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Print Media Guidelines 

Print media can be paper, labels, envelopes, and coated paper among others. Your printer provides high-quality 

printing on a variety of print media. Selecting the appropriate print media for your printer helps avoid printing 

troubles. This section describes selecting print media, caring for print media, and loading the print media in 

Multipurpose Feeder (MPF) or Priority Sheet Inserter (PSI). 

NOTE: 

The images used in this manual are those of the Dell™ C1760nw Color Printer unless otherwise mentioned. 

NOTE: 

PSI is available only for Dell C1760nw Color Printer. 

Paper 

For the best print quality in color, use 75 g/m

2

 (20 lb) xerographic, grain long paper. For the best print quality in 

black and white, use 90 g/m

2

 (24 lb) xerographic, grain long paper. Before buying large quantities of any print media, 

it is recommended that you try a sample first. 
When loading paper, identify the recommended print side on the paper package, and load the paper accordingly. See 

"Loading Print Media in the Multipurpose Feeder (MPF)" on page 151 and "Loading Print Media in the Priority 

Sheet Inserter (PSI) (Dell C1760nw Color Printer only)" on page 159 for detailed loading instructions. 

Paper Characteristics 

The following paper characteristics affect print quality and reliability. It is recommended that you follow these 

guidelines when evaluating new paper stock. 

Weight 

Both MPF and PSI automatically feed paper whose weights range from 60 to 163 g/m

2 

(16 to 44 lb bond) grain long. 

Paper lighter than 60 g/m

2

 (16 lb) may not feed properly, and could cause paper jams. For best performance, use 75 

g/m

2

 (20 lb bond) grain long paper. 

Curl 

Curl is the tendency of print media to curve at its edges. Excessive curl 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, even in the paper feeder, can contribute to paper curling prior to printing and cause feeding problems 

regardless of humidity. When printing on curled paper, straighten the paper and then insert it into the MPF or PSI. 

Smoothness 

The degree of paper smoothness 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. 

Smoothness between 150 and 250 Sheffield points produces the best print quality. 

Moisture Content 

The amount of moisture in the paper affects both print quality and the ability of the printer to feed the paper 

properly. Leave the paper in its original packaging until you are ready to use it. This limits the exposure of the paper 

to moisture changes that can degrade its performance. 

Grain Direction 

Grain refers to the alignment of the paper fibers in a sheet of paper. Grain is either grain long, running the length of 

the paper, or grain short, running the width of the paper. For 60 to 135 g/m

2

 (16 to 36 lb bond) paper, grain long 

fibers are recommended. For paper heavier than 135 g/m

2

 (36 lb bond), grain short is preferred. 

Print Media Guidelines 

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