HP LaserJet Enterprise P3015 HP LaserJet Printer Family - Print Media Specific - Page 10

Using print media Note This section contains information about the following activities: q Preparing print media for use q Using paper q Using envelopes q Using labels q Using overhead transparencies q Printing on both sides of the paper q 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. 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