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Printers have surreptitiously invaded our homes. In just a few decades, they went from being an expensive luxury to being a necessity for a wide variety of people. Although printers have become more affordable, printer ink prices have skyrocketed; they often feature in lists of the most expensive liquids in the world, beating out human blood, fine champagnes, and most perfumes.
These tips from Supplies Outlet will help you get more out of this precious commodity.
Choose the Right Printer for You
Different companies use their proprietary technology, which means there are a lot of printing options. In general, more expensive printers use ink more efficiently, so if you print a lot, in the long run, buying a higher-end printer might be more cost-effective and can save you money.
Ignore the Low Ink Warning
Manufacturers tend to err on the side of caution; after all, it's better to be safe than sued. You've probably noticed that even after a ‘low ink’ warning appears, you can still get quite a few pages out of your printer. Studies have found that ink cartridges are still 20% to 40% full when “Low Ink” notifications appear. There are variations depending on the manufacturer and model, but you can print until you notice signs of low ink, like faint printing or word banding.
Manage Your Printer Settings
These are a few easy changes that make your ink last longer:
- Printing in “Grayscale” instead of color for black and white documents
- Setting your print quality to "Draft" lowers the quality and ink used
- Printing multiple pages per sheet
Consider How You Use Your Printer
Every time a printer is turned on, it runs a maintenance cycle that uses ink. Try and print in batches so that you avoid unnecessary wastage. Printers left on, but not in use, consume very little electricity, so if you print regularly, consider leaving your printer on (but turn off and on frequently for maintenance or run maintenance checks manually).
Use Ink Friendly Fonts
Avoid thick fonts and using bold, and reduce your font size when printing.
You’ll be surprised how quickly these small things add up. For the thriftiest, download Ecofont, a free font that uses 20% less ink.
Use Print Preview
Every computer has a print preview setting that allows you to check your file before printing. Double-check for any errors so that you don't have to reprint just for a misplaced comma.
Take Care of Your Cartridges
Proper cartridge storage is vital to extend ink lifespan. Improperly stored cartridges can lead to ink drying out or evaporating:
- Never open fresh cartridges until they are ready to be used and store them at room temperature
- Store used cartridges in plastic bags if you know the printer won't be in use for some time
Manage Your Ink Cartridges
Though not recommended by the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEMs), there are a few ways of getting more from your cartridges:
- Carefully remove the ink cartridge and slowly swirl to release any stuck or clogged ink
- In moments of desperation, heating the cartridge with a blow dryer for 2 minutes can get you enough ink to print a few pages.
Manually Clean Printer Nozzles
Bits of dried ink and other debris can clog up your printer nozzles, causing faint images and broken lines. To fix this, carefully soak the nozzles in warm, soapy water till the dried ink starts to dissolve, wipe dry, and reinstall. Finally, run a "Nozzle Check" through your printer's maintenance settings to clear the printheads.
Change the Resolution
Resolution can be thought of as the number of dots per inch (DPI) in an image. Most printers print at 200 to 300 DPI, but reducing the DPI can drastically lessen ink usage while presenting a clear image.
Save Instead of Print
Not only does it reduce paper use, but it also saves ink. In today's digital era, consider saving and sending files rather than printing and distributing paper.
Print What You Need
Websites like printwhatyoulike.com allow you to print the relevant parts of webpages while ignoring ads and images.
Third-Party Ink Sellers
Companies spend staggering amounts of money on research and development; at least, this is one of the justifications they give for high ink prices. There is no doubt that a printer works best with its complementary cartridges, but cheaper options do exist. Be warned, though, using third-party ink can cause maintenance issues in the long run and ruin print quality.
Print Smart
These tips will guide you on how to make printer ink last longer. However, eventually, they will run out. Ink refill kits and third-party sellers may seem like a good option, but inconsistencies in manufacturing and incompatibility can cause issues with your printer. The best way to make your ink last longer is by making some simple settings changes, and most importantly, thinking and printing smart.
Sources:
Consumer Reports. The High Cost of Wasted Printer Ink. https://www.consumerreports.org/printers/the-high-cost-of-wasted-printer-ink/
The Wall Street Journal. Think Gas is Expensive? Try Scorpion Venom. https://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2007/05/16/think-gas-is-expensive-try-scorpion-venom/
How Stuff Works. How Printer Ink Works. https://computer.howstuffworks.com/printer-ink4.htm
Daily Mail. The great printer rip off: Ink costs more than vintage champers - and devious new tricks mean you constantly have to buy refills. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2288221/The-great-printer-rip-It-costs-vintage-champers--devious-new-tricks-mean-constantly-buy-refills.html