Hp LASERJET4PLUS User Manual

hp LaserJet printer family

print media guide

hp LaserJet printer family

print media guide____________

Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.

Publication number: 5851-1468 Edition 1, 10/2002

Warranty

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

Hewlett-Packard makes no warranty of any kind with respect to this information. HEWLETT-PACKARD SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED WARRANTY 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.

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

Ov erview

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 unf amiliar 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://ww w.hp.com print media.

to find out more about your HP printer and HP

2 How HP LaserJet printers work ENWW

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:

● 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. 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. Paper should be loaded into the printer so that the indicated side will be printed (or printed first for duplexing). The preferred side might face-up or face-down in the input tray, depending on the printer model and the input source. (See the support documentation for your printer model to determine the orientation in the input tray.)

The following illustration shows an example of a ream label. For more information about the items on the label, see the glossary in Appendix C on page 39.

manufacturer

name

orientation of preferred side

for printing

brightness level

basis

weight

brand name

paper size (bold or underline

indicates grain direction)

paper

type

grammage

surface

finish

quantity

paper color

Opening and loading paper

Follow this suggested process when you open paper and load it into the printer input tray:

1 Place the wrapped ream of paper on a flat surface, with the seam side up. 2 Read the ream label that is located on the outside of the paper wrapping and note the

direction of the arrow that indicates the preferred print side (if one is included). (See

“Reading a ream label” on page 5.)

3 Open the paper wrapping and inspect for any damage to the sheets such as bent

corners, wrinkles, nicked edges, or glue contamination. Discard any damaged sheets.

4 Handle the open stack of paper as little as possible. However, before loading the

paper into the tray, fle x the stack in both directions to "break" any locked edges. Do not fan or separate the paper into several stacks because doing so creates air pockets between the sheets that can cause jams or multiple-sheet feeds.

2 Guidelines for using media 5

Paper types

This section describes the following paper types:

● Archival paper ● Glossy paper

● Bond paper or letterhead ● Heavy paper, cover paper, and cardstock

● Coated paper ● Laser paper

● Colored paper ● Preprinted forms and letterhead

● Copier paper (plain paper) ● Recycled paper

● Embossed and debossed 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. Some archival demands are more stringent than others, requiring a specific degree of alkalinity and chemical stability. Toner is chemically stable and should last as long as the paper does. Toner can be degraded by petroleum-based solvents or plasticizers, such as those found in vinyl folders.

Avoid folding archival documents across printed areas or handling archival documents roughly . Discuss archival requirements with your paper supplier.

Bond paper or letterhead

Bond paper or letterhead is premium paper that is often watermarked, sometimes uses cotton fiber, and is available in a wide range of colors and finishes with matching envelopes. Many manufacturers now design these grades of paper with properties optimized for laser printing and advertise the paper as laser compatible or laser guaranteed. Some of the rougher surface finishes, such as cockle, laid, or linen, might require the special fuser modes that are available on some printer models in order to achieve adequate toner adhesion. For more information about your printer’s specifications, see the support documentation that came with your printer.

Coated paper

Clay- or other pigment-coated papers must be specifically designed for laser printers. The electrical properties must be controlled and the surface designed not to blister during fusing. The coating must not flake or shed particles that can contaminate the printer.

Some chemically coated papers, such as carbonless paper, can cause swelling of rollers, damage to the paper path, or buildup on the fuser, and can produce undesirable emissions. These papers can result in unsatisfactory performance and poor reliability, and HP does not recommend their use.

Colored paper

You can use colored paper in your HP LaserJet printer if the paper meets the same specifications as standard paper (see “Guidelines for using paper” on page 9).

Print quality from the HP color LaserJet printers is optimal when printing on white paper. You also can use an HP color LaserJet printer to print on colored paper that meets all of the specifications that are listed in this guide. However, colored paper can change the appearance of the printed colors. This is because HP color LaserJet printers create colors by printing a pattern of dots, overlaying and varying their spacing to produce various colors. When these colors are printed on colored media, the shade or color of the media will vary the shades of your printed colors. Because the printer cannot sense the color of the paper that you are using, it cannot adjust the output colors for colored paper. To manually adjust the output colors, see the support documentation for your printer.

6 Using print media ENWW

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. These variations can significantly affect the quality of the printed output.

A very inexpensive paper might not save you money if it frequently causes multiple-sheet feeds or jams, or if it causes print-quality problems. If you are having these types of problems, you might want to consider using a different paper type or brand.

Embossed and debossed paper

Avoid heavily embossed or debossed papers to prevent multiple-sheet f eeding that results from nesting. In addition, do not print closer than 15 mm (0.59 inch) from the embossment to prevent poor print quality and fusing (toner adhesion). The heat of the fuser can tend to flatten the embossed or debossed images.

Glossy paper

Glossy paper is a coated paper that is manufactured with a very smooth finish so that light is reflected off of the surface of the paper, rather than diffused.

