## Media and tray

This chapter provides information on how to load print media into your machine.

This chapter includes:

- Selecting print media

- Changing the tray size

- Loading paper in the tray

- Printing on special media

- Using the output support

## Selecting print media

You can print on a variety of print media, such as plain paper, envelopes, labels, and transparencies. Always use print media that meet the guidelines for use with your machine.

### Guidelines to select the print media

Print media that does not meet the guidelines outlined in this user’s guide may cause the following problems:

- Poor print quality

- Increased paper jams

- Premature wear on the machine.

Properties, such as weight, composition, grain, and moisture content, are important factors that affect the machine’s performance and the output quality. When you choose print materials, consider the following:

- The type, size and weight of the print media for your machine are described in print media specifications. (See Print media specifications.)

- Desired outcome: The print media you choose should be appropriate for your project.

- Brightness: Some print media are whiter than others and produce sharper, more vibrant images.

- Surface smoothness: The smoothness of the print media affects how crisp the printing looks on the paper.

Some print media may meet all of the guidelines in this section and still not produce satisfactory results. This may be the result of improper handling, unacceptable temperature and humidity levels, or other variables over which cannot be controlled. Before purchasing large quantities of print media, ensure that it meets the requirements specified in this user’s guide.

Using print media that does not meet these specifications may cause problems, requiring repairs. Such repairs are not covered by the warranty or service agreements. The amount of paper put into the tray may differ according to media type used. (See Print media specifications.)

### Media sizes supported in each mode

Mode | Size | Type | Source
--- | --- | --- | ---
Simplex printing | For details about paper size, see Print media specifications. | For details about paper type, see Print media specifications. | tray 1 manual tray
Duplex printing (Manual)[a] | Letter, A4, Legal, US Folio, Oficio | Plain, Color, Preprinted, Recycled, Bond, Archive | tray 1
[a] 75 to 90 g/m2 (20~24 lb bond) only

## Changing the tray size

The tray is preset to Letter or A4 size, depending on your country. To change the size, you need to adjust the paper guides.

| Support guide Paper length guide Guide lock Paper width guide

1. With one hand press and hold the guide lock, and with the other hand, hold the paper length guide and support guide together. Slide the paper length guide and support guide to locate them in the correct paper size slot.

2. Flex or fan the edge of the paper stack to separate the pages before loading papers. Insert the paper into the tray.

3. After inserting paper into the tray, adjust the support guide so that it lightly touches the paper stack.

4. Squeeze the paper width guides and slide them to the desired paper size marked at the bottom of the tray.

   Do not push the paper width guide too far causing the media to warp. If you do not adjust the paper width guide, it may cause paper jams. Do not use a paper with more than 6 mm curl.

## Loading paper in the tray

### Tray 1

1. Pull out the paper tray . And adjust the tray size to the media size you are loading. (See Changing the tray size.)

2. Flex or fan the edge of the paper stack to separate the pages before loading papers.

3. And place paper with the side you want to print facing down.

4. Set the paper type and size for the tray 1. (See Setting the default tray and paper.)

   If you experience problems with paper feeding, check whether the paper meets the media specification. (See Print media specifications.)

### Manual tray

The manual tray can hold special sizes and types of print material, such as postcards, note cards, and envelopes. It is useful for single page printing on letterhead or colored paper.

#### Tips on using the manual tray

- If you select Manual Feeder for Source from your software application, you need to press (cancel button) each time you print a page and load only one type, size and weight of print media at a time in the manual tray.

- To prevent paper jams, do not add paper while printing. This also applies to other types of print media.

- Print media should be loaded face up with the top edge going into the manual tray first and be placed in the center of the tray.

- Always load the specified print media only to avoid paper jams and print quality problems. (See Print media specifications.)

- Flatten any curl on postcards, envelopes, and labels before loading them into the manual tray.

