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 permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Publication number: 5851-1468 Edition 1, 10/2002 Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with respect to this information.
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 . . .
Appendix B Ordering HP print media Laser paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Glossy paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Heavy paper, cover paper, and cardstock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Recycled paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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.
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.
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 print media This section contains information about the following activities: ● Preparing print media for use ● Using paper ● Using envelopes ● Using labels ● Using overhead transparencies ● Printing on both sides of the paper ● 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.
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. Paper should be loaded into the printer so that the indicated side will be printed (or printed first for duplexing).
Paper types This section describes the following paper types: ● ● ● ● ● ● Archival paper Bond paper or letterhead Coated paper Colored paper Copier paper (plain paper) Embossed and debossed paper ● ● ● ● ● ● Glossy paper Heavy paper, cover paper, and cardstock Laser paper Preprinted forms and letterhead Recycled paper Special print media Archival paper Paper that is used for archiving must meet the same specifications as standard paper; however, the pH should be greater than 7.0.
Copier paper (plain paper) Although copier paper is often referred to as "plain," the paper is optimized to work well with the electrophotographic process that is used in photocopiers and laser printers. Copier-grade paper commands the largest volume for printing and copying, and can be relatively inexpensive. However, keep in mind that the quality and consistency of paper can vary depending on the materials, processes, and controls that the manufacturer uses.
Preprinted forms and letterhead To avoid problems when using preprinted forms, embossed paper, and letterhead paper, observe the following guidelines: ● Avoid using low-temperature inks (the kind used with some types of thermography). ● Use forms and letterhead paper that have been printed by offset lithography or engraving. ● Use forms that have been created with heat-resistant inks that will not melt, vaporize, or release undesirable emissions when heated to 205° C (401° F) for 0.1 second (0.
The following guidelines should be considered when working with a knowledgeable vendor to develop media that will have perforations or die-cuts: ● So that edge trimmings will not scratch the photosensitive drum, punch cutouts and perforations from the side to be printed. ● Round all corners of a cutout to prevent snagging or, in the case of labels, peeling. ● Ensure that die-cutting of labels does not penetrate the liner sheet.
Property Specifications 64 g/m2 to 105 g/m2 (17 lb to 28 lb). See the support documentation that came with your printer for specific information. Caliper 0.09 mm to 0.17 mm (3.5 mil to 6.5 mil). See the support documentation that came with your printer for specific information. Minimum stiffness 1.2 minimum (Taber) machine direction. 0.8 minimum (Taber) cross direction. Grain Portrait feeding: long grain up to 135 g/m2 (36 lb); short grain for weights greater than 135 g/m2. Landscape feeding: long grain.
Using envelopes CAUTION Early models of the HP color LaserJet printer and HP color LaserJet 5 printers do not support envelopes. Printing on envelopes can damage the printer. See the user guide that came with your printer for detailed instructions about printing on envelopes. Most HP LaserJet printers can print on many sizes and styles of envelopes by using the manual feed feature, an optional envelope tray, an optional envelope feeder, or another tray.
Many envelopes will feed through your HP LaserJet printer without problems. However, some envelope constructions (as shown in the following figure) might not feed reliably. Problems can occur when the envelopes are folded more tightly than normal, which creates a thick leading edge near a corner. Inconsistencies in folding during manufacturing can cause some envelopes to feed well and others to jam. Purchase envelopes that have the quality and consistency that you require.
Guidelines for using envelopes The following table summarizes the envelope specifications that provide the best performance. Envelopes should meet the specifications for paper unless otherwise indicated. Note The specifications listed in this section generally apply to all HP LaserJet printers. See the support documentation that came with your printer for product-specific information. Property Specifications Basis weight 64 g/m2 to 105 g/m2 (17 lb to 28 lb).
Using labels Labels are a type of multiple-layer media that typically consists of a face sheet (the printable surface), pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a liner (a carrier sheet coated with a release agent). Labels to be used in your HP LaserJet printer must be specifically designed for laser printers. If labels other than those compatible with laser printers are used, a significant risk exists for labels peeling or for adhesive contamination that can severely damage your printer.
