Controlling print jobs
In Windows, three settings affect how the printer driver pulls media when you send a print job. The
Source, Type, and Size settings appear in the Page Setup, Print, or Print Properties dialog boxes
in most software programs. If you do not change these settings, the printer automatically uses the
default printer settings to select a tray.
CAUTION Make printer setup changes through the software program or the printer driver
whenever possible, because changes that you make at the control panel become default
settings for subsequent print jobs. Settings selected in the software or the printer driver
override control-panel settings.
Source
Print by Source to specify a tray from which the printer will pull media. The printer tries to print from
this tray, no matter what type or size is loaded in it. If you select a tray that is configured for a type or
size that does not match your print job, the job does not proceed until you load the tray with the
correct type or size. If you load the tray correctly, the printer begins printing. If you press
, you can
select another tray.
NOTE If you have difficulties printing by Source, see Priority for print settings.
Type and Size
Print by Type or Size when you want to pull media from the first tray that is loaded with the type or
size that you select. Selecting media by type rather than source is similar to locking out trays and
helps protect special media from accidental use. For example, if a tray is configured for letterhead,
and you specify that the driver print on plain paper, the printer will not pull media from that tray, but
will pull paper from a tray that has plain paper loaded and is configured for plain paper.
NOTE Selecting the Any setting negates the tray lock-out function.
Selecting media by type and size results in significantly better print quality for heavy paper, glossy
paper, and overhead transparencies. Using the wrong setting can result in unsatisfactory print
quality. Always print by Type for special print media, such as labels or transparencies. Always print
by Size for envelopes.
●
If you want to print by Type or Size and the trays have not been configured for a certain type or
size, load the media into tray 1. Then, in the printer driver, select the Type or Size in the Page
Setup, Print, or Print Properties dialog box.
●
If you often print on a certain type or size of media, you can configure a tray for that type or size.
Then, when you select that type or size as you print a job, the printer pulls from the tray
configured for that type or size.
●
When you close tray 2, a message might appear prompting you to select a Type or Size for the
tray. If the tray is already configured correctly, press
to return to the Ready state.
NOTE If all of the tray type settings are set to ANY, and if you do not select a specific tray
(source) in the printer driver, the printer pulls media from the lowest tray. For example, tray 2
is loaded, the printer pulls media from that tray first. However, if the tray 1 size and type
settings are set to ANY and if media is loaded in the tray, then the printer prints from tray 1
first. If tray 1 is closed, the printer prints from tray 2.
48 Chapter 4 Printing tasks ENWW