1. Load the paper in the manual tray.

   Do not force the paper beyond the surface with mark when loading. When printing the special media, you must follow the loading guideline. (See Printing on special media.) When papers overlap when printing using manual tray, open tray 1 and remove overlapping papers then try printing again. When paper does not feed well while printing, push the paper in manually until it starts feeding automatically.

2. Squeeze the manual tray paper guides and adjust them to the width of the paper. Do not force them too much, or the paper will bent resulting in a paper jam or skew.

3. To print in application, open an application and start the print menu.

4. Open Printing Preferences. (See Opening printing preferences.)

5. Press the Paper tab in Printing Preferences, and select an appropriate paper type.

   For example, if you want to use a label, set the paper type to Label.

6. Select Manual Feeder in paper source, then press OK.

7. Start printing in application.

If you are printing multiple pages, load the next sheet after the first page prints out, and press the (cancel button). Repeat this step for every page to be printed.

## Printing on special media

The table below shows the available special media for each tray.

When using special media, we recommend you feed one paper at a time. Check the maximum input number of media for each tray. (See Print media specifications.)

Types | Tray 1 | Manual tray
--- | --- | ---
Plain | ● | ●
Thick | ● | ●
Thin | ● | ●
Bond |  | ●
Color |  | ●
CardStock |  | ●
Labels |  | ●
Transparency |  | ●
Envelope |  | ●
Preprinted |  | ●
Cotton |  | ●
Recycled | ● | ●
Archive | ● | ●

( ●: supported, Blank: Not supported)

The media types are shown in the Printing Preferences. This paper type option allows you to set the type of paper to be loaded in the tray. This setting appears in the list, so that you can select it. This will let you get the best quality printout. If not, the desired print quality may not be achieved.

- Plain: 60 to 120 g/m2 (16 to 32 lb) Normal plain paper.

- Thick: 90 (24 lb) thick paper.

- Thin: 60 to 70 g/m2 (16 to 19 lb) thin paper.

- Bond: 105 to 120 g/m2 (28 to 32 lb) bond.

- Color: 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb) color-backgrounded paper.

- CardStock: 105 to 163 g/m2 (24 to 43 lb) cardstock.

- Labels: 120 to 150 g/m2 (32 to 40 lb) labels.

- Transparency: 138 to 146 g/m2 (37 to 39 lb) transparency paper.

- Envelope: 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb) envelope.

- Preprinted: 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb) preprinted/letterhead paper.

- Cotton: 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb) cotton paper.

- Recycled: 75 to 90 g/m2 (20 to 24 lb) recycled paper.

  When you use recycled paper, printouts might be wrinkled.

- Archive: 70 to 90 g/m2 (19 to 24 lb) If you need to keep the print-out for a long period time, such as archives, select this option.

### Envelope

Successful printing on envelopes depends upon the quality of the envelopes.

To print an envelope, the stamp area is on the left side and the end of the envelope with the stamp area enters the printer first and center of the manual tray.

If envelopes are printed out with wrinkles, crease or black bold lines, open the rear cover and pull down the pressure lever and try printing again. Keep the rear cover opened during printing.

| Pressure lever

- When selecting envelopes, consider the following factors:

  - Weight: The weight of the envelope paper should not exceed 90 g/m2 otherwise, jam may occur.

  - Construction: Prior to printing, envelopes should lie flat with less than 6 mm curl, and should not contain air.

  - Condition: Envelopes should not be wrinkled, nicked, nor damaged.

  - Temperature: Use envelopes that are compatible with the heat and pressure of the machine during operation.

- Use only well-constructed envelopes with sharp-and well-creased folds.

- Do not use stamped envelopes.

- Do not use envelopes with clasps, snaps, windows, coated lining, self-adhesive seals, or other synthetic materials.

- Do not use damaged or poorly made envelopes.

- Be sure the seam at both ends of the envelope extends all the way to the corner of the envelope.

