HP LaserJet Printers - Print Media Guide

curl after printing. Good process control by the paper manufacturer and proper paper storage and handling will minimize
curl problems.
Curl is typically measured by laying the sheet of paper on a at surface and measuring the height of the corners. There are
two types of curl:
● In-ream curl is the amount of curl in a sheet of paper before printing. In-ream curl results from the paper-
manufacturing process or from exposure to the environment. Paper with excessive in-ream curl might lead to feeding
and print-quality problems.
● Post-image curl is the amount of curl in a sheet of paper after printing. Post-image curl results from exposure to the
fusing process and the paper path in the printer. Paper that has excessive post-image curl can be
dicult to handle or
to use in automatic-feed photocopiers.
cut-edge condition
Condition of the edges of paper, which can aect paper’s ability to feed properly.
cutouts
Any portion of the media that has been removed, including binder holes, notches, square cuts.
density
Relative darkness of the print.
die-cuts
Cuts between individual labels. Die-cuts are made by a machine in a predened pattern.
duplexing
Printing on both the front and back sides of a sheet of paper.
electrical properties
The electrical resistivity of the print media. The electrical resistivity of the paper is one of the most important properties for
copier- and laser-grade papers. If resistance is too high, static buildup problems can occur with paper handling and print
quality. If electrical resistivity is too low, poor image transfer and low density can result. Generally, paper has very high
resistance, so paper manufacturers add salts or other materials to lower the resistivity.
face sheet
The face sheet is the printable surface on a sheet of adhesive labels. It can be made from dierent materials, including
paper, polyester, and vinyl. It is common for a face sheet to be die-cut so that individual shapes can be removed after
printing. Polyester and vinyl labels require a topcoat to provide the proper electrical and toner adhesion properties. It is
important to purchase labels from a knowledgeable supplier who is familiar with these processes and with laser printing.
felt side versus wire side
Some methods of manufacturing paper result in two-sided paper that has properties that dier from one side to the other.
Along with other process variations, these properties can make one side of the paper the preferred side on which to print.
The “top” side of the paper sheet, as it is formed, is known as the felt side. The “bottom” side is known as the wire side. Most
manufacturers indicate the preferred printing side on the package. See Reading a ream label on page 5.
nish/smoothness
Characterizes a paper’s nish. Textured paper causes inconsistent or blotchy print and can wrinkle. Printed output on
textured paper might have broken character edges and show poor toner adhesion. Glossy-smooth paper tends to highlight
defects and might not hold toner. For best results, use smooth paper.
Paper for laser printers should not have a heavy texture or a glossy smoothness unless the paper is specically designed to
work with your HP LaserJet printer. If you want to use a glossy paper in the HP color LaserJet printer, try HP’s soft gloss and
high gloss paper (see Ordering HP print media on page 41). For sharp resolution or detail, use a smooth paper.
Paper nish is typically measured by using air-leak methods. We recommend a range for smoothness that uses the Sheeld
method. Equivalent values for other methods can be found in Comparisons of paper smoothness on page 39.
44 Glossary ENWW