IBM InfoColor 70, InfoColor 3170 User Manual

IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170
Print Media Guide

IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170
Print Media Guide

First Edition (June 1998)

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide 1
Purpose of this manual 3
Requesting a Print Medium Test 5

Importance of Print Medium Testing ................................................................................................................ 5

Procedures....................................................................................................................................................... 5

Test Results, Medium Performance and Script................................................................................................ 9

Rush Testing.................................................................................................................................................... 9

Basic Paper Types and Their Properties 11

Basic paper types........................................................................................................................................... 11

Uncoated paper ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Coated paper............................................................................................................................................. 12

Speciality paper ......................................................................................................................................... 12

Paper properties............................................................................................................................................. 13

Guidelines for Print Medium Quality Inspection 15

Check Paper Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 15

Guidelines for Print Medium Storage and Handling....................................................................................... 16

Splicing........................................................................................................................................................... 17

Roll inspection................................................................................................................................................ 17

Paper Waste During Printing and Waste Reduction (3.02 code or higher).................................................... 18

Start of a Print Job..................................................................................................................................... 18

Auto Mode............................................................................................................................................. 18

Manual Mode......................................................................................................................................... 18

Finishing the Print Job ............................................................................................................................... 18

Changing the Paper Roll............................................................................................................................ 19

Operator Skills ........................................................................................................................................... 19

Paper Quality............................................................................................................................................. 19

Environment............................................................................................................................................... 19

Artifact Samples 21

Low-density cloudiness.................................................................................................................................. 22

High-density cloudiness ................................................................................................................................. 22

High-frequency cloudiness............................................................................................................................. 23

Periodic low-density bands ............................................................................................................................ 23

Weak cloudiness............................................................................................................................................ 24

Low-density speckles..................................................................................................................................... 24

Low-density spots .......................................................................................................................................... 25

Gloss too low.................................................................................................................................................. 25

GEM hot offset ............................................................................................................................................... 26

Worm like streaks........................................................................................................................................... 26

Wrinkling in the PRS ...................................................................................................................................... 27

Non-uniform transfer quality across the web.................................................................................................. 28

Micro-blistering from the fuser........................................................................................................................ 29

Description of paper-dependent parameters 31
List of IBM Recommended Print Media for IBM 3170 and InfoColor 70 35

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

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Purpose of this manual

A guide to have print medium tested through a certified agency
To provide information on basic paper quality requirements for the InfoColor 70 Printer.
To provide information on proper paper handling and storage
To provide information about how paper is tested at the certified agency.
To provide information on the basic paper types and properties.
To assist in understanding the media limitations of InfoColor 70 Printer.
To provide Artifact Samples to assist in print quality troubleshooting.

Purpose of this manual

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

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Requesting a Print Medium Test

Importance of Print Medium Testing

InfoColor 70/3170 Print Medium testing is needed to adjust and optimize a set of control parameters
to obtain the best print quality.

Using a tested and supported print medium offers you the following advantages:

Stable print quality
Minimum quantity of wasted paper
Minimum printing problems, such as paper jams
Minimum contamination of the InfoColor 70/3170 print engine; thereby reducing machine interven­tion and frequency of service.

Procedures

1. Before considering a print medium test, request the latest IBM InfoColor 70 Print Media List from
your account representative. Make sure that there is not a similar stock on this list before you ini­tiate a request for a test.

2. Make sure there is full support from the Medium Manufacturer.

3. Contact IBM certified Medium Test Agencies
For US region contact RIT (Lisa Ford, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: LM­[e-mail]).

For EMEA regions, contact Pira (Mike Chamberlain, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]/
46, E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail])

4. The test will cost the medium manufacturer or the customer about $240/hour. It usually takes
about 2.5 - 3 hours for one medium test. The turn around time is about 2 to 6 months depending
on the agencies current work load. A paper may also be tested on an emergency basis with a
shorter turn around time for a cost premium.