Heavy paper, cover paper, and cardstock

Heavy paper generally refers to paper that is greater than 105 g/m 28-lb bond) and cardstock generally refers to paper that is greater than 163 g/m

in weight (heavier than

in weight (heavier than 60-lb cover, or 90-lb index). The heavier weight of these papers gives them more stiffness, which can degrade feeding reliability (typically as a result of poor pickup from the input tray). Using short-grain heavy paper in printers that feed in the portrait direction might help to avoid feed problems, because the paper is less stiff in the short-grain direction. Also, using the straightest paper path in your printer might also improve feeding reliability and print quality. Heavy paper and cardstock might also require higher fuser temperatures to adequately anchor the toner onto the surface.

CAUTION Different HP LaserJet printer models and their input trays support various ranges of paper

weights. Some models provide optimized settings that are available in the printer driver or at the control panel. Please see the support documentation that came with your HP LaserJet printer for specific information about its capabilities and settings.

Laser paper

Laser paper is another premium-quality paper grade that is typically characterized by very smooth and uniform surfaces, excellent formation, heavier bond weights of 24 lb or 32 lb, and very high brightness and whiteness. These optimized properties can enhance color and monochrome halftone reproductions by providing a very uniform substrate for image transfer and fusing. However, no standards exist for "laser paper," so evaluate a specific brand to make sure that it has the qualities and performance you want.

2 Guidelines for using media 7

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 (0.2 second for HP color LaserJet printers). Typically, oxidation-set or oil-based inks meet this requirement.

● When the form is preprinted, be careful not to change the moisture content of the

paper, and do not use materials that change the paper’s electrical or handling properties. Seal the forms in moisture-proof wrap to prevent moisture changes during storage.

● Avoid processing preprinted forms that have a finish or coating.

● Avoid using heavily embossed or raised-letterhead papers.

● Avoid papers that have heavily textured surfaces.

● Avoid using offset powders or other materials that prevent printed forms from sticking

together.

Recycled paper

Recycled paper is a combination of unused fibers and pre- and post-consumer waste paper. Printed waste paper is usually washed to remove most of the inks and other contaminants. A recycled sheet of paper might contain dark specks or appear gray or dirty . Choose recycled paper that meets the same specifications as standard paper (see

“Guidelines for using paper” on page 9) and that has a suitable appearance for y our needs.

Hewlett-Packard recommends that recycled paper contain no more than 5 percent groundwood. Hewlett-Packard has tested a variety of recycled copier papers on HP LaserJet printers and has found that they perform similarly to virgin-fiber grades.

Special print media

Paper that undergoes converting processes before it is used in your laser printer must be properly designed and manufactured to ensure acceptable performance. Converting processes include preprinting, engraving, die-cutting, perforating, folding, gluing, embossing, and debossing. Because these processes use many different inks, materials, tools, and techniques, HP recommends that you make sure your converter or supplier knows that the media will be used in a laser printer. Ask for a guarant ee of acceptable performance.

Media that has perforations or cutouts can be printed successfully on your HP LaserJet printer. However, such media must be properly designed and manufactured to avoid feed or contamination problems and to avoid wear on the printer.

Cutout: The area where material has been removed by punching or die-cutting. Cutouts can interact with paper-path sensors or can result in contamination from toner if printing is too close to a cutout location.

Perforations: A series of holes or slits in media that provide a controlled tear for separating one portion of the sheet from another. Hewlett-Packard recommends that micro-perfs be used, because they provide better strength and reduce nesting, debris, and dusting.

8 Using print media ENWW

The following guidelines should be considered when working with a knowledgeable vendor to develop media that will have perfora tions 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.

● Ensure that cutouts are not made at a position where paper-path sensors are located.

● Some printers do not support printing closer than 10 mm (0.4 inch) to a cutout edge or

perforation in order to avoid toner contamination. For more information about your printer’s specifications, see the support documentation that came with your printer.

● All cuts should be clean (no burrs) and free of edge rollover to prevent nesting, poor

feeding, contamination, or wear on the printer.

● Orient perforations in the direction of paper feeding to minimize tenting or feeding

problems from reduced stiffness.

● Do not run perforations closer than 2 mm (0.08 inch) from the paper edge or 25 mm

(1 inch) from the leading edge, or jamming and feeding problems can result.

Guidelines for using paper

Use conventional white copier paper for most printing. The paper should be of high quality and free of the following defects:

● cuts

● tears

● grease spots

● loose particles

● dust

● wrinkles and voids

● curled or bent edges

CAUTION Avoid using extremely heavy or light paper. Use paper that is within your printer’s specified

basis-weight range, as shown in the support documentation that came with your printer.

The following table summarizes the guidelines that provide the best performance when using paper.

Note The specifications that are listed in this table generally apply to all HP LaserJet printers.

See the support documentation that came with your printer for product-specific inf ormation.

2 Guidelines for using media 9

Property Specifications

Basis weight 64 g/m2 to 105 g/m2 (17 lb to 28 lb).

See the support documenta tion that came w ith y our printer fo r specifi c information.

Caliper 0.09 mm to 0.17 mm (3.5 mil to 6.5 mil).

