What should be removed before photocopying documents?

Removing staples before photocopying documents is important primarily to avoid damaging the photocopier and to ensure that the copy quality is optimal. Staples can cause jams in the machine, which leads to time-consuming maintenance and potential damage to both the copier and the documents being copied. Additionally, when documents are stapled together, the edges may not be evenly aligned, which could cause parts of the document to be cut off or not captured in the photocopy.

While paper clips and labels can also create issues, staples are particularly problematic due to their metallic nature and rigidity. Removing items that do not belong directly to the document, like anything on the desk, is generally a good practice for organization and focus, but they do not directly affect the copying process itself in the same way as staples do. Thus, ensuring that staples are removed is a necessary step for efficient and effective document photocopying.