Property Specifications Adhesives Adhesives must not be on any external surfaces of the label before, during, or after printing. Label construction, adhesive release strength, and appropriate die-cutting must prevent labels from peeling off during printing. Different adhesives can provide removable, permanent, or semi-permanent fixing of the face sheet onto the item being labeled.
Using overhead transparencies Overhead transparency film must be designed specifically for use with laser printers. Photocopy transparency film might not be compatible with laser printers because of higher temperature and stiffness requirements. Color laser printers also require different film from that used in monochrome printers to create proper color reproduction and accommodate fusing needs.
Printing on both sides of the paper Two-sided printing, also known as duplex printing or duplexing, can be either an automatic or a manual process. Note The print quality for color duplex printing has been optimized for 90-g/m2 (24-lb) and heavier paper. Automatic duplexing Automatic duplexing requires an HP LaserJet printer that is designed especially for duplex printing. See the support documentation for your printer model or duplex accessory for information about supported paper.
18 4 Print bar codes in advance and presort all envelopes. Meter the envelopes or use precanceled stamps. (In addition to helping in the overall performance of the laser-printed document, bar coding and presorting can offer advantageous postal charges. In the United States, please contact your United States Postal Service business office to find out more about this.) 5 Avoid text-on-text contact.
Shipping and storing print media The performance of HP LaserJet printers depends on the condition of the print media that is used. This section contains recommendations for shipping and storing media, and provides information about environmental effects on media. Shipping media When you are shipping print media through different environments, use plastic wrap to wrap all cartons on the shipping pallet. When you are shipping media across bodies of water, also wrap individual cartons.
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3 Troubleshooting Print-quality and media-handling problems usually result from print media that does not meet the specifications that are described in this guide, or print media that has been stored improperly or is not in good condition. The following sections further explain the possible causes of and solutions to print-media problems.
Basic troubleshooting If you cannot determine the cause of your print defects by using information from the troubleshooting checklist, try the following procedures: 1 Inspect the print media for obvious defects, such as torn sheets, contamination from glue, or ragged cut edges. 1 Use print media from another lot or from a different manufacturer. 2 Turn the paper stack over in the input tray, or turn it 180° in the tray. Do both, if necessary.
Paper problems This section provides information about conditions that can indicate paper problems. These conditions include a high occurrence of jams, a high number of multiple-sheet feeds, and post-image curl. CAUTION Do not reuse jammed paper. Doing so can damage the printer. Frequent paper jams The following table lists possible causes of frequent paper jams and suggested actions. Note To recover from a paper jam, follow the directions that are listed in your HP LaserJet printer user guide.
Frequent multiple-sheet feeds The following table lists possible causes of frequent multiple-sheet feeds and suggested actions. 24 Cause Action(s) Paper is added in small amounts to the input tray. Paper is too dry or is not moist enough. (Insufficient moisture makes paper less conductive and creates static buildup.) ● Paper is too light or too thin. Paper is too smooth or too rough. Surfaces tend to interlock or stick together. Paper is embossed or has raised letterhead.
Reducing post-image curl When an HP LaserJet printer prints a sheet of paper, the sheet can develop a curvature that is called post-image curl. Generally, the higher the moisture content of the paper, the greater the curl. Both the paper and the printer affect the amount of post-image curl. In the papermaking process, stresses that can cause curl are a result of the paper manufacturing process, so different papers will have differing amounts of post-image curl.
Envelope problems High rates of jams, gray areas printing on envelopes, or wrinkling can indicate problems with envelopes. Frequent envelope jams Overfilling the envelope tray and misadjusting its guides are the most common causes of jams. However, if the envelope tray is properly loaded, the envelopes might be causing the problems. To recover from an envelope jam, follow the directions that are listed in your HP LaserJet printer user guide. CAUTION Do not reuse jammed envelopes.