See the support documenta tion that came w ith y our printer fo r specifi c information.

Minimum stiffness 1.2 minimum (Taber) machine direction.

0.8 minimum (Taber) cross direction.

Grain Portrait feeding: long grain up to 135g/m

short grain for weights greater than 135 g/m Landscape fee di ng: lon g grain.

Electrical surfa ce resistivity 10 Electrical volume resistivity 10

to 1013 ohms/square.

to 1014 ohms - cm.

Surface roughness 100 to 190 Sheffield optimal;

Up to 350 Sheffield extended (fusing or feeding performance can be degraded at outer ranges).

Fusing compatibility Must not scorch, melt, ignite, offset materials, or release undesirable

emissions when h eated to 205° C (401° F) for 0.1 second (0.2 second for HP color LaserJet printers).

Furnish (composition) 100 percent chemical pulp and/or cotton content;

recycled paper with up to 5 percent groundwood can be used. Dimensional accuracy Cut sheet within ±0.80 mm (±0.03 inch) of nominal. Cut edge quality Cuts must be smooth and clean with no fray or edge roll. Curl Must lie flat within 5mm (0.2 inch). Moisture content 4 percent to 6 percent by weight. Packaging Moisture-proof ream wrap. Wax pick 12 minimum (Dennison).

(36 lb);

10 Using print media ENWW

Using envelopes

CAUTION Early models of the HP color LaserJet printer and HP color LaserJet 5 printers do not

support env elopes. 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. Whichever input method you use, envelopes should meet all of the specifications that are discussed in this document. Your envelope vendor should provide you with a satisfactory envelope that complies with the sp eci fi ca tio ns li ste d in “Guidelines for using

envelopes” on page 13 . However, inconsistencies in folds or other process-control

problems can result in some envelopes feeding well and others jamming. Purchase envelopes that have the quality and consistency that your printer requires.

Note Envelopes can meet the general specifications listed in “Guidelines for using envelopes”

on page 13 and still not print satisfactorily because of the printing environment or other

variables over which HP has no control.

CAUTION Envelopes containing windows, clasps, or snaps can cause severe damage to the printer .

See the support documentation for your printer before using envelopes in your HP LaserJet printer.

Envelope construction

Because of their construction, some envelopes do not feed through the printer dependably. Observe the following guidelines when purchasing and using envelopes:

● Make sure that the envelope’s leading edge, which enters the printer first, is straight,

with a sharp, well-creased fold that has no more than two thicknesses of paper. Envelopes that exceed 90-g/m

● Avoid using flimsy envelopes that have thick or curved leading edges; they will not

feed reliably.

● Envelopes should lie flat and should not be wrinkled, nicked, or otherwise damaged.

● Avoid envelopes that have baggy construction; they might wrinkle while passing

through the printer’s fuser area.

● Make sure that the adhesive labels and all other materials used on envelopes will not

scorch, melt, offset, or release undesirable emissions when heated to 205° C (401° F) for 0.1 second (0.2 second for HP color LaserJet printers).

● Avoid using envelopes that have encapsulated adhesives that do not require

moistening but instead use pressure for sealing.

● Do not use envelopes that have clasps, snaps, tie strings, transparent windows, holes,

perforations, or cutouts.

● Do not use envelopes that have any adhesive surfaces exposed to the printer.

● Use of envelopes that have woven or smooth finishes is recommended to ensure good

toner adhesion.

(24-lb) basis weight can cause jamming.

2 Guidelines for using media 11

Many envelopes will feed through your HP LaserJet printer without problems. Howe ver, 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.

Good construction Bad construction

inconsistent

leading edge

1 Diagonal-seam envelope 2 Double-sided seam envelope 3 Manila envelope

Summary of HP envelope testing

Hewlett-Packard tests many types of envelopes to determine which ones print acceptably in an HP LaserJet printer. Some of the test results are listed here.

● Commercial or Official env elopes (also called Business or Regular), which have

diagonal seams and standard gummed flaps, performed the most reliably.

● Envelopes that have double-sided seam construction, which creates vertical seams at

both ends of the envelope instead of diagonal seams, tend to be more flimsy than diagonal-seam envelopes. Double-sided seam envelopes tend to jam or wrinkle unless the edges are thin and sharply creased. However, a v ariety of double-sided seam envelopes have performed acceptably during testing.

● Envelopes that have a peel-off adhesive strip, or that have more than one flap that

folds over for sealing, must use adhesives compatible with the heat and pressure of the printer’s fusing process. Many varieties of this type of envelope performed satisfactorily in HP testing; however, the extra flaps and strips can result in increased jamming or wrinklin g.

● Generally, feeding problems increase with envelope size. Larger envelope sizes (C5,

B5) cannot have a basis weight greater than 105 g/m

● Rougher finishes such as laid, linen, or cockle can result in poor fusing.

● The multiple layers in envelopes construction might result in a noticeable background

effect (small toner particles scattered in the non-imaged areas). You can reduce this effect by increasing the toner density setting on your printer.

(28 lb).

12 Using print media ENWW

+ 40 hidden pages