IBM InfoColor 70 User manual

IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170
Print Media Guide

IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170
Print Media Guide

First Edition (June 1998)
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© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998
iii
IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide 1
Purpose of this manual 3
Requesting a Print Medium Test 5
Importance of Print Medium Testing ................................................................................................................ 5
Procedures....................................................................................................................................................... 5
Test Results, Medium Performance and Script................................................................................................ 9
Rush Testing.................................................................................................................................................... 9
Basic Paper Types and Their Properties 11
Basic paper types........................................................................................................................................... 11
Uncoated paper ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Coated paper............................................................................................................................................. 12
Speciality paper ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Paper properties............................................................................................................................................. 13
Guidelines for Print Medium Quality Inspection 15
Check Paper Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 15
Guidelines for Print Medium Storage and Handling....................................................................................... 16
Splicing........................................................................................................................................................... 17
Roll inspection................................................................................................................................................ 17
Paper Waste During Printing and Waste Reduction (3.02 code or higher).................................................... 18
Start of a Print Job..................................................................................................................................... 18
Auto Mode............................................................................................................................................. 18
Manual Mode......................................................................................................................................... 18
Finishing the Print Job ............................................................................................................................... 18
Changing the Paper Roll............................................................................................................................ 19
Operator Skills ........................................................................................................................................... 19
Paper Quality............................................................................................................................................. 19
Environment............................................................................................................................................... 19
Artifact Samples 21
Low-density cloudiness.................................................................................................................................. 22
High-density cloudiness ................................................................................................................................. 22
High-frequency cloudiness............................................................................................................................. 23
Periodic low-density bands ............................................................................................................................ 23
Weak cloudiness............................................................................................................................................ 24
Low-density speckles..................................................................................................................................... 24
Low-density spots .......................................................................................................................................... 25
Gloss too low.................................................................................................................................................. 25
GEM hot offset ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Worm like streaks........................................................................................................................................... 26
Wrinkling in the PRS ...................................................................................................................................... 27
Non-uniform transfer quality across the web.................................................................................................. 28
Micro-blistering from the fuser........................................................................................................................ 29
Description of paper-dependent parameters 31
List of IBM Recommended Print Media for IBM 3170 and InfoColor 70 35

iv IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998
1
IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

2 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

Purpose of this manual 3
Purpose of this manual
• A guide to have print medium tested through a certified agency
• To provide information on basic paper quality requirements for the InfoColor 70 Printer.
• To provide information on proper paper handling and storage
• To provide information about how paper is tested at the certified agency.
• To provide information on the basic paper types and properties.
• To assist in understanding the media limitations of InfoColor 70 Printer.
• To provide Artifact Samples to assist in print quality troubleshooting.

4 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

Requesting a Print Medium Test 5
Requesting a Print MediumTest
Importance of Print MediumTesting
InfoColor 70/3170 Print Medium testing is needed to adjust and optimize a set of control parameters
to obtain the best print quality.
Using a tested and supported print medium offers you the following advantages:
• Stable print quality
• Minimum quantity of wasted paper
• Minimum printing problems, such as paper jams
• Minimumcontamination ofthe InfoColor 70/3170print engine;thereby reducingmachine interven-
tion and frequency of service.
Procedures
1. Before considering a print medium test, request the latest IBM InfoColor 70 Print Media List from
your account representative. Make sure that there is not a similar stock on this list before you ini-
tiate a request for a test.
2. Make sure there is full support from the Medium Manufacturer.
3. Contact IBM certified Medium Test Agencies
For US region contact RIT (Lisa Ford, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: LM-
[email protected]).
For EMEA regions, contact Pira (Mike Chamberlain, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]/
46, E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected])
4. The test will cost the medium manufacturer or the customer about $240/hour. It usually takes
about 2.5 - 3 hours for one medium test. The turn around time is about 2 to 6 months depending
on the agencies current work load. A paper may also be tested on an emergency basis with a
shorter turn around time for a cost premium.
5. PaperTest Agencieswill requestthe followinginformation fromthe mediummanufacturer through
two different forms as a pre-requisite for testing. The following is a sample of these forms:

