Xerox C8 - DocuPrint Color Inkjet, P-8 - DocuPrint P8 Personal Laser Printer, DocuColor 8000AP, DocuColor 7000, DocuColor 7000AP Printer Manual

DocuColor 8000 / 8000AP / 7000 /
7000AP

Specialty Media Guide: Hints & Tips

December 10, 2007

This guide is intended to inform about media recommendations and to share hints and tips regarding
the best way to print on various media substrates using the DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 / 7000AP /
7000 Digital Color Press.

It is important to realize that system performance, with most of the special media types covered in
this guide, will not be as good as that which can be obtained with the DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 /
7000AP / 7000 baseline paper which is Xerox Color Xpressions +, 24lb. (3R11540) in the USA and
Canada and Xerox Color Colotech + 90 gsm (3R94641) in Europe.

The most recent version of the Recommended Materials List for DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 / 7000AP
/ 7000 is available for download at www.xerox.com attached to the product page.

For more information on Genuine Xerox Supplies, call 1-800-822-2200 in the USA and 1800-668-0133 in Canada 1

Ou t put Curl and Dec urling Devic es

Paper curl is caused by a variety of factors. Many papers tend to curl toward one side after toner is
applied and fused. For some paper products, paper curl variability may be evident from batch to
batch and even from ream to ream.

The DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 / 7000AP / 7000AP has an automatic curl control system that uses a
number of variables to adjust the amount of pressure applied by different decurlers in an effort to
reduce as much curl as possible from printed output. Default settings are programmed in the system
based on equipment design parameters; however, the default settings may not be appropriate for all
papers.

Most of the papers designed for xerographic use indicate the preferred printing side with an arrow on

the ream label. Follow the manufacturers’ suggestions for first image side, and load paper with the
arrow pointing up for onboard trays 1 and 2, as well as Secondary Feeder Module (SFM) trays 3 and

4. If the output prints have too much curl, first try flipping over the stack of paper in the paper tray
being used.

If flipping the stack of paper over does not resolve the curling problem, enter the Tools Mode and
manually select a new decurler setting for the paper. Refer to the DocuColor 8000 / 7000 System
Administration Guide for information on how to access Tools Mode and the Decurler Setup screen.
The four pre-programmed decurler settings are named A, B, C, and D and refer to a set of
parameters that characterize how a particular paper interacts with the DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 /
7000AP / 7000 decurling system. Select a different setting for the tray, type, and weight of paper with
a curling problem, then exit Tools Mode and re-run a few sheets using the new setting. A difference
in behavior should be visible, but if output curl remains unacceptable, try additional settings until
desired output is achieved.

Six additional settings (E1-E6) provide additional adjustment flexibility based upon actual output curl
measurements.

To use settings E1 – E6, you must first program these settings to match paper grade, type, area
coverage, and environmental conditions. Refer to the DocuColor 8000 / 7000 System Administration
Guide for instructions on programming these settings.

Ou t put Conside ration s and B& W Pr inting

DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 / 7000AP / 7000 performance is tightly linked to good media selection and
adequate job creation. For particular applications, using coated materials will improve image quality.

The DocuColor 8000AP / 8000 / 7000AP / 7000 can be used to produce black and white documents
as well as color. Because of the way black and white documents are processed and fused, you will
need to run a fine grain paper when running jobs with blocks of solid black. For these jobs, try using

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Xerox Digital Color Elite / Select Gloss or Silk Coated paper in the USA and Canada and Xerox
Colotech + Gloss or Silk Coated in Europe.

Another way of ensuring fine quality solid black images is to change grayscale images to duotones or
process black. This allows the machine to apply its optimum imaging capabilities to the file.

Also, the 150 cluster dot screen, available in the print driver, can be used to soften a grayscale image
and to create specific customer effects. By default, the system uses a 200 cluster dot screen to
achieve its crisp image quality.

No n-St andard (Cu st om ) Pa per Sizes

For information on loading and programming non-standard paper sizes, refer to the Operator’s
Manual and System Administration Guide.

