Printing has become an absolute necessity for people all over the nation and world these days. Whether a person needs to print an essay for a school project or a business plan to present to their peers, having a reliable method of translating work done on a computer to a sheet of paper is a must. One important part of a printer that often gets overlooked in the process, however, is the printer cartridge. Containing the ink necessary to write lines and create diagrams on a blank sheet of paper, printer cartridges are something that no printer can be without. It is important, therefore, that anyone who plans on using his or her printer on a continuous basis have a reliable method to replace their printer cartridges when they inevitably dry out of ink.
One of the most common mistakes that is made is to buy a printer cartridge only after the previous one has become useless. The simple truth is that these cartridges are often very expensive and are not always easily acquirable. Because of these attributes, there are several strategies to employ when purchasing printer cartridges for the future.
The first thing to remember is that printer cartridges come in a great variety and that a person can’t just plug the first one they see at the store into their printer and expect results. You have to buy a printer cartridge that is compatible with your printer, or you will have wasted your time and money. For example, if you own a Canon printer, it would be foolish to buy a Lexmark printer cartridge. If you are not sure about which cartridges fit your printer, jot down the printer brand and model and ask a sales representative to help you out.
Also remember that while printer cartridges are quite expensive, it is best to get backups when they go on sale. If for example, you own a HP printer and see a sale on all HP and Epson printer cartridges during Thanksgiving, you should head down to the store and pick some up. There is no point in waiting until you really need the printer cartridge to buy them and paying double or triple the price. On a similar note, if the sale were for Xerox and Pitney Bowes printer cartridges, don’t buy them just because they are discounted. If the printer cartridges are not compatible with your printer, they are basically worthless. But overall, being a smart consumer and thinking ahead will do nothing but benefit you in terms of saving time and money.
Overall there are many different printer cartridges, from Xerox to Pitney Bowes, and many different printers, from Canon brands to Lexmark, which they can be used with. Knowing which printer cartridge to buy and taking advantage of sales can go a long way in ensuring that your printer will be working with high quality whenever it is needed!
26.12.10
26.11.10
How to Buy Printer Paper
Everybody wants to know about the correct inkjet cartridge for his or her printer, but what about printer paper? Inkjet and laser printers can print on a variety of surfaces, including photo paper, labels, business cards, stickers, and t-shirt transfers. One of the biggest advantages of laser printers is their ability to churn out quality prints on almost any paper. However, the same does not apply to inkjet printers. Although most of your inkjet printing probably involves standard white papers, when it comes to this medium, you may have more options than you realise.
Inkjet Printer Paper
Although standard printer paper can do the job as well, your printouts will probably be better if you use paper specifically made for inkjet printers. The quality of your printouts is affected by two major factors: brightness and absorption.
1. Brightness
When a type of paper is advertised as being brighter than average, it indicates that the surface of the paper is smoother than average. The smoothness of the page determines the amount of light reflected from its surface. This factor also determines how bright your images appear on the page. The brighter or smoother the printer paper is, the better your printout will appear.
2. Absorption
In this case, if the printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will definitely look better. As the paper absorbs ink, tiny dots on the page may spread outside their borders. This may cause the edges of text and images on the page to look fuzzy and soggy. To counteract this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance that prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well-coated paper allows for more precise and smoother printing. In general, most of the printers on the market print at a higher resolution on coated paper than on standard paper.
Branded Paper – To Buy or Not to Buy
It's no secret that the big names in printers, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer a complete line of inks and papers. Each company claims that you will get the best results when you use its products with its printers, and warns you to steer clear of products sold by other companies.
Generally speaking, they're right. In the case of inkjet printers, especially, companies design printers, inks, and papers to work together to yield the best results. If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper before drying, causing inaccurate colours, lower print resolution, and a dull finish. Plus, it is likely that the prints will fade faster.
The choice, after all, lies with you. Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don’t make it easy on the consumer’s pocket. You can reach the most economical solution through a little experimentation.
