hp LaserJet printer family print media guide hp LaserJet printer family print media guide____________ © Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company, 2002 Warranty All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written The information contained in this document is subject to permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the change without notice. copyright laws. Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with respect to this information. HEWLETT-PACKARD Publication number: 5851-1468 SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTY Edition 1, 10/2002 OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or other damage alleged in connection with the furnishing or use of this information. ii Contents 1 Overview How HP LaserJet printers work . .2 Alternative sources of information . .2 2 Guidelines for using media Using print media. .4 Preparing print media for use . .4 Using paper . .4 Using envelopes . .11 Using labels . .14 Using overhead transparencies . .16 Printing on both sides of the paper . .17 Preparing laser-printed mailings . .17 Shipping and storing print media . .19 Environmental considerations. .19 3 Troubleshooting Troubleshooting checklist . .21 Basic troubleshooting . .22 Types of print media to avoid . .22 Paper problems . .23 Frequent paper jams. .23 Frequent multiple-sheet feeds . .24 Reducing post-image curl . .25 Envelope problems . .26 Frequent envelope jams . .26 Gray areas on envelopes . .27 Wrinkling . .27 Print-quality problems . .28 Background toner particles . .28 Dropouts . .28 Improperly formed or wavy characters . .28 Toner smear . .28 Toner specks (background scatter) . .28 Appendix A Specifications U.S. paper grades . .29 Common paper grades and basis weights . .29 Weight equivalence table . .30 Standard media sizes used in laser printers . .31 Paper . .31 Envelopes . .32 Cardstock . .32 Comparisons of paper smoothness . .33 iii Appendix B Ordering HP print media Laser paper . .35 Glossy paper . .36 Heavy paper, cover paper, and cardstock. .37 Recycled paper . .37 Transparencies . .38 Appendix C Glossary Index iv ENWW 1 Overview HP LaserJet printers quickly and quietly produce documents of excellent print quality. A variety of print media, including paper, envelopes, labels, and overhead transparencies, can be used in your HP LaserJet printer. However, to ensure consistent performance and long-term reliability, the print media must be designed for use with laser printers. Many choices of high-quality print media are available to laser printer users. This manual provides guidelines for selecting and using print media to help you get the best performance from your HP LaserJet printer. It also contains information to help troubleshoot HP LaserJet printer problems that might be caused by poor-quality print media. You might encounter some terms that are unfamiliar to you. For more information about these terms, see the glossary in Appendix C on page 39. The standards discussed in this manual do not apply to paper that is being scanned, copied, or faxed through the scan path on an HP LaserJet MFP (multifunction peripheral). Check the individual product manuals for that information. Note This document does not support HP LaserJet 2686A, HP LaserJet Plus, HP LaserJet 500, or HP LaserJet 2000 printers. See the user guide for each printer for information about print-media specifications. Note When HP LaserJet printers are discussed in this guide, the information pertains to HP Monochrome LaserJet printers, HP color LaserJet printers, and HP LaserJet MFPs unless otherwise noted. For specific information about what media your printer or MFP supports, see the documentation that came with your product. Chapter 1 Overview 1 How HP LaserJet printers work HP LaserJet printers use laser and electrophotographic technologies. To print a page in a laser printer, the print media must be picked from the input tray one sheet at a time and transported through the paper path. While passing through the paper path, a scanning laser beam writes an electrostatic image onto a rotating photosensitive drum. As this image passes the developing station, a dry, powdery toner is attracted to the image areas. In an HP color LaserJet printer, this process is similar for each of the four toner colors. The developed image then advances to the transfer station, where the drum contacts the paper or other print media and the toner image is electrostatically transferred onto the paper. After transfer, the print media passes through the fuser, where heat and pressure are applied and the toner fuses (melts) onto the print media. The print media is then delivered to the output bin, ready for use. To summarize, to create the printed image the print media must be transported through the printer, charged electrostatically, and heated. This is why print media properties such as cleanliness, electrical resistivity, caliper, finish, moisture content, and stiffness can affect the print quality and media-handling performance of your HP LaserJet printer. Alternative sources of information The media manufacturer and vendor can provide you with information about the suitability of print media for an HP LaserJet printer. If you have tried the suggestions that are outlined in this document and in your user guide and you still need assistance, call the dealer from whom you purchased your printer. You can also obtain support through the worldwide network of HP Sales and Service Offices. (See the sales and service listings that are contained in any HP LaserJet printer user guide.) Visit HP’s website at http://www.hp.com to find out more about your HP printer and HP print media. 2 How HP LaserJet printers work ENWW 2 Guidelines for using media HP LaserJet printers are designed to be flexible in the types of print media they can use. However, it is advisable to use good-quality media, and, specifically, HP paper that is designed to work with your HP LaserJet printers (see “Ordering HP print media” on page 35). This section is designed to help you select media that works best with your HP LaserJet printer. HP LaserJet printers can also use non-HP brand media that falls within the specifications for supported media. Using non-HP brand media will not typically damage the printer or void the warranty if the media meets those specifications. Note Properties of non-HP brand media, over which Hewlett-Packard has no control, are subject to change. The customer assumes all responsibility for the quality and performance of media. Although testing media helps to characterize its performance, long-term satisfaction requires manufacturer process-quality control as well as proper handling and storage by the customer. If you are planning a large purchase of print media, first print a small quantity in your printing environment. Subject the print media to the temperature, humidity, and printing applications in which the print media will be used. Hewlett-Packard recommends that you ask your print media vendor for a guarantee that its print media will perform satisfactorily in your HP LaserJet printer and that the vendor will assume responsibility for the replacement of any print media that does not print acceptably. Note Hewlett-Packard recommends testing print media before purchasing large quantities. 2 Guidelines for using media 3 Using print media This section contains information about the following activities: G Preparing print media for use G Using paper G Using envelopes G Using labels G Using overhead transparencies G Printing on both sides of the paper G Preparing laser-printed mailings Preparing print media for use After purchasing print media, you might have to prepare it for use. Print media needs some time to stabilize in a new environment. To prepare print media, keep it in its protective packaging and store it in the environment in which it will be used. For small quantities, such as one or two reams, store the print media for one to two days. For larger quantities or if the change in the environment is significant, a week or more might be needed. If print media is not properly prepared, the edges in the ream can become wavy or the sheets might curl soon after the package is opened. Using paper “Plain paper” is an inaccurate term. All papers are designed and manufactured for a specific use. Papers that are designed for the electrophotographic process that laser printer and copy machines use are usually called laser- or copier-grade papers. High-quality laser and copier papers are usually made from 100 percent 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. Note Paper is being produced with higher filler levels, and the small particulate that is used for the fillers (such as calcium carbonate, clay, or talc) must be properly bound or sealed in the sheet during the paper-making process to prevent contamination of the printer. For more information, see “Coated paper” on page 6. Some print jobs require a paper that has a more prestigious look or feel. Letterhead 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 as well as those of photocopier papers. Although 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 that are optimized for laser printing. 4 Using print media ENWW Reading a ream label A ream label is typically placed or printed on the outside of the paper wrapping. The ream label usually lists the weight, size, quantity of sheets, grain direction, and other information. The preferred side for printing might be indicated by an arrow on the ream label, although some manufacturers do not specify a print side.