  1. Acceptable

  2. Unacceptable

- Envelopes with a peel-off adhesive strip or with more than one flap that folds over to seal must use adhesives compatible with the machine’s fusing temperature about 170°C (338 °F) for 0.1 second. The extra flaps and strips might cause wrinkling, creasing, or jams, and may even damage the fuser.

- For the best print quality, position margins no closer than 15 mm from the edges of the envelope.

- Avoid printing over the area where the envelope’s seams meet.

### Transparency

To avoid damaging the machine, only use transparencies designed for use in laser printers.

- Transparencies used in the machine must be able to withstand machine’s fusing temperature.

- Place them on a flat surface after removing them from the machine.

- Do not leave unused transparencies in the paper tray for long periods of time. Dust and dirt may accumulate on them, resulting in spotty printing.

- To avoid smudging caused by fingerprints, handle them carefully.

- To avoid fading, do not expose printed transparencies to prolonged sunlight.

- Ensure that transparencies are not wrinkled, curled, or have any torn edges.

- Do not use transparencies that separates from the backing sheet.

- To prevent transparencies from sticking to each other, do not let the printed sheets stack up as they are begin printed out.

### Labels

To avoid damaging the machine, use only labels designed for use in laser machines.

- When selecting labels, consider the following factors:

  - Adhesives: The adhesive material should be stable at your machine’s fusing temperature about 170°C (338 °F).

  - Arrangement: Only use labels with no exposed backing between them. Labels can peel off sheets that have spaces between the labels, causing serious jams.

  - Curl: Prior to printing, labels must lie flat with no more than 13 mm of curl in any direction.

  - Condition: Do not use labels with wrinkles, bubbles, or other indications of separation.

- Make sure that there is no exposed adhesive material between labels. Exposed areas can cause labels to peel off during printing, which can cause paper jams. Exposed adhesive can also cause damage to machine components.

- Do not run a sheet of labels through the machine more than once. The adhesive backing is designed for only a single pass through the machine.

- Do not use labels that are separating from the backing sheet or are wrinkled, bubbled, or otherwise damaged.

### Card stock/Custom-sized paper

Postcards, cards and other custom-sized materials can be printed with this machine.

- Do not print on media smaller than 76 mm (3.00 inches) wide or 127 mm (5.00 inches) long.

- In the software application, set margins at least 6.4 mm (0.25 inches) away from the edges of the material.

- If media weight is over 160 g/m2 (43 lb), try printing in the rear cover (face up).

### Letterhead/Preprinted paper

| Single-sided | Double-sided
--- | --- | ---
Tray1 | Face down | Face up
Manual tray | Face up | Face down

- Letterhead/ Preprinted paper must be printed with heat-resistant ink that will not melt, vaporize, or release hazardous emissions when subjected to the machine’s fusing temperature about 170°C (338 °F) for 0.1 second.

- Letterhead/ Preprinted paper ink must be non-flammable and should not adversely affect machine rollers.

- Forms and letterhead should be sealed in a moisture-proof wrapping to prevent changes during storage.

- Before you load letterhead/preprinted paper, verify that the ink on the paper is dry. During the fusing process, wet ink can come off preprinted paper, reducing print quality.

### Photo

- Make sure not to use the inkjet photo paper with this machine. It could cause damage to the machine.

### Glossy

Load one paper to the manual tray at a time, glossy side facing up.

- Recommended media: Glossy paper (Letter) for this machine by HP Brochure Paper (Product: Q6611A) only.

- Recommended media: Glossy paper (A4) for this machine by HP Superior Paper 160 glossy (Product: Q6616A).

## Using the output support

The surface of the output tray may become hot if you print a large number of pages at once. Make sure that you do not touch the surface, and do not allow children near it.

The printed pages stack on the output support, and the output support will help the printed pages to align. The printer sends output to the output tray by default. To use the output tray, make sure that the rear cover is closed.

If you are using A5 paper, fold the output tray. Otherwise, printed pages might be mis-aligned or jammed.