Alternatively, laser printers can print plain text documents or draft-quality graphics with equal ease, and you can stock up on your local office supply store's bright white copy or laser paper to your heart's content.
Getting Past the Jargon
To find out if the paper package on the shelf is right for your printer, simply read the fine print that usually lists out the compatible companies and models. Moreover, if you are interested in high-quality photo printing, you can generally see if a particular paper makes the grade.
For example, some papers may have unusual descriptions such as "swellable" or "cotton rag." Swellable paper is designed for high-quality photo printing—the coated surface actually swells as it absorbs ink. Cotton rag is ideal for inkjets that use pigment-based inks; most low-cost inkjet printers, on the other hand, use dye-based ink, so you should steer clear of cotton rag in this instance.
High-quality paper also has a polymer coating—for both dye-based and pigment-based inks—that keeps the ink from spreading, and it protects the ink from fading over time. However, coated paper can take a number of hours to completely dry your prints. Better quality paper may also be advertised as acid-free and lignin-free; these indicate that your paper is more likely to give you the best image quality and the best overall life span.
Checklist
It is important to remember that most branded photo printer paper from corporate names, including well-known ones, is only suitable for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. Here is a simple checklist to help you when deciding the inkjet photo paper best suited to your needs.
1. Always check the DPI (Dots Per Inch) of the photo printer paper.
DPI is an indicator of how much ink the photo paper can absorb per inch on the page. Using low DPI photo paper for high-resolution printing will result in poor quality prints. Usually, if the seller does not advertise the DPI of its inkjet photo paper and card, then it is likely that it is very low and therefore a lower grade paper.
2. Check that the photo paper is instant dry.
Cheaper photo paper may not be designed to dry instantaneously and can result in colour running or smudging while the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, then it is likely that it is absent.
3. Decide the weight of inkjet photo paper you need.
Although the weight of photo paper and card vary, the most common weights are between 120gsm to 280gsm.
If you are printing in bulk, then 120gsm is usually sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing photographs at home, then 160gsm to 200gsm should suffice. Buy glossy printer paper if you want shiny pictures, and matt paper if shine is not an issue for you.
As a general rule, bigger the weight is, thicker the photo paper or card will be.
Inkjet Printer Paper
Although standard printer paper can do the job as well, your printouts will probably be better if you use paper specifically made for inkjet printers. The quality of your printouts is affected by two major factors: brightness and absorption.
1. Brightness
When a type of paper is advertised as being brighter than average, it indicates that the surface of the paper is smoother than average. The smoothness of the page determines the amount of light reflected from its surface. This factor also determines how bright your images appear on the page. The brighter or smoother the printer paper is, the better your printout will appear.
2. Absorption
In this case, if the printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will definitely look better. As the paper absorbs ink, tiny dots on the page may spread outside their borders. This may cause the edges of text and images on the page to look fuzzy and soggy. To counteract this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance that prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well-coated paper allows for more precise and smoother printing. In general, most of the printers on the market print at a higher resolution on coated paper than on standard paper.
Branded Paper – To Buy or Not to Buy
It's no secret that the big names in printers, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer a complete line of inks and papers. Each company claims that you will get the best results when you use its products with its printers, and warns you to steer clear of products sold by other companies.
Generally speaking, they're right. In the case of inkjet printers, especially, companies design printers, inks, and papers to work together to yield the best results. If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper before drying, causing inaccurate colours, lower print resolution, and a dull finish. Plus, it is likely that the prints will fade faster.
The choice, after all, lies with you. Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don’t make it easy on the consumer’s pocket. You can reach the most economical solution through a little experimentation.
Alternatively, laser printers can print plain text documents or draft-quality graphics with equal ease, and you can stock up on your local office supply store's bright white copy or laser paper to your heart's content.
Getting Past the Jargon
To find out if the paper package on the shelf is right for your printer, simply read the fine print that usually lists out the compatible companies and models. Moreover, if you are interested in high-quality photo printing, you can generally see if a particular paper makes the grade.
