Inkjet Vs. Laserjet Paper
While many individuals with desktop printers simply buy the least expensive or most readily available paper, subtle differences in the paper quality, thickness and coating make different papers ideal for different printer types. With some basic knowledge about printer functions and how paper works with inkjet and laser printers, a buyer can make an informed decision when purchasing printer paper.
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Function
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To understand why certain papers are better for inkjet or laser printers, it is first necessary to understand how the two types of printers produce their output. When a laser printer prints, it uses a built-in processor to create a line-by-line representation of the print job; this representation is then sent to a laser that heats a print drum with the desired image. As paper rolls through the printer, the heated print drum rolls through printer toner, then burns the toner into the paper (using a form of static charge) in the image of the desired print. By contrast, an inkjet printer pulls paper through the printer body, using a moveable print head to squirt tiny dots of ink onto the paper; like the laser printer, an inkjet's output is controlled by an on-board processor, though the ink output is much simpler and more straightforward.
Brightness and Gloss
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Papers rated with a high brightness are specially designed to be smooth, concentrating the reflection of light to the user's eye (in contrast to rougher, duller paper that allows the light to scatter). Bright papers are typically smoother and somewhat glossier than papers with a lower brightness, and this gloss can affect how the paper receives print jobs. If a bright paper is designed for inkjet use, it will allow the ink dots sprayed by the print head to penetrate the glossy finish and soak into the paper; by contrast, however, the gloss may inhibit the transfer of heated toner onto the paper, creating a laser output that appears broken, cracked, or even blurred.
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Absorption
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Absorption is another factor that affects how the print job is transferred to printer paper. Inkjet papers are typically designed to have low absorption, as highly absorbent paper will allow the tiny beads of ink to absorb deep into the paper, expanding outward and causing a "feathered" image. By contrast, the toner from a laser printer is transferred using a static charge that burns the image in place, so highly absorbent papers, while not producing a clear image from an inkjet printer, may work nicely with a laser printer.
Temperature Tolerance
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Because of the significant differences in printing technology, some paper designed for inkjet printers simply does not work with laser printers. Rather than simply spraying ink, laser printers literally burn the print job into the paper; papers not designed with a tolerance to high temperatures may melt slightly when exposed to the heat of a laser printer's print head. This phenomenon is most apparent in photo printing, causing a marked decline in print quality when inkjet paper is used for graphics printing in a laser printer. Also, because manufacturers must specifically create photo paper for laser printers, paper designed for inkjet printers is generally less expensive and more readily available.
Thickness
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The thickness of paper is an important consideration, as thin papers may allow ink (or even toner) to bleed through to the backside of the intended print surface. When a laser printer creates its output, it physically wraps the paper around the print drum, and thicker papers may have an increased tendency to jam; inkjet printers, however, typically keep the paper flat, allowing the printers to accommodate thicker papers. As an added bonus to inkjet users, thicker papers also stifle the bleed-through of ink, creating a buffer between the print surface and the paper's backside.
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