Gray areas on envelopes Cause Action(s) Envelope has seams or multiple layers. ● The toner density setting is too light. ● Avoid printing over seams or other multiple-layer areas. Reduce background (gray shading in non-imaged areas) by adjusting the toner density setting to a darker setting. See the documentation that came with your printer. Wrinkling Wrinkles that form in envelopes after printing usually are caused by the following envelope conditions: Cause Action(s) Loose envelope construction.
Print-quality problems The following sections discuss print-quality problems that might be caused by print media. Background toner particles If the amount of background particles becomes unacceptable, the following procedures might help to clear the condition: ● Increase the toner density setting. This decreases the amount of background particles. ● Change the paper to a lighter basis weight. ● Check the printer’s environment.
A Specifications U.S. paper grades The U.S. paper-grading system has evolved through custom and usage, resulting in similar papers having differently stated weights. For example, a 24-lb bond paper is exactly the same weight as a 60-lb book paper, or a 60-lb text, or a 33-lb cover. This is because basis weight is defined as the weight of 500 sheets of paper cut to basic size.
Weight equivalence table The following table shows equivalent weights for different grades of paper. A bolded value indicates a commonly available standard weight for that grade. Note 30 Text and book grades marked with an asterisk (*) actually calculate to 51, 61, 71, and 81 but are rounded to standard book/text weights of 50, 60, 70, and 80. Bond wt. (17 by 22 inches) Text/Book wt. (25 by 38 inches) Cover wt. (20 by 26 inches) Bristol wt. (22.5 by 28.5 inches) Index wt. (25.5 by 30.
Standard media sizes used in laser printers The following sections list the English and metric dimensions of the most commonly used paper, envelope, and cardstock sizes. See the support documentation that came with your printer for specific information about the media that your HP LaserJet printer supports. Use only media that is supported.
Envelopes Size English dimension Metric dimension U.S. #6 3/4 (personal) U.S. #8 5/8 (check) U.S. #9 U.S. #10 (com10) U.S. #11 U.S. #5 1/2 baronial U.S. #6 baronial U.S. #7 3/4 (Monarch) U.S. A2 announcement U.S. A6 announcement ISO B5 ISO C5 ISO C5/6 ISO C6 ISO DL 3.63 by 6.50 inches 3.63 by 8.63 inches 3.88 by 8.88 inches 4.13 by 9.50 inches 4.50 by 10.38 inches 4.38 by 5.75 inches 4.75 by 6.50 inches 3.88 by 7.50 inches 4.38 by 5.75 inches 4.75 by 6.50 inches 6.93 by 9.84 inches 6.38 by 9.
Comparisons of paper smoothness Smoothness is typically expressed in terms of Sheffield, Gurley, Bekk, or Bendtsen units. HP LaserJet printers generally require a smoothness of between 100 and 200 Sheffield. The following figure compares the different types of smoothness.
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B Ordering HP print media In the United States, you can purchase HP paper and transparencies through HP’s website at http://www.hpshopping.com or by contacting your local reseller. To order outside of the U.S., please contact your local sales office. Laser paper CAUTION Media Not all HP LaserJet printers support printing on all of the print media that is listed in the following table.
Media Use with Use for Characteristics hp LaserJet paper monochrome and color reports, user manuals, 90 g/m2 (24-lb bond), laser printers letterhead, and 500 sheets, matte correspondence finish on both sides, 96 bright HP part numbers letter (HPJ1124) letter, 3-hole prepunched (HPJ113H) legal (HPJ1424) 11 by 17 (tabloid) (HPJ1724) A4 (Europe) (CHP310) Glossy paper CAUTION Not all HP LaserJet printers support printing on all of the print media that is listed in the following table.
Heavy paper, cover paper, and cardstock CAUTION Media Not all HP LaserJet printers support printing on all of the print media that is listed in the following table. Please see the support documentation that came with your product to determine if your product supports a particular type of print media.