5. Paper Test Agencies will request the following information from the medium manufacturer through
two different forms as a pre-requisite for testing. The following is a sample of these forms:

Requesting a Print Medium Test

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Form 1: Substrate Qualification Data Collection Worksheet

Company Contact

Product Name:

Manufacture:

Name:

Title:

Address:

City:

State:

Country:

Postal Code:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

Email:

Paper Classification X

Uncoated Super Calandered

Uncoated Calandered

Uncoated Uncalandered

Uncoated Pigmented

Matt Coated

Satin Coated

Glossy Coated

Single-sided Cast Coated

Recycled Coated

Latex Impregnated Paper

Film

Others (Please specify)

Material Properties (Fill-in or attach
documentation)

Grammage (GSM)

Caliper(micron)

Brightness (ISO%)

Opacity(%)

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

Smoothness (PPS micron/Sheffield units)

Moisture Content (% AH)

Certificate of Non-toxicity (Please Attach)

Guarantee Splice Free

Marketing Contact:

Postal Code:

Telephone Number:

Name:

Title:

Address:

City:

State:

Country:

Technical Contact:

Distribution List (Please attach)

Fax Number:

Email:

Name:

Title:

Address:

City:

State:

Country:

Postal Code:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

Email:

Requesting a Print Medium Test

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Form 2: Specifications for Print Media Qualification on the IBM InfoColor 70 Print Engine

Roll Dimensions

Description Dimension (USA) Dimension (EU)
Inner Core Diameter 6"-0/+.02 150mm+/-.5
Outer Core Diameter 7.1" 174mm
Maximum Roll Diameter 19.7" 500mm
Typical Roll Diameter 15.75" 400mm
Maximum Roll Weight 88lbs 40kg
Roll Width 12.6" 320mm

Roll Specifications

The paper must be free from splices, tears, dents, holes and other physical defects. The paper
should be flush with the core and must not slide axially over the core.

Paper Weight

60 to 250GSM are specification limits for InfoColor 70 engine.
200GSM and above require GEM unit.

Temperature Resistance

The paper must withstand prolonged (1 hour minimum) heating to 100 ° C and heating to 200 ° C for
5 seconds without physical or chemical degradation. Under these conditions, the paper should not
release any toxic substances.

Demonstrated Paper Properties

The following data must be submitted for each substrate to be tested.

Weight (grams/m

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Caliper (micron)
Brightness (ISO%)
Opacity (%)
Smoothness (pps/sheffield units)
Moisture Content (%AH)

A certificate of non-toxicity is required. This must contain the following statement: “The print
medium will not release toxic gasses when heated up to 200 ° C during 5 seconds and during
prolonged heating at 100 ° C. ”

Note: The above properties can be tested at the Agencies for a fee.

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

Test Results, Medium Performance and Script

Once the print medium is tested, the performance of the medium is reviewed. All the information of
the paper and scripts will be shared information.

The tested print medium will be rated at 1A, 1B, 2, 3 performance lev el. These performance levels are
defined as follows:

1A – Good print quality is easy to obtain and rather stable without any finishing or stacking prob­lems.

1B – Good print quality is not very easy to obtain. It requires close monitoring to maintain good
and stable print quality. No finishing or stacking problems.

2 – Minor print quality problems and/or finishing problems.
3 – Severe print quality and finishing problems.

IBM has chosen to support 1A level media only. IBM allows customer to use 1B level media and a
select few others at their own risk. IBM provides these scripts to its customers through IBM Service
Engineers. They can update the InfoColor 70 with the latest print medium scripts upon your request.

Rush T esting

In a situation where paper needs to be tested in a short period of time, paper test agencies may offer
testing on rush basis for a surcharge. IBM may also offer medium testing under some limitations. To
qualify for testing at IBM, you need to contact y our account manager . Your account manager will need
to petition the marketing organization for an evaluation and approval. IBM marketing will evaluate the
following key areas:

1. Does IBM already provide support for a similar stock?

2. Does this print medium open a new market for InfoColor 70 print business?

3. Does this new print media bring additional IBM sales opportunities?

If you are approved for testing at IBM, you will need to submit the same pre-requisite medium infor­mation and prepare a medium sample (3 rolls) just as you would do for certified agencies. The turn
around time at IBM is usually about 3 to 6 weeks depending on work load.

