Fuser stripper baffle and a printing machine including the same

A fuser stripper baffle exit minimizes differential gloss marks due to paper contacting the fuser exit baffle. Portions of paper that touch the baffle cool differently than portions that don't, resulting in differential gloss in the paper path or spanwise direction. The exit baffle contains a series of axial-direction steps or plateaus in its upper surface, such that the highest step is nearest the fuser roll, while the lowest plateau is furthest from the roll. This reduces the surface area of the fuser stripper baffle exit that contacts the surface of the paper sheet as the paper sheet is stripped from the fuser roll. The paper thus touches the exit baffle for the minimum amount of time, thus minimizing the heat transfer to the baffle. This minimizes differential cooling effects which, in turn, minimizes differential gloss.