6 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide
Form 1: Substrate Qualification Data Collection Worksheet
Product Name:
Manufacture:
Company Contact
Name:
Title:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Postal Code:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
Paper Classification X
Uncoated Super Calandered
Uncoated Calandered
Uncoated Uncalandered
Uncoated Pigmented
Matt Coated
Satin Coated
Glossy Coated
Single-sided Cast Coated
Recycled Coated
Latex Impregnated Paper
Film
Others (Please specify)
Material Properties (Fill-in or attach
documentation)
Grammage (GSM)
Caliper(micron)
Brightness (ISO%)
Opacity(%)

Requesting a Print Medium Test 7
Smoothness (PPS micron/Sheffield units)
Moisture Content (% AH)
Certificate of Non-toxicity (Please Attach)
Guarantee Splice Free
Marketing Contact:
Name:
Title:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Postal Code:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
Technical Contact:
Name:
Title:
Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Postal Code:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
Distribution List (Please attach)

8 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide
Form 2: Specifications for Print Media Qualification on the IBM InfoColor 70 Print Engine
Roll Dimensions
Description Dimension (USA) Dimension (EU)
Inner Core Diameter 6"-0/+.02 150mm+/-.5
Outer Core Diameter 7.1" 174mm
Maximum Roll Diameter 19.7" 500mm
Typical Roll Diameter 15.75" 400mm
Maximum Roll Weight 88lbs 40kg
Roll Width 12.6" 320mm
Roll Specifications
The paper must be free from splices, tears, dents, holes and other physical defects.The paper
should be flush with the core and must not slide axially over the core.
Paper Weight
60 to 250GSM are specification limits for InfoColor 70 engine.
200GSM and above require GEM unit.
Temperature Resistance
The paper must withstand prolonged (1 hour minimum) heating to 100 ° C and heating to 200 ° C for
5 seconds without physical or chemical degradation.Under these conditions, the paper should not
release any toxic substances.
Demonstrated Paper Properties
The following data must be submitted for each substrate to be tested.
• Weight (grams/m
2
)
• Caliper (micron)
• Brightness (ISO%)
• Opacity (%)
• Smoothness (pps/sheffield units)
• Moisture Content (%AH)
A certificate of non-toxicity is required.This must contain the following statement:“The print
medium will not release toxic gasses when heated up to 200 ° C during 5 seconds and during
prolonged heating at 100 ° C.”
Note: The above properties can be tested at the Agencies for a fee.

Requesting a Print Medium Test 9
Test Results, Medium Performance and Script
Once the print medium is tested, the performance of the medium is reviewed.All the information of
the paper and scripts will be shared information.
The tested print medium will be rated at 1A, 1B, 2, 3 performance level.These performance levels are
defined as follows:
1A – Good print quality is easy to obtain and rather stable without any finishing or stacking prob-
lems.
1B – Good print quality is not very easy to obtain. It requires close monitoring to maintain good
and stable print quality. No finishing or stacking problems.
2 – Minor print quality problems and/or finishing problems.
3 – Severe print quality and finishing problems.
IBM has chosen to support 1A level media only. IBM allows customer to use 1B level media and a
select few others at their own risk.IBM provides these scripts to its customers through IBM Service
Engineers.They can update the InfoColor 70 with the latest print medium scripts upon your request.
RushTesting
In a situation where paper needs to be tested in a short period of time, paper test agencies may offer
testing on rush basis for a surcharge. IBM may also offer medium testing under some limitations.To
qualify for testing at IBM, you need to contact your account manager.Your account manager will need
to petition the marketing organization for an evaluation and approval.IBM marketing will evaluate the
following key areas:
1. Does IBM already provide support for a similar stock?
2. Does this print medium open a new market for InfoColor 70 print business?
3. Does this new print media bring additional IBM sales opportunities?
If you are approved for testing at IBM, you will need to submit the same pre-requisite medium infor-
mation and prepare a medium sample (3 rolls) just as you would do for certified agencies.The turn
around time at IBM is usually about 3 to 6 weeks depending on work load.