For example, some papers may have unusual descriptions such as "swellable" or "cotton rag." Swellable paper is designed for high-quality photo printing—the coated surface actually swells as it absorbs ink. Cotton rag is ideal for inkjets that use pigment-based inks; most low-cost inkjet printers, on the other hand, use dye-based ink, so you should steer clear of cotton rag in this instance.
High-quality paper also has a polymer coating—for both dye-based and pigment-based inks—that keeps the ink from spreading, and it protects the ink from fading over time. However, coated paper can take a number of hours to completely dry your prints. Better quality paper may also be advertised as acid-free and lignin-free; these indicate that your paper is more likely to give you the best image quality and the best overall life span.
Checklist
It is important to remember that most branded photo printer paper from corporate names, including well-known ones, is only suitable for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. Here is a simple checklist to help you when deciding the inkjet photo paper best suited to your needs.
1. Always check the DPI (Dots Per Inch) of the photo printer paper.
DPI is an indicator of how much ink the photo paper can absorb per inch on the page. Using low DPI photo paper for high-resolution printing will result in poor quality prints. Usually, if the seller does not advertise the DPI of its inkjet photo paper and card, then it is likely that it is very low and therefore a lower grade paper.
2. Check that the photo paper is instant dry.
Cheaper photo paper may not be designed to dry instantaneously and can result in colour running or smudging while the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, then it is likely that it is absent.
3. Decide the weight of inkjet photo paper you need.
Although the weight of photo paper and card vary, the most common weights are between 120gsm to 280gsm.
If you are printing in bulk, then 120gsm is usually sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing photographs at home, then 160gsm to 200gsm should suffice. Buy glossy printer paper if you want shiny pictures, and matt paper if shine is not an issue for you.
As a general rule, bigger the weight is, thicker the photo paper or card will be.
2.10.10
Printer Ink Cartridges for Home or Office
Looking for a printer for your home office? Deciding on the right one for you can be a difficult decision to make, especially if you are not really sure what each type has to offer.
Printers have come a long way in recent years and these days they come in all shapes and sizes. Basically, there are three types of printers, the inkjet printer, the laser printer and the dot matrix printer. Here is a brief guide on the features of each.
Generally, ink-jet printers are the most popular type of printer as they are not too expensive. They use ink cartridges that can be purchased in black or colour, and can turn out excellent quality graphics, text, documents and spreadsheets and photos. Quality inkjet printers can produce precise and sharp images and are manufactured by some of the leading names in technology, including Epson, Canon, Lexmark, HP, and Ricoh. Suited to both personal and professional use, their specific features include network connectivity options, elevated dpi, integrated memory and memory card slots.
Photo inkjet printers have a broad range of editing options and features which print out clear, pure images. Their ability to catch the vibrant colours and tiny details of the original image is inspiring.
Laser printers offer a premium printing technology that gives a professional end result. They are highly efficient and can meet the business needs of most companies. They are slightly more expensive than other types of printers due to their speed and the quality of the printing they produce. The laser beam guarantees a sharp, clear print quality and extraordinary picture quality and they are suited for all types of documents, whether it is text and documents or photo and image printing.
Most laser printers these days have a standard resolution of 300-1200 dots per inch (dpi), which is sufficient for typical everyday printing and small desktop publishing jobs. If your business calls for larger printing jobs then you should consider investing in a laser printer with a higher dpi. There are more expensive models available with resolutions of up to 2400 dpi that can meet a more demanding printing schedule.
The standard paper size for any printer is 8.5" x 11", your laser printer is also able to cater to various other paper sizes, as well as recycled paper, thick stock paper, transparencies, labels, envelopes, and postcards. Quality laser printers are available from Xerox, Brother, HP, Okidata, Konica Minolta and Lexmark. Choose from laser multifunction printers, wide format laser printers, Mac compatible laser printers, and refurbished laser printers.
Xerox laser printers are well-known as some of the world's best because of their brilliant print quality and efficiency. Turn your old printer into a viable printing center with xerox laser multifunction printers or a similar multifunction laser printer.