Dri lle d / Punc hed Papers

2, 3, and 4 hole drilled / punched papers can be run from any tray in DC8000AP / 8000 / 7000AP /

7000. Papers with 3 holes, however, will require an extra step to run successfully due to interference
between the center hole and machine sensors. First, go to NVM Read / Write in the tools mode (refer
to the System Administration Guide Tools Mode Chapter) and enter chain link 700-545. Change the

default setting from “1000” (on) to “0” (off). Please remember to reset the default value to “1000”
when you are finished running 3 hole drilled / punched papers. Failure to do so may result in

degraded image quality, an increase in service calls, and damage to the machine.

T ran spar enc ies

Transparencies can be run from any tray yielding a 30 page per minute output. For more information
on loading transparencies, refer to the Operator’s Manual. Use only the recommended Xerox
transparencies to ensure optimum image quality and transmission efficiencies when projected.
Overhead Projector (OHP) sizes are limited to 8.5”x11” in the US, and A4 in Europe. For best results

use transparency 3R5765 (US/Canada) and 3R93179 (Europe).
To ensure consistent image quality and minimize streaking, only 500 transparencies should be run at

one time. If a larger run is required, it is recommended to break the job up into smaller ones and print
approximately 25-50 sheets of regular paper between sets to absorb any excess fuser oil.

Even though paper backed transparencies will run through the system, it is important to be aware
that productivity enhancements may be offset by image quality degradation. Even when run at the
slowest speed possible by selecting the 221-300 gsm (single and mixed paper weight settings),
image quality on paper-backed transparencies will likely be inferior to that which can be achieved by
using the recommended removable stripe transparencies and running them in the OHP mode.

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Coat ed Paper s

Coated papers have binders, adhesives, and pigments applied to their surfaces on one or both sides.
As compared to Xerox Digital Color Xpressions + 24 lb, coated papers will provide improved image
quality and gloss.

Coated papers are susceptible to humidity. Image mottle (light patches in solid area) or light images
overall will occur if paper is not kept packaged in environments with more than 40% humidity. To
avoid this, keep packages sealed and store unused paper in a resealable bag.

The surface of coated paper is susceptible to scratches and fingerprints. Handle all coated stocks
carefully and avoid excessive handling. Keep all work areas clean, as dust or dirt can scratch the
surface of coated papers.

Si de t o Side Re gist rat ion Cons iderat ions - Pape r St retc h

When running two sided printing applications side to side registration may be affected by the inherent
paper stretch that occurs as the paper passes through the high pressure and temperature nip.
Typical paper stretch for light uncoated materials is between 0.2% and 0.6% of the paper size in the
process direction. For coated materials the effect can be as high as 0.9% of the paper size in the
process direction.

As a summary, the following observations are relevant to the stretch of paper in belt-nip fusing:

1) The paper stretch problem is most apparent with coated papers. Most coated papers stretch
significantly more than uncoated papers due to the larger frictional stresses experienced by
coated stocks and softening of the paper.

2) The direction of feed with respect to the orientation of paper fibers also determines the amount of
stretch. Papers fed in the CD (grain perpendicular to process direction) stretch significantly more
than papers fed in the MD (grain parallel to process direction).

3) Increasing the basis weight decreases the stretch since less stress is experienced due to the
increased thickness.

4) The synthetic material tested (DuraPaper 10 pt) actually contracts as it passes through the fuser.

Paper stretch correction can be done using the “tools” mode registration adjustment, but front-to-back
trim mark registration may not always be possible. This is because the side-1 image expands by the
same amount that the paper stretches, thus making it necessary to expand the side-2 image by the
same distortion amount. In order to compensate for this you can use the Alignment Adjustment tool
(refer to the System Administration Guide Tools Mode Chapter). The tool will allow you to create up
to 20 custom profiles for individual paper stocks. Lead / Side registration, Perpendicularity, Skew,
and Image Magnification (Process and Cross-Process directions) parameters can be adjusted for
optimum registration performance.

For more information on Genuine Xerox Supplies, call 1-800-822-2200 in the USA and 1800-668-0133 in Canada 4