Photocopier Dealers

Professional Finish: Mastering In-House Tab Printing on Your Office Copier

For any business that produces professional training manuals, legal binders, or client proposals, the process of assembling indexed, tabbed documents can be a massive drain on time and resources. Outsourcing this work is expensive; doing it manually is time-consuming.

The solution lies in leveraging the advanced finishing capabilities of your commercial MFP (Multi-Function Printer) or digital press. Printing custom, collated tabs in-house allows your business to achieve a professional finish while dramatically cutting costs and turnaround time.

However, printing tabs successfully requires precise planning and machine compatibility. Here are the three critical technical details you must discuss with your copier dealer before buying or leasing a machine.

The 3 Technical Details Your Dealer Must Know

The ability of a machine to print on pre-cut tab stock is not universal. It depends heavily on how the paper feeds, which is dictated by the collation style of the tabs themselves.

1. Collation Style: Reverse vs. Straight

Collation refers to the order in which the tabs are packaged in the box. This order must match how your specific copier model loads and prints from its feed tray.

  • Single Reverse Collated (Most Common): Tabs are arranged in descending order (e.g., 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). This is the most popular style because the machine prints the lowest-numbered tab first, resulting in a finished document where the tabs are in ascending, logical order.
  • Straight Collated: Tabs are arranged in ascending order (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). These are typically used in machines or trays where the feed path requires this specific sequence to achieve the final, correct order.

Tip: Ask your dealer: “Which collation style (Single Reverse, Double Reverse, or Straight) is required for tab printing from the bypass tray and the high-capacity tray on the model I am considering?”

2. Tab Cut and Bank Size

The physical dimensions of the tabs are determined by the complexity of your document.

  • Tab Cut: This refers to the number of individual tabs visible in one complete bank along the edge of the document (e.g., 1/5 cut means 5 tabs fit across the side, commonly used for 5-section binders).
  • Hole Punching: You must confirm that your tabs are either unpunched or pre-punched to match your binding system (e.g., 3-hole for standard binders, 5-hole for specific legal binders). Printing 3-hole tabs for 5-ring folders is a costly mistake.

3. Paper Specs and Durability

Copier tabs are not standard paper. They are a heavy stock designed to withstand the heat and complexity of a laser copier’s paper path.

  • Paper Stock: Most printable copier tabs are made from heavy-duty 90# or 110# Index Stock to prevent jams and provide professional rigidity.
  • Mylar/Trilar Coating: For maximum durability, especially in training manuals that will be handled frequently, choose tabs with a Mylar or Trilar coating on the extension. This clear plastic coating reinforces the tab and is specifically engineered to be toner-receptive.

Don’t Guess: Consult Your Kansas City Copier Dealer

Successfully utilizing in-house tab printing features on your MFP requires matching the correct tab stock to the machine’s capabilities. Your local dealer specializes in knowing the nuanced requirements of brands like Xerox, Canon, Ricoh, and others.

Be ready to discuss your specific needs:

  • How many pages are in your largest manual?
  • How many sections (tabs) do you need?
  • Do you require color printing on the tab text?

By having this detailed conversation, your dealer can direct you to the exact machine and features that will turn your MFP into a professional, cost-cutting print shop.

General Service and Quote Requests

If you plan to get copiers for your office, you can buy copiers or lease copiers. We can give you options for getting the copy machine that you want. You can contact our local copier leasing services department in your location.

For all services, call Clear Choice Technical Services:

For dedicated Copier Repair Services in Kansas, please visit our Repair Services Website for immediate assistance. Our network is powered by Clear Choice Technical Services.