10 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide

Basic Paper Types and Their Properties 11
Basic PaperTypes andTheir Properties
Basic paper types
In order to understand fully what requirements have to be met by the paper, it is important that you
know how paper types are distinguished:
.
Uncoated paper
Paper, the surface of which is not covered with an additional coating.It is only composed of pulp, con-
taining cellulose fibers, fillers, binders, pigments, etc..The various types of uncoated paper are listed
in the table below.
Paper types
Uncoated paper
Uncalendered
calendered
Supercalendered
Coated paper
Matt
Satin
Glossy
High-gloss
Speciality paper
Embossed
Watermarked
Recycled
Tinted & Colored
Translucent
Parchment
Uncoated paper types Description
Uncalendered paper Paper which was not submitted to the
calendering process. See below.
Calendered paper During the calendering process the paper
passes through a number of calendering rolls
made of steel, in order to make it more compact
and smoother by increasing influences of
temperature and pressure on the paper.
Supercalendered paper During the supercalendering process the paper
passes through a number of calendering rolls
made alternately of steel and cotton, in order to
make it even more compact and smoother.

12 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide
Coated paper
Paper, the surface of which is covered with a coating, in order to alter the surface properties of the
original paper such as smoothness, gloss and water resistance.
Depending on the production method, coated papers can also be divided as follows:
Speciality paper
Paper, which has special properties, intended for special purpose use.
Gloss property Description
Matt coated paper Coated paper, which was not submitted
to the calendering process, or which
passed through only one pair of
calendars.
Satin coated paper Coated paper, which was submitted to
the calendering process.
Glossy and high-gloss coated
paper Coated paper, which was submitted to the supercalendering process.
Coated paper type Description
Machine coated paper Coating is applied by means of a dosing
roll and the excess coating is removed
with a scraper.The gloss is achieved by
calendering.
The coating thickness is variable on the
scale of the paper’s relief.
Cast coated paper The gloss of the coated paper is
obtained by passing the paper over a
very smooth chromium roll.This results
in very high-gloss coated paper.
The coating thickness is uniform.
Feature Description
Embossed paper Paper with an amount of relief which is
produced by pressing it between a
rotary embosser, i.e.a metal roll
having a embossing pattern.
Recycled paper Paper that is made of pulp containing
fibers of paper that has already been
used and to which new fibers are
added. Sometimes all fibers are
recycled.
Tinted and Colored paper Paper that is made of pulp containing
an amount of colored pigments.
Colored paper has a more saturated
color than tinted paper.

Basic Paper Types and Their Properties 13
Paper properties
Watermarked paper With a roll similar to an embosser,
paper, that is still very wet in the paper
machine, is processed.This causes
thickness variations that creates
different transparency levels.
Translucent paper Paper which is highly transparent due
to a special way of crushing the fibers.
Feature Description
Paper property Description
Weight In grams per square meter (g/m
2
).
Caliper Thickness of the paper expressed in µ m.
Absolute moisture content The absolute moisture content is the
ratio between the total amount of water
in the paper and the weight of the paper
(including fibers, fillers, binders and
water).
Relative moisture content The relative moisture content equals the
relative humidity of the surrounding air, in
equilibrium with the paper.
Smoothness A paper property characterized by the
roughness value, i.e.the size of tips and
valleys on the paper’s surface measured
in PPS µ m, Bendtsen, Bekk, or sheffield.
Brightness Total amount of visible light reflected by
the paper. Adequate paper brightness is
necessary to provide high-contrast
images.
Bulk The thickness of paper, in terms of the
number of pages per inch for a given
basis weight.
Formation The formation of paper depends on the
structure of cellulose fibers, which, in
turn, depends on the construction of the
paper machine and the composition of
the pulp.
Opacity Opacity is the opposite of transparency.
The lower the opacity, the more you can
see through the paper.Thin papers
usually have a lower opacity.
Gloss The amount of incident light under a
certain angle that the paper reflects with
the same angle.

14 IBM InfoColor 70 and 3170 Print Media Guide