Laser Printer Accessories: Printer Paper
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Okay, you've got your laser printer on-line. You’ve got brand new toner, too. Only one thing is missing from the picture – the printing media itself!
Media used in laser printers are often paper-based ones, such as cardboards, envelopes, and simple copier paper sheets. A good characteristic of laser printers is that they do not require special paper for high-quality images, as this type of printer generally does not suffer from smearing. With this in mind, almost any piece of paper would do for your printing needs.
But of course, business, school, and other needs sometimes force us to use a special kind of media, be it for a business card, a thesis paper, or photo print. Therefore, before buying a particular model of laser printer, you should find out first how well it supports such special media.
Several questions to ask are: Can I print on envelopes? Can I print on large-format paper? A3 paper size? How about cardboard? Will my photos look good on glossy paper? When concerned about paper dimensions, the allowable margins for your laser printer come into big play, so you should note that, too.
When it comes to printing on simple bond paper (whether short or long), the only concern you've got is quality. Some companies manufacture thin bond paper that's really flimsy to touch or paper with rough surfaces, while other brands are known for their good thickness and sheen. Keep a watch out for both the good and bad brands, and their prices.
Lastly, if you don't like the idea of turning over paper and manually re-feeding them into the printer tray (so you can print on the other side), you might want to consider a printer with duplex functionality (see article on all-in-one laser printers). This kind of printer will save you time and paper.
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