Dot matrix printers are a good solid printer that don't focus as much on quality but more on getting actual printed content out in a reliable and methodical manner. They are particularly useful in businesses that have a lot of heavy-duty applications or invoicing to be printed out on a regular basis as they allow for multiple copies of one invoice due to carbon copying.
The advantages of dot matrix printers over the previous models are that they can use continuous paper rolls instead of utilizing individual sheets and have one of the lowest printing costs per page. Some of the world leading dot matrix printers manufacturer's include Okidata, Epson, Tally and Genicom.
Look online for printers where you'll find lots of advice and information on each model and all the leading brands. In addition, the latest inkjet cartridges and accessories such as photo paper can be found. Before buying your printer, ensure you are certain of your business needs and requirements. Be careful to select a model that can offer you all the necessary features, check the types of printer ink cartridges it can accept and and is supplied by a trusted brand.
About the Author
Kathryn Dawson writes about Cartridge Shop, a one stop shop for printer ink cartridges. Shop online for lowest prices on printer ink cartridges.
Printers have come a long way in recent years and these days they come in all shapes and sizes. Basically, there are three types of printers, the inkjet printer, the laser printer and the dot matrix printer. Here is a brief guide on the features of each.
Generally, ink-jet printers are the most popular type of printer as they are not too expensive. They use ink cartridges that can be purchased in black or colour, and can turn out excellent quality graphics, text, documents and spreadsheets and photos. Quality inkjet printers can produce precise and sharp images and are manufactured by some of the leading names in technology, including Epson, Canon, Lexmark, HP, and Ricoh. Suited to both personal and professional use, their specific features include network connectivity options, elevated dpi, integrated memory and memory card slots.
Photo inkjet printers have a broad range of editing options and features which print out clear, pure images. Their ability to catch the vibrant colours and tiny details of the original image is inspiring.
Laser printers offer a premium printing technology that gives a professional end result. They are highly efficient and can meet the business needs of most companies. They are slightly more expensive than other types of printers due to their speed and the quality of the printing they produce. The laser beam guarantees a sharp, clear print quality and extraordinary picture quality and they are suited for all types of documents, whether it is text and documents or photo and image printing.
Most laser printers these days have a standard resolution of 300-1200 dots per inch (dpi), which is sufficient for typical everyday printing and small desktop publishing jobs. If your business calls for larger printing jobs then you should consider investing in a laser printer with a higher dpi. There are more expensive models available with resolutions of up to 2400 dpi that can meet a more demanding printing schedule.
The standard paper size for any printer is 8.5" x 11", your laser printer is also able to cater to various other paper sizes, as well as recycled paper, thick stock paper, transparencies, labels, envelopes, and postcards. Quality laser printers are available from Xerox, Brother, HP, Okidata, Konica Minolta and Lexmark. Choose from laser multifunction printers, wide format laser printers, Mac compatible laser printers, and refurbished laser printers.
Xerox laser printers are well-known as some of the world's best because of their brilliant print quality and efficiency. Turn your old printer into a viable printing center with xerox laser multifunction printers or a similar multifunction laser printer.
Dot matrix printers are a good solid printer that don't focus as much on quality but more on getting actual printed content out in a reliable and methodical manner. They are particularly useful in businesses that have a lot of heavy-duty applications or invoicing to be printed out on a regular basis as they allow for multiple copies of one invoice due to carbon copying.
The advantages of dot matrix printers over the previous models are that they can use continuous paper rolls instead of utilizing individual sheets and have one of the lowest printing costs per page. Some of the world leading dot matrix printers manufacturer's include Okidata, Epson, Tally and Genicom.
Look online for printers where you'll find lots of advice and information on each model and all the leading brands. In addition, the latest inkjet cartridges and accessories such as photo paper can be found. Before buying your printer, ensure you are certain of your business needs and requirements. Be careful to select a model that can offer you all the necessary features, check the types of printer ink cartridges it can accept and and is supplied by a trusted brand.