Requesting a Print Medium Test

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

Basic Paper Types and Their Properties

Basic paper types

In order to understand fully what requirements have to be met by the paper, it is important that you
know how paper types are distinguished:

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Uncalendered

Uncoated paper

Paper, the surface of which is not covered with an additional coating. It is only composed of pulp, con­taining cellulose fibers, fillers, binders, pigments, etc.. The various types of uncoated paper are listed
in the table below.

Paper types

Uncoated paper

Coated paper

Speciality paper

calendered
Supercalendered
Matt
Satin
Glossy
High-gloss
Embossed
Watermarked
Recycled
Tinted & Colored
Translucent
Parchment

Uncoated paper types Description

Uncalendered paper Paper which was not submitted to the

calendering process. See below.

Calendered paper During the calendering process the paper

passes through a number of calendering rolls
made of steel, in order to make it more compact
and smoother by increasing influences of
temperature and pressure on the paper.

Supercalendered paper During the supercalendering process the paper

passes through a number of calendering rolls
made alternately of steel and cotton, in order to
make it even more compact and smoother.

Basic Paper Types and Their Properties

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Coated paper

Paper, the surface of which is covered with a coating, in order to alter the surface properties of the
original paper such as smoothness, gloss and water resistance.

Gloss property Description

Matt coated paper Coated paper, which was not submitted

to the calendering process, or which
passed through only one pair of
calendars.

Satin coated paper Coated paper, which was submitted to

the calendering process.

Depending on the production method, coated papers can also be divided as follows:

Speciality paper

Paper, which has special properties, intended for special purpose use.

Glossy and high-gloss coated
paper

Coated paper type Description

Machine coated paper Coating is applied by means of a dosing

Cast coated paper The gloss of the coated paper is

Feature Description

Coated paper, which was submitted to
the supercalendering process.

roll and the excess coating is removed
with a scraper. The gloss is achieved b y
calendering.

The coating thickness is variable on the
scale of the paper’s relief.

obtained by passing the paper over a
very smooth chromium roll. This results
in very high-gloss coated paper.

The coating thickness is uniform.

Embossed paper P aper with an amount of relief which is

Recycled paper Paper that is made of pulp containing

Tinted and Colored paper Paper that is made of pulp containing

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

produced by pressing it between a
rotary embosser, i.e. a metal roll
having a embossing pattern.

fibers of paper that has already been
used and to which new fibers are
added. Sometimes all fibers are
recycled.

an amount of colored pigments.
Colored paper has a more saturated
color than tinted paper.

Paper properties

Feature Description

Watermarked paper With a roll similar to an embosser,

paper, that is still v ery wet in the paper
machine, is processed. This causes
thickness variations that creates
different transparency levels.

Translucent paper Paper which is highly transparent due

to a special way of crushing the fibers.

Paper property Description

Weight In grams per square meter (g/m

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Caliper Thickness of the paper expressed in µ m.
Absolute moisture content The absolute moisture content is the

ratio between the total amount of water
in the paper and the weight of the paper
(including fibers, fillers, binders and
water).

Relative moisture content The relative moisture content equals the

relative humidity of the surrounding air , in
equilibrium with the paper.

Smoothness A paper property characterized by the

roughness value, i.e. the size of tips and
valleys on the paper’s surface measured
in PPS µ m, Bendtsen, Bekk, or sheffield.

Brightness Total amount of visible light reflected by

the paper. Adequate paper brightness is
necessary to provide high-contrast
images.

Bulk The thickness of paper, in terms of the

number of pages per inch for a given
basis weight.

Formation The formation of paper depends on the

structure of cellulose fibers, which, in
turn, depends on the construction of the
paper machine and the composition of
the pulp.

Opacity Opacity is the opposite of transparency.

The lower the opacity, the more you can
see through the paper. Thin papers
usually have a lower opacity.

Gloss The amount of incident light under a

certain angle that the paper reflects with
the same angle.

Basic Paper Types and Their Properties

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IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide