Print media is paper, transparencies, labels, envelopes, coated paper among others. Your printer provides high-quality printing on a variety of print media. Selecting the appropriate print media for your printer helps avoid printing troubles. This section describes how to select print media, how to care for print media, and how to load the print media in the standard and optional 250-sheet tray module or 500-sheet tray module.
Paper
Transparencies
Envelopes
Labels
Storing Print Media
Identifying Print Media Sources and Specifications
For the best print quality in color, use 75 g/m2 (20 lb) xerographic, grain long paper. For the best print quality in black and white, use 90 g/m2 (24 lb) xerographic, grain long paper. Before buying large quantities of any print media, Dell recommends trying a sample first.
When loading paper, identify the recommended print side on the paper package, and load the paper accordingly. See "Loading Print Media in Standard and Optional Trays" and "Loading the Multipurpose Feeder" for detailed loading instructions.
The following paper characteristics affect print quality and reliability. Dell recommends that you follow these guidelines when evaluating new paper stock.
The tray automatically feeds paper weights from 60 to 105 g/m2 (16 to 28 lb bond) grain long. The multipurpose feeder automatically feeds paper weights from 60 to 216 g/m2 (16 to 56 lb bond) grain long. Paper lighter than 60 g/m2 (16 lb) might not be stiff enough to feed properly, and could cause paper jams. For best performance, use 75 g/m2 (20 lb bond) grain long paper.
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 cause feeding problems.
The degree of paper smoothness directly affects 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 between 150 and 250 Sheffield points produces the best print quality.
The amount of moisture in the paper affects both print quality and the ability of the printer to feed the paper properly. Leave the paper in its original packaging until you are ready to use it. This limits the exposure of the paper to moisture changes that can degrade its performance.
Grain refers to the alignment of the paper fibers in a sheet of paper. Grain is either grain long, running the length of the paper, or grain short, running the width of the paper. For 60 to 135 g/m2 (16 to 36 lb bond) paper, grain long fibers are recommended. For papers heavier than 135 g/m2 (36 lb bond), grain short is preferred.
Most high-quality xerographic paper is made from 100% chemically pulped wood. Paper containing fibers such as cotton possess characteristics that can result in degraded paper handling.
To ensure the best print quality and feed reliability, use 75 g/m2 (20 lb) xerographic paper. Business papers designed for general business use also provide acceptable print quality.
Always print several samples before buying large quantities of any type of print media. When choosing any print media, you should consider the weight, fiber content, and color.
The laser printing process heats paper to high temperatures of 225°C (437°F) for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) applications, and 205°C (401°F) for non-MICR applications. Only use paper able to withstand these temperatures without discoloring, bleeding, or releasing hazardous emissions. Check with the manufacturer or vendor to determine whether the paper you have chosen is acceptable for laser printers.
The following paper types are not recommended for use with the printer:
- Chemically treated papers used to make copies without carbon paper, also known as carbonless papers, carbonless copy paper (CCP), or no carbon required (NCR) paper
- Preprinted papers with chemicals that may contaminate the printer
- Preprinted papers that can be affected by the temperature in the printer fuser
- Preprinted papers that require a registration (the precise print location on the page) greater than ±0.09 in., such as optical character recognition (OCR) forms
In some cases, you can adjust registration with your software program to successfully print on these forms.
- Coated papers (erasable bond), synthetic papers, thermal papers
- Rough-edged, rough or heavily textured surface papers or curled papers
- Recycled papers containing more than 25% post-consumer waste that do not meet DIN 19 309
- Multiple-part forms or documents
- Label paper with Cut
Proper paper selection helps prevent jams and ensures trouble-free printing.
To help avoid jams or poor print quality:
- Always use new, undamaged paper.
- Before loading the paper, identify the recommended print side of the paper. This information is usually indicated on the paper package.
- Do not use paper that you have cut or trimmed yourself.
- Do not mix print media sizes, weights, or types in the same source. This may result in a paper jam.
- Do not remove trays while a job is printing or Printing is displayed on the operator panel.
- Make sure the Paper Type and Paper Size settings are correct. (See "Tray Settings" for detailed information about these settings.)
- Make sure the paper is properly loaded in the tray.
- Flex paper back and forth, and then fan them. Straighten the edges of the stack on a level surface.
- When curl is excessive, with plain paper, turn it over and reset it.
When selecting preprinted forms and letterhead paper for the printer:
- Use long grain paper for best results.
- Use only forms and letterhead printed using an offset lithographic or engraved printing process.
- Select papers that absorb ink, but do not bleed.
- Avoid papers with rough or heavily textured surfaces.
- Use papers printed with heat-resistant inks designed for use in xerographic copiers. The ink must withstand temperatures of 225°C (437°F) without melting or releasing hazardous emissions.
- Use inks that are not affected by the resin in toner or the silicone in the fuser. Inks that are oxidation-set or oil-based should meet these requirements; latex inks might not. If you are in doubt, contact your paper supplier.
Check with the manufacturer or vendor to determine whether the preprinted letterhead you have selected is acceptable for laser printers.
Page orientation is important when printing on letterhead. Use the following table for help when loading letterhead in the print media sources.
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Standard 250-sheet tray module
Optional 250-sheet tray module or 500-sheet tray module
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Logo enters the printer first
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Pre-punched paper brands can differ in the number and placement of holes and in manufacturing techniques.
To select and use pre-punched paper:
- Test paper from several manufacturers before ordering and using large quantities of pre-punched paper.
- Paper should be punched at the paper manufacturer and not drilled into paper already packaged in a ream. Drilled paper can cause jams when multiple sheets feed through the printer. This may result in a paper jam.