About the Author
Kathryn Dawson writes about Cartridge Shop, a one stop shop for printer ink cartridges. Shop online for lowest prices on printer ink cartridges.
26.9.10
Tips To Buying Ink Cartridges
As a general rule, black ink cartridges are more affordable than color toner. When considering which to purchase, take a moment to think about how you will be using your printer. Will your printouts require color or will they work just as well in black & white? If the answer is ‘yes,’ you will save a considerable amount of money in purchasing the black ink cartridges.
$If you are cost conscious and also have a great concern for the environment, purchasing recycled ink cartridges may be your best bet. Not only are these more affordable, but they are also better for the environment as are other recycled products. One of the best places for purchasing quality recycled ink cartridges is Viking Office Products and Staples.
$When you purchase any type of ink cartridge, make sure that it is compatible with your printer. Many people are surprised to learn that ink cartridges are designed to be used with a specific model and manufacturer of printers, which should be clearly explained on the outside packaging. If you have trouble remembering the model number on your printer, simply write it down on a piece of paper and take it to the store with you. This will be the single most important information to have on hand when selecting ink cartridges for printers because without the right printer model number, you are not likely to get the right product.
$Because ink cartridges are sometimes very expensive, it is often possible to find a real bargain on a printer/ink cartridge combo. A recent visit to a local retail store revealed a single ink cartridge for $29.97. Just beside the ink cartridge selection were several boxed printers. Among them, a new printer and color ink cartridge combo, which was priced at just $34.95. When you consider the difference of only $5.00 and the fact that you could purchase a brand new printer and ink for almost the same price as a single ink cartridge, the better deal was obvious. In this scenario, you could simply resale your former printer on eBay and replace it with the new printer. This just goes to show that a little smart shopping can go a long way in terms of getting the best value for your dollar.
$The majority of ink cartridges for printers carry a manufacturer’s warranty guaranteeing your satisfaction. The only way to receive coverage as promised is to retain the original purchase receipt, ink cartridge packaging and warranty information. If your new ink cartridge should fail to work as promised, most manufacturer’s will either replace the cartridge at no cost to you or refund the original purchase price in it’s entirety.
$If you are cost conscious and also have a great concern for the environment, purchasing recycled ink cartridges may be your best bet. Not only are these more affordable, but they are also better for the environment as are other recycled products. One of the best places for purchasing quality recycled ink cartridges is Viking Office Products and Staples.
$When you purchase any type of ink cartridge, make sure that it is compatible with your printer. Many people are surprised to learn that ink cartridges are designed to be used with a specific model and manufacturer of printers, which should be clearly explained on the outside packaging. If you have trouble remembering the model number on your printer, simply write it down on a piece of paper and take it to the store with you. This will be the single most important information to have on hand when selecting ink cartridges for printers because without the right printer model number, you are not likely to get the right product.
$Because ink cartridges are sometimes very expensive, it is often possible to find a real bargain on a printer/ink cartridge combo. A recent visit to a local retail store revealed a single ink cartridge for $29.97. Just beside the ink cartridge selection were several boxed printers. Among them, a new printer and color ink cartridge combo, which was priced at just $34.95. When you consider the difference of only $5.00 and the fact that you could purchase a brand new printer and ink for almost the same price as a single ink cartridge, the better deal was obvious. In this scenario, you could simply resale your former printer on eBay and replace it with the new printer. This just goes to show that a little smart shopping can go a long way in terms of getting the best value for your dollar.
$The majority of ink cartridges for printers carry a manufacturer’s warranty guaranteeing your satisfaction. The only way to receive coverage as promised is to retain the original purchase receipt, ink cartridge packaging and warranty information. If your new ink cartridge should fail to work as promised, most manufacturer’s will either replace the cartridge at no cost to you or refund the original purchase price in it’s entirety.