Transparencies CAUTION Media Not all HP LaserJet printers support printing on transparencies. Please see the support documentation that came with your product to determine if your product supports transparencies. Use for Characteristics HP part numbers hp color LaserJet HP color LaserJet transparencies printers transparencies 5 mil thick (0.197 inches), 50 sheets, premium coated on both sides letter (C2934A) A4 (C2936A) hp LaserJet monochrome transparencies transparencies 4.3 mil thick (0.
C Glossary A-series of paper sizes The ISO A-series of paper sizes is based on the Lichtenberg Ratio, which is an aspect ratio of 1 to the square root of 2. A0 size paper is 841 by 1,189 mm in size, which is 1 square meter in area and has a 1.414:1 aspect ratio. Each subsequent size is half the area (determined by halving the long dimension). If the value is an odd number (for example, 1,189 mm), then the subsequent value after halving is truncated (for example, 594 mm). The aspect ratio of 1:1.
curl The amount of curvature or wave in a sheet before or after printing. Sheets might curl before printing if they are exposed to humid conditions or very dry conditions. Residual stresses in the sheet or high moisture content can also affect the level of 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 flat surface and measuring the height of the corners.
finish/smoothness Characterizes a paper’s finish. 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 specifically designed to work with your HP LaserJet printer.
MFP Multifunction peripheral; also known as multifunction product or multifunction printer. mils One mil equals 0.001 inches. moisture content How much moisture print media will absorb or lose, depending on the humidity in the surrounding air. Paper is hygroscopic, that is, it will absorb or lose moisture depending on the humidity in the air around it. The moisture content of paper has a great effect on its resistivity.
surface roughness Surface roughness of papers can affect print quality, feeding, and fusing (toner adhesion). If paper is very smooth, background particles are more easily seen, and sheets tend to stick together and create multiple-sheet feeds. Very rough papers can degrade transfer of toner onto the page, causing jagged edges or toner scatter. Fusing (toner adhesion) can also be drastically reduced on very rough papers. Roughness is usually measured using an air leak method such as the Sheffield method.
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Index A acclimating media 4, 19 accuracy specifications, dimensional 10 acidity specifications 6 acrylic-based adhesives 15 adding paper. See loading paper adhesive labels.
encapsulated adhesives, avoiding 11 engraved paper 8 envelopes feeding, troubleshooting 22 gray areas, troubleshooting 27 jams, frequent 26 large 12 mailings, preparing 17 printers supporting 11 specifications 11, 12, 13 standard sizes 32 storing 19 testing 12 text-on-text contact, avoiding 18 wrinkled, troubleshooting 27 environments acclimating media 4, 19 storing media 19 equivalence tables basis weight 29 envelope size 32 paper size 31 smoothness 33 weight 30 F face sheets, label 15, 40 fanning paper 5
L O labels, adhesive die-cut 9 selecting 14 specifications 15 storing 15 labels, ream 5 laid finishes 6 landscape orientation 25 laser-grade paper 7 LaserJet 2000 1 LaserJet 2686A 1 LaserJet 500 1 LaserJet Monochrome printers 1 LaserJet monochrome transparencies, hp 37 LaserJet paper, hp 36 LaserJet Plus 1 LaserJet printers media designed for 1 operations 2 lasers, operations of 2 letterhead HP papers 36 specifications 8 types of 4, 6 letters, troubleshooting 28 light paper, troubleshooting 23 Lightenberg
print quality, troubleshooting 27 printing paper, hp 35 proposals, paper for 36 punched paper 8, 9 purchasing HP print media 35 Q quality, troubleshooting 27 R reams acclimating 4, 19 defined 42 labels, reading 5 opening 5 storing 19 recycled paper HP 37 specifications 8 resistivity, electrical defined 40 paper specifications 10 transparency specifications 16 rollers, swelling of 6 rough papers 4, 6 roughness defined 43 envelope specifications 13 paper specifications 10 S Sales and Service Offices, HP 2
W warping, preventing 19 warranty 3 waste paper, defined 43 watermarks defined 43 papers with 4, 6 wave.
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