- Pre-punched paper can include more paper dust than standard paper. Your printer may require more frequent cleaning and feed reliability may not be as good as standard paper.
- Weight guidelines for pre-punched paper are the same as non-punched paper.
Before buying large quantities of any print media, Dell recommends trying a sample first.
When printing on transparencies:
- Set the Paper Type to Transparency from the printer driver to avoid damaging your printer.
- Use transparencies designed specifically for laser printers. Do not use regular transparencies. Transparencies must be able to withstand temperatures of 205°C (401°F) without melting, discoloring, offsetting or releasing hazardous emissions.
- Avoid getting fingerprints on the transparencies. This may result in poor print quality.
- Before loading transparencies, fan the stack to prevent sheets from sticking together.
The printer can print directly on transparencies designed for use in laser printers. Print quality and durability depend on the transparency used. Before buying large quantities of any print media, Dell recommends trying a sample first.
The Paper Type setting should be set to Transparency to help prevent jams. (See "Paper Type" for detailed information about this setting.) Check with the manufacturer or vendor to determine whether your transparencies are compatible with laser printers that reach temperatures as high as 205°C (401°F). Only use transparencies that are able to withstand these temperatures without melting, discoloring, offsetting, or releasing hazardous emissions.
You can load envelopes in the multipurpose feeder for a single print job. Before buying large quantities of any print media, Dell recommends trying a sample first. See "Loading the Multipurpose Feeder" for instructions on loading an envelope.
When printing on envelopes:
- Use only high-quality envelopes that are designed for use in laser printers.
- Set the print media source to MPF. Set the Paper Type to Envelope, and select the correct size of envelope from the printer driver.
- For best performance, use envelopes made from 75 g/m2 (20 lb bond) paper. You can use up to 105 g/m2 (28 lb bond) weight for the envelope feeder as long as the cotton content is 25% or less. Envelopes with 100% cotton content must not exceed 90 g/m2 (24 lb bond) weight.
- Use only new, undamaged envelopes.
- For best performance, do not use envelopes that:
- Have excessive curl or twist
- Are stuck together or damaged in any way
- Contain windows, holes, perforations, cutouts, embossing
- Use metal clasps, string ties, or metal folding bars
- Have an interlocking design
- Have postage stamps attached
- Have any exposed adhesive when the flap is in the sealed or closed position
- Have nicked edges or bent corners
- Have rough, cockle, or laid finishes
- Use envelopes that can withstand temperatures of 205°C (401°F) without sealing, excessive curling, wrinkling, or releasing hazardous emissions. If you have any doubts about the envelopes you are considering, check with the envelope supplier.
- Adjust the width guide to fit the width of the envelopes.
- To load envelopes in the multipurpose feeder, insert the envelopes either with the flaps open and toward the front of the printer, or with the flaps closed and the short-edge of the envelopes facing into the printer.
- See "Loading the Multipurpose Feeder" for instructions on loading an envelope.
- Use one envelope size during a print job.
- Make sure the humidity is low because high humidity (more than 60%) and the high printing temperatures may seal the envelopes.
Your printer can print on many labels designed for use with laser printers. Label adhesives, face sheet (printable stock), and topcoats must be able to withstand temperatures of 205°C (401°F) and pressure of 25 pounds per square inch (psi).
Before buying large quantities of any print media, Dell recommends trying a sample first.
When printing on labels:
- Do not load labels together with paper or transparencies at the same time. This may result in a jam.
- Do not use label sheets with a slick backing material.
- Do not print within 1 mm (0.04 in.) of the die cut.
- Use full label sheets. Partial sheets may cause labels to peel off during printing, resulting in a jam. Partial sheets also contaminate your printer and your cartridge with adhesive, and could void your printer and cartridge warranties.
- Use labels that can withstand temperatures of 205°C (401°F) without sealing, excessive curling, wrinkling, or releasing hazardous emissions.
- Do not print within 1 mm (0.04 in.) of the edge of the label, of the perforations, or between die-cuts of the label.
- Do not use label sheets that have adhesive to the edge of the sheet. Dell recommends zone coating of the adhesive at least 1 mm (0.04 in.) away from edges. Adhesive material contaminates your printer and could void your warranty.
- If zone coating of the adhesive is not possible, a 3 mm (0.125 in.) strip should be removed on the leading edge, and a non-oozing adhesive should be used.
- Remove a 3 mm (0.125 in.) strip from the leading edge to prevent labels from peeling inside the printer.
- Portrait orientation is preferred, especially when printing bar codes.
- Do not use labels that have exposed adhesive.
For proper print media storage, the following guidelines help avoid media feeding problems and uneven print quality.
- For best results, store print media in an environment where the temperature is approximately 21°C (70°F) and the relative humidity is 40%.
- Store cartons of print media on a pallet or shelf, rather than directly on the floor.
- If you store individual packages of print media out of the original carton, make sure they rest on a flat surface so that the edges do not buckle or curl.
- Do not place anything on top of the print media packages.
The following tables provide information on standard and optional print media sources.
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Standard 250-sheet tray module
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Optional 250-sheet tray module
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Optional 500-sheet tray module
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User-specified print media
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Standard 250-sheet tray module
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Optional 250-sheet tray module
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Optional 500-sheet tray module
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Plain Paper 1-Side2 (60–80 gsm)
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Plain Paper 2 (81–105 gsm)
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Plain Paper 2-Side2 (81–105gsm)
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Covers 1-Side2 (106–163 gsm)
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Covers 2-Side2 (164–216 gsm)
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Coated 1-Side2 (106 –163 gsm)
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Coated 2-Side2 (164 –216 gsm)
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