2.9.10
HP LaserJet 1320 - Duplexing, Efficient HP Laser Printer
Operating with high print speeds and virtually no warm up time via HP's Instant On technology, this boxy monochrome laser printer, the HP LaserJet 1320, is built to keep small business and home offices' print jobs moving along at a steady pace with minimal down time. Its automatic two sided printing also increases productivity, and reduces paper usage as well.
With automatic duplexing, printing double sided documents is fully automated and, with the HP LaserJet 1320, is done quickly which can not only add a professional feel to work loads, but reduce paper costs by as much as half as well. A first page out time of only 8 seconds and an advertised print speed of 22 pages per minute mean that, even with heavy print demands, processes will move along smoothly.
While an embedded USB port and Parallel port are made available for simple, single PC or Mac connections, the HP LaserJet 1320 leaves multiple options open for networking; both wired and wireless. With HP Jetdirect external print servers, HP wireless print servers, or a Bluetooth wireless print adapter, the machine can be taken advantage of by an entire household or small workgroup.
Paper handling abilities are strong with the HP LaserJet 1320 which offers a standard 250 sheet input tray as well as an option to expand up to 500 maximum total sheets via a second 250 sheet tray. A single sheet multipurpose input slot is also implemented into the front of the unit for straight path, special media types such as single envelopes, transparencies, and card stock.
As these special media types are not often needed in high volume, a single, hand feed slot should suffice for users with mostly standard letter and legal sized print projects. An output capacity of 125 sheets should also serve as more than plenty for most users.
Print quality runs high with the HP LaserJet 1320, which is selectable up to 1200 x 1200 dots per inch for incredibly crisp text and even mixed text and graphics. 16 MBs of standard memory and a 133 MHz on board processor ensure that even when you do mix graphics and text, the printer won't bog down and, even if greater speed in that situation is desired, HP has left a 100 Pin DIMM slot open for memory expansion in different increments, and not to exceed 144 MBs.
The HP LaserJet 1320 recognizes and emulates PCL 6, PCL 5e, and HP postscript level 2 languages, making it compatible with most businesses current systems. It also comes in a surprisingly efficient size, possibly due to its cube-ish design, which makes it suitable even for small workspaces.
Its footprint of 13.8 x 14 x 10.1 in (W x D x H) and weight of 24.7 pounds make the HP LaserJet 1320 one of the more manageable devices of its kind, and a reasonable price tag when considering the hardware, along with a one year limited replacement policy, make it a great selection for smaller offices or personal users.
For more information: http://printdocs.org/hp-laserjet-1320-duplexing-efficient-hp-laser-printer/
With automatic duplexing, printing double sided documents is fully automated and, with the HP LaserJet 1320, is done quickly which can not only add a professional feel to work loads, but reduce paper costs by as much as half as well. A first page out time of only 8 seconds and an advertised print speed of 22 pages per minute mean that, even with heavy print demands, processes will move along smoothly.
While an embedded USB port and Parallel port are made available for simple, single PC or Mac connections, the HP LaserJet 1320 leaves multiple options open for networking; both wired and wireless. With HP Jetdirect external print servers, HP wireless print servers, or a Bluetooth wireless print adapter, the machine can be taken advantage of by an entire household or small workgroup.
Paper handling abilities are strong with the HP LaserJet 1320 which offers a standard 250 sheet input tray as well as an option to expand up to 500 maximum total sheets via a second 250 sheet tray. A single sheet multipurpose input slot is also implemented into the front of the unit for straight path, special media types such as single envelopes, transparencies, and card stock.
As these special media types are not often needed in high volume, a single, hand feed slot should suffice for users with mostly standard letter and legal sized print projects. An output capacity of 125 sheets should also serve as more than plenty for most users.
Print quality runs high with the HP LaserJet 1320, which is selectable up to 1200 x 1200 dots per inch for incredibly crisp text and even mixed text and graphics. 16 MBs of standard memory and a 133 MHz on board processor ensure that even when you do mix graphics and text, the printer won't bog down and, even if greater speed in that situation is desired, HP has left a 100 Pin DIMM slot open for memory expansion in different increments, and not to exceed 144 MBs.
The HP LaserJet 1320 recognizes and emulates PCL 6, PCL 5e, and HP postscript level 2 languages, making it compatible with most businesses current systems. It also comes in a surprisingly efficient size, possibly due to its cube-ish design, which makes it suitable even for small workspaces.
Its footprint of 13.8 x 14 x 10.1 in (W x D x H) and weight of 24.7 pounds make the HP LaserJet 1320 one of the more manageable devices of its kind, and a reasonable price tag when considering the hardware, along with a one year limited replacement policy, make it a great selection for smaller offices or personal users.
For more information: http://printdocs.org/hp-laserjet-1320-duplexing-efficient-hp-laser-printer/
2.8.10
Inkjet in Opposition to Laser
Do you own an inkjet printer? Has the printhead ever clogged up on you, creating streaks or missing colors from your printing?
Clogs can be incredibly frustrating. Normally when you find out you have a clogged printhead, it's because you're right in the middle of printing something important. It's one of those problems that you never ask for. It just seems to throw itself in your lap without warning, and then taunts you in your efforts to fix it.
The printhead is the mechanism of your printer (or inkjet cartridge), where the ink actually comes out.
For the most part, printhead clogs can be normally be flushed out with a couple of "head cleaning" cycles. A head cleaning cycle is a built-in function of your printer. It's a specialized routine meant to address this type of problem.
This "cleaning cycle" works by sending a strong 'print signal' to your printer, while at the same time drawing a small vacuum from underneath. The combination of these two steps works in an attempt to suck out clogged ink from the printhead. From my experience, you'll probably need to run between 3 and 5 cycles to fully clear a clog.
The location of the head cleaning cycle proceedure varies for each printer brand, so refer to your printer owner's manual for specific instructions to find yours. Check the index first.
If you don't have your owner's manual anymore, you can check our your printer manufacturers website. Most likely, they will have your printer manual online.
There are times however, when a few standard head cleaning routines don't seem to solve the problem. A stubborn printhead clog like this can be persistant enough to make you want to rip out your hair.
For times like these, you'll need to pull out the big guns!
For stubborn inkjet printhead clogs, there are various cleaners out there specifically for this purpose. These cleaners are formulated to disolve dried or "gummy" ink which may have accumulated from infrequent printer use, or even just a general build-up over time.
I personally brought an old printer "back from the dead" using a product called 'Clog Buster'. It was a printer I had purchased off of eBay which apparently hadn't been used in awhile. I spent a few hours trying to revive the printer, and 'Clog Buster' was the only thing that worked when nothing else did.
The only downside with using a cleaning product like this however, is that you usually don't have it in your immediate possession when the clog hits. Unless you have some already on hand, you'll have to wait for it to be shipped to you. In the meantime, your printing project will have to remain on pause until it arrives.
(But maybe I can help...)
The good news is that you MAY be able to solve the problem using some basic household products. In fact, Windex glass cleaner can actually work well for dissolving dried ink. What's the secret ingredient?
Ammonia.
Tough printhead clogs can usually be brought into submission by soaking the printhead in a solution of 50/50% ammonia and distilled water.
A important word of warning... Ammonia is potent and powerful stuff. When working with ammonia, always make sure you've got adequate ventilation, and avoid mixing it with other chemicals. Very important.
So, if your printhead is located on the inkjet cartridge itself, you'll want to soak the printhead in the 50/50 solution for an hour or two.
If the printhead unit is located inside your inkjet printer itself, then you'll first need to remove the inkjet cartridges. After those are removed, put some of the solution into the top of the printhead (directly into the nozzle holes) and let it sit a few hours. Go ahead and put a little more into the printhead resting seat. (This is the rubber rectangle part that seals off the printhead unit while the carriage is in it's resting position.)
If this initial soaking doesn't work, then repeat another time using 100% ammonia for up to one hour. Afterward, make sure to rinse completely with distilled water.
