Note: For best results, use paper / media recommended for this printer. Using paper / media that is not recommended could cause paper jams or image quality problems.
See the tables listed:
- Image Quality Performance Categories
- Stocks that should not be run on a Xerox iGen Press
- Stock Library Finish Categories
- Stock Coating Categories
Image Quality Performance Categories
Stocks that are recommended for use with the Xerox Press have been categorized as Best, Better, or Good.
A broad range of stocks has been tested on the press for image quality. Image quality performance categories defines image quality as Best, Better, and Good and lists general types of stock within each category.
Paper surface texture and color influences image quality.
| Performance Category | Image Quality | Stock Type |
| Best | The best possible image quality for this Press. Very similar to offset print quality. |
|
| Better | Image quality is slightly lower than Best due to sheet topography (paper finish). |
|
| Good | Adequate image quality due to sheet topography. |
|
Stocks Not Used
Caution: Using materials that do not meet the specified requirements of the press can result in increased paper jams, poor image quality, excessive service calls, and press damage.
| Stock Type | Problems |
| Highly conductive papers, such as foil-backed papers | Image quality artifacts and possible electrical damage to the press |
| Stocks (films) with melting points at or below 365o Fahrenheit (185o Celsius) | Melting in the Fuser |
| Stocks smaller than (177.8 x 177.8 mm / 7.0 x 7.0 in.) | Not supported |
| Non-paper backed transparencies stock | The Press must be able to sense the lead edge and one side edge of the stock for registration and paper jam detection purposes. |
| Stocks with caliper greater than 500 microns (18 pt.) | Not supported, jams |
| Papers containing talc or plasticizer | Poor image quality, poor paper handling, and press contamination |
| Preprinted sheets printed with non-laser compatible inks or inks that are not sufficiently cured | Poor image quality, poor paper handling, and press contamination |
| Pre-printed sheets that were dried with offset drying powder | Poor image quality, poor paper handling, and press contamination |
Note: Some paper properties are not included in the suppliers paper specifications. Order papers with guaranteed performance from vendors with stringent quality assurance programs. Vendors specifications can prohibit the use of talc and plasticizer.
Caution: The Xerox Press prints cannot run through monochrome, black and white xerographic printers. The Press prints becomes mottled or, in extreme cases, offset into the fuser of the monochrome printer.
Stock Library Finish Categories
To maximize paper handling and image quality, the Xerox press adjusts internal device settings based on the type of stock that is being fed.
When papers are entered into the Stock Library, the finish is identified as smooth, regular, semi rough, or rough.
Stock Library finish categories provides descriptions and examples of smooth, regular, semi rough, and rough papers.
| Finish | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth | All coated papers; smoothness is less than Sheffield 40 NOTE: Sheffield is a test that is used to measure the smoothness of paper. It measures the rate of air flow over the surface of a sheet. The lower the Sheffield smoothness number, the smoother the sheet. | Coated text Coated cover |
| Regular | All uncoated papers with Sheffield smoothness between 40 and 119 | Uncoated papers that are highly calendered / very smooth Papers with low texture (vellum) Uncoated papers for digital color printing |
| Rough | Uncoated papers with Sheffield smoothness above 225, and / or embossed | Papers with highly textured finishes (felt, linen) Bristol papers Index papers |
| Semi Rough | Uncoated papers with Sheffield smoothness between 120 and 224 | Papers with moderate texture Xerox DocuCards |
Note: If image quality is not optimal and the paper finish is on the border between smooth, regular, or rough, try changing the Finish media attribute in the Stock Library to the other category.
Stock Coating Categories
Coatings are applied to papers to increase the smoothness.
To maximize image quality and paper handling, the press adjusts device settings based on the type of coating on coated stocks. When coated media are entered into the Stock Library, the coating type is set to gloss, high-gloss, semi-gloss, satin, or matte.
Stock Library coating categories provides descriptions of the coating types.
| Stock Library coating types | Common names / descriptions (supplied by the paper manufacturer) | Gloss range (% reflectance) |
|---|---|---|
| High gloss | Cast, Chrome coated, C1S/C2S, cast coated, and any other high gloss special process media | Gloss range = 80+ |
| Gloss | Gloss, Enamel, Art | Gloss range = 50 to 80 |
| Semi-gloss | Dull, Silk | Gloss range = 35 to 50 |
| Satin | Satin, Velvet | Gloss range = 23 to 35 |
| Matte | Matte, Reply card | Gloss range = 10 to 25 |
The gloss ranges in Stock Library coating categories are measured at a 75 degree angle with the TAPPI test method T 480. These gloss ranges are not rigidly fixed, which accounts for the slight overlap in values.
You can use the name or description of the finish, which is supplied by the manufacturer, to determine the coating type. Paper mills cannot be consistent in how they describe stock coatings.