It’s interesting the number of things we need to confirm in our lives. The notices we receive are constant: “Please confirm your email address.” Or, “please confirm you will be joining the family for holiday dinner.” It’s an accepted part of how we interact in society.
Even your Xerox printer would like you to confirm something! When a paper tray is opened on the printer, it will ask you to confirm what paper type, size and color was added to the tray. Why does it need this information? Let’s take a look.
Paper Size
The printer needs to know the size of the paper to avoid the following issues:
- The application or the print driver may specify a specific paper size – An application (such as Microsoft Word) or the print driver may specify a specific paper size to be printed on. If the specified paper size is not loaded into the printer, or the printer does not know that it holds the correct size in a tray already, the job may be held for resources or generate a fault code.
- Internal mechanics are set electronically for the loaded paper size – Tray guides that are not flush with the loaded media can result in paper misfeeds, print skew or paper jams. Be sure to adjust the tray guides to the size of the paper and confirm the corresponding size on the confirmation screen.
Paper Type
There are many paper types which can be selected such as plain, cardstock, recycled, lightweight cardstock, glossy and more. Why does the printer need to know what type of paper is in the tray? The type of paper provides an indication of the weight and stiffness of the stock, which is important to the printing process.
- Heavier paper fuses at a higher temperature – A heavier paper weight means the paper has more mass. A paper type with more mass means that it requires more heat for the paper to heat up in the fusing process for the toner to properly bond with the paper. An incorrect weight setting can lead to issues with improperly fused toner, such as smearing or rubbing off.
- Toner applied differently to different paper weights – Differences in paper weights require the toner be deposited using different charges when applying toner to the paper. Incorrect tray settings can cause image quality issues such as mottled prints, deletions, poor print resolution or light or dark output.
- Internal mechanics adjust pressure and speed for thicker paper – As the internal mechanics inside the printer electronically set charge, heat and pressure depending on the paper weight setting programmed, an incorrect weight setting can cause issues with friction applied and the print speed of the paper as it passes through the printer. This can cause paper to skew, slip, misfeed or jam. It can also cause image quality issues or rapid wear to internal mechanics such as rollers.
Note: Use caution when printing on coated stock, photo paper or transparencies – Only use paper designed for laser printers in Xerox laser printer models. Using paper that is not designed for the correct printing process can lead to print quality issues and possibly jams. In the case of glossy paper, transparencies or labels, media designed for the inkjet process or offset printing may use plastics or other chemicals that have a lower melting point. These can melt during the laser printing process and damage the internal mechanics of the Xerox printer. For best paper performance, use only paper found on the Xerox Recommended Media List for your printer model.
Paper Color
- Color choice – Paper can come in a variety of colors, such as pink, blue, pastels or bright colors. Printing on paper with a color will affect image quality as it will offset color prints, and in some cases make text difficult to read.
- The application or the print driver may specify a specific paper color – An application or the print driver may specify a specific paper color to be printed on. If the specified paper color is not loaded into the printer, or the printer does not know that it holds the correct color in a tray already, the job may be held for resources or generate a fault code.
- Paper tray choice – Ensuring the paper color setting is set correctly will ensure the printer selects from the correct paper tray when you have a job requiring a specific paper color.
Please view this Xerox Support YouTube video regarding loading paper and confirming the paper tray properties.
Following these simple steps for confirming the paper size, type and color can reduce the possibility of paper jams, image quality issues and disappointment with the printed output. For additional information on paper specifications, loading paper and clearing jams, please search the online support for your printer model.
And, if you are so inclined, please confirm this article has been helpful to you by adding a comment below!