If the clog doesn't immediately clear, go ahead and let the printer sit overnight and try it again the next day. Sometimes the clog will breakdown slowly and release later as the ammonia takes it's toll.
Finally, for those of you wondering about the effectiveness of using alcohol to unclog cartridges and printhead -- here's a quick note...
Alcohol won't work as well as ammonia, but may work better than a few cleaning cycles. The downside is that alcohol may actually dry out the plastics and metals in the printhead. This could actually increase the chances of clogging later on down the road. So try to avoid alcohol if possible.
For tips on cooking chickpeas and cooking fresh green beans, visit the Best Cooking Tips website.
Clogs can be incredibly frustrating. Normally when you find out you have a clogged printhead, it's because you're right in the middle of printing something important. It's one of those problems that you never ask for. It just seems to throw itself in your lap without warning, and then taunts you in your efforts to fix it.
The printhead is the mechanism of your printer (or inkjet cartridge), where the ink actually comes out.
For the most part, printhead clogs can be normally be flushed out with a couple of "head cleaning" cycles. A head cleaning cycle is a built-in function of your printer. It's a specialized routine meant to address this type of problem.
This "cleaning cycle" works by sending a strong 'print signal' to your printer, while at the same time drawing a small vacuum from underneath. The combination of these two steps works in an attempt to suck out clogged ink from the printhead. From my experience, you'll probably need to run between 3 and 5 cycles to fully clear a clog.
The location of the head cleaning cycle proceedure varies for each printer brand, so refer to your printer owner's manual for specific instructions to find yours. Check the index first.
If you don't have your owner's manual anymore, you can check our your printer manufacturers website. Most likely, they will have your printer manual online.
There are times however, when a few standard head cleaning routines don't seem to solve the problem. A stubborn printhead clog like this can be persistant enough to make you want to rip out your hair.
For times like these, you'll need to pull out the big guns!
For stubborn inkjet printhead clogs, there are various cleaners out there specifically for this purpose. These cleaners are formulated to disolve dried or "gummy" ink which may have accumulated from infrequent printer use, or even just a general build-up over time.
I personally brought an old printer "back from the dead" using a product called 'Clog Buster'. It was a printer I had purchased off of eBay which apparently hadn't been used in awhile. I spent a few hours trying to revive the printer, and 'Clog Buster' was the only thing that worked when nothing else did.
The only downside with using a cleaning product like this however, is that you usually don't have it in your immediate possession when the clog hits. Unless you have some already on hand, you'll have to wait for it to be shipped to you. In the meantime, your printing project will have to remain on pause until it arrives.
(But maybe I can help...)
The good news is that you MAY be able to solve the problem using some basic household products. In fact, Windex glass cleaner can actually work well for dissolving dried ink. What's the secret ingredient?
Ammonia.
Tough printhead clogs can usually be brought into submission by soaking the printhead in a solution of 50/50% ammonia and distilled water.
A important word of warning... Ammonia is potent and powerful stuff. When working with ammonia, always make sure you've got adequate ventilation, and avoid mixing it with other chemicals. Very important.
So, if your printhead is located on the inkjet cartridge itself, you'll want to soak the printhead in the 50/50 solution for an hour or two.
If the printhead unit is located inside your inkjet printer itself, then you'll first need to remove the inkjet cartridges. After those are removed, put some of the solution into the top of the printhead (directly into the nozzle holes) and let it sit a few hours. Go ahead and put a little more into the printhead resting seat. (This is the rubber rectangle part that seals off the printhead unit while the carriage is in it's resting position.)
If this initial soaking doesn't work, then repeat another time using 100% ammonia for up to one hour. Afterward, make sure to rinse completely with distilled water.
If the clog doesn't immediately clear, go ahead and let the printer sit overnight and try it again the next day. Sometimes the clog will breakdown slowly and release later as the ammonia takes it's toll.
Finally, for those of you wondering about the effectiveness of using alcohol to unclog cartridges and printhead -- here's a quick note...
Alcohol won't work as well as ammonia, but may work better than a few cleaning cycles. The downside