Admit it, prices of printer ink cartridges can be heavy ion your pockets. Even generic or compatible toners and cartridges are also quite expensive especially if you print a lot regularly.
TonerBoss gives you a few tips on how you can save your ink and your printer cartridges. These tips are very easy, just a few minor steps to take before you click on Print.
1. Make it a habit to do “Print Preview” before printing the document.
Most printer drivers and word processing applications offer a Print Preview function. This lets you view the document as it will come out when you print it. The Print Preview function is actually very useful especially when printing from websites. It will help you ensure that the material will fit into the page. It also allows you to minimize images or remove those that are not necessary.
2. Print only what you need or what you want.
If you need or want information from just a portion of a page, then print only that portion. It is useless to print out the images and other texts if you don’t need them. When printing straight from a website, you can print the portion that you need by highlighting it and then print.
Always keep in mind that most of your files can be stored in your computer or in an external drive so you don’t necessarily need a hard copy. This is not only environment-friendly but also printer ink cartridge-friendly as it will allow your printer ink cartridge to last longer.
3. Preserve the life of your print cartridge
You don’t have to print something every day but try to utilize both black and color printer cartridges at least once a week. If you don’t have anything to print, run a diagnostic test or print a single phrase or sentence. This is because printer ink cartridges that are seldom used will eventually dry up. And mind you, this happens to all brands.
4. Use Generic/Replacement/Compatible Printer Cartridges
Generic/replacement/compatible printer cartridges give you more savings without necessarily sacrificing the quality and quantity. This is especially recommended to those who do bulk printing on a regular basis.
5. Clean your printer head regularly.
Most printer drivers come with a Clean and/or Deep Clean option in their Maintenance tabs. Clean your printer head from time to time and run Deep Clean at least once every two weeks to prevent dirt and residue from accumulating in the printer head. This can help preserve your printer ink cartridge’s life.
6. Turn off your printer the right way.
Some people, especially those who are always in a hurry or who are always busy, would turn off their printers by unplugging the switch from the electric socket without bothering to turn off the power switch. This is incorrect. Take time to turn off your printer the right way because otherwise, you will be cutting off the power before the print heads can go to their correct standby position. Again, print heads left on incorrect positions can make the ink dry up faster.
7. Plan before you print.
Take time to plan what you will print before actually clicking on Print. When I say “plan”, this includes proofreading your texts, fixing your images and double-checking everything before printing it. A lot of people would print on impulse. This is incorrect. When you are not satisfied with what you have printed and would want to print it again, this means wasted paper, ink and electricity.
8. Print more blacks.
Use your black ink more often. If it’s not important, skip the color. Also, make sure that your printer setting is always set to print in monochrome so you can save on your color inks for more important applications.
9. Put the Draft setting into action.
Most printer drivers come with a Draft option. Putting your printer in Draft setting is actually one of the best ways to save on your ink. It also makes your printer print faster than its normal rate.
10. Consider using helpful software.
There is a handful of software available that can help you organize your printing tasks. In most cases, the software works by removing the empty spaces and images that you don’t need so they won’t be printed.
Always keep these tips in mind to save your ink and your printer cartridge. Happy printing!
.jpg)
