and cause excessive curling or other problems.

After opening the original wrapper... After you open the package, reseal the wrapper with tape if you will not be using all the paper immediately; for example, if you’ll be leaving it unused overnight. Better still, store unused loose paper in a resealable plastic bag. Do not store paper in your machine’s paper trays.

Take sheets from the center of the package if a package has inadvertently been left open. Store in resealable bags or covered storage boxes after opening the original wrapper.

PAPER CONDITIONING to increase or maintain efficiency in print production

Moisture Xerography is very sensitive to moisture in paper. High humidity causes damp edges and wavy paper. Low humidity dries paper edges and makes it contract and become tight. Poor performance is the result! That is why it is so important to condition your paper.

As a rule, condition uncoated paper a minimum of 24 hours and coated paper a minimum of 48 hours. Transparencies and label stock also require conditioning , 24 hours and 72 hours, respectively. Separating cartons accelerates the conditioning process.

Repacking Equally important to the steps taken before printing, are the steps taken to ensure a quality product is delivered to your binder, finisher or end user. Here are a few helpful tips:

• Print with the least amount of heat needed to set ink • The sheets should be covered once printed, especially if there is lag time between print and bindery • Finished projects should be placed into plastic bags or wrap, boxed, palletized and plastic wrapped

Information & Inquires

PAPER MART INC. P: 1.800.772.2001 • F: 800.895.8848 E: [email protected] • W: www.papermartinc.com 151 Ridgedale Avenue • East Hanover, NJ 07936