| Many people don't think about the type of paper they | | | | generally more permeable than other types in order to |
| run through their office copier or printer, but the fact is | | | | allow this absorption. Inkjet paper is not a good choice |
| that a many printing/copying problems are the result of | | | | for use in copiers or printers that use toner. Laser |
| using low-quality paper. Selecting the right paper for | | | | copiers and printers use a fuser to transfer an image |
| your copier or printer will improve its performance and | | | | to the paper. If your printer or copier needs to warm |
| reduce the number of calls to your service technician. | | | | up before use and has parts that get warm during use, |
| In the bigger office supply stores and warehouses, | | | | you more than likely have a machine with a fuser. The |
| there are several hundred types of paper to choose | | | | fusing unit uses a combination of pressure and heat to |
| from. Mainly, the decision of which paper type to | | | | fuse the toner into the page. If you use both inkjet and |
| choose will come down to the type of papers you | | | | laser machines in your office, and you try to use inkjet |
| usually print or copy. Price is also a factor in your | | | | paper in your laser machine, you'll no doubt notice that |
| overall decision. But once you have an idea on how | | | | the machine will jam. This is because paper designed |
| well a particular paper will perform in your machine, | | | | for inkjets will change the humidity in the air when used |
| you'll be able to make a better informed choice. | | | | in a laser machine. |
| Generally, most modern printers and copiers have a | | | | The fuser heats up the paper and the moisture is |
| laser engine. Older analog machines don't use laser | | | | purged out of the paper, causing the paper to print |
| exposure, but still use the same fusing process. In | | | | with curls at the end of the page and possibly jam the |
| terms of modern printers and copiers, consider that | | | | machine. Printing double-sided copies is virtually |
| every machine has either one of two engine types: | | | | impossible, because the machine won't be able to |
| toner or ink. All laser copiers use toner, which is often | | | | properly pick up a paper with curled edges. When you |
| packaged in an opaque black container and is hard to | | | | have determined the type of machine you have, look |
| really get a look at unless it is spilled. It is important to | | | | at your user manual for a specification matrix. There |
| know that toner is not a liquid, although it may feel like | | | | should be a section that lists acceptable paper types |
| it. It is actually a very fine powder. If your printer/copier | | | | and weights for your printer/copier. Once you have |
| uses ink cartridges (many smaller machines do), you'll | | | | this information, you can go to the office supply store |
| have to choose a paper that is recommended for use | | | | and select the appropriate type and weight of paper |
| in inkjet printers. The kind of print quality you'll receive | | | | for your machine. Experiment with different brands until |
| depends on the paper's ability to absorb the ink, rather | | | | you find a paper that fits into your budget and results |
| having the ink sit on top of the paper. | | | | in the best possible prints and copies. |
| Paper that is designed to be used with inkjet printers is | | | | |
