Lexmark Optra S 1620 User's Guide (7.1 MB) - Page 142

Using Print Materials Using Your Printer Print Material Characteristics The paper characteristics defined below affect printing quality and reliability. We recommend that you keep these guidelines in mind when evaluating new paper stock. Weight The printer can automatically feed paper weights from 60 to 176 g/m2 (16 to 47 lb bond). Paper lighter than 60 g/m2 (16 lb) might not be stiff enough to feed properly, causing paper jams. For best performance, use 75 g/m2 (20 lb bond) grain long paper. If you want to print on print materials narrower than 182 x 257 mm (7.2 x 10.1 in.), the basis weight must be greater than or equal to 90 g/m2 (24 lb bond). Curl Curl is the tendency of paper to curve at its edges. If curl is excessive, it 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. Smoothness The degree of smoothness of paper 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 in the printer. Smoothness needs to be between 100 and 400 Sheffield points; however, smoothness between 100 and 250 Sheffield points produces the best print quality. 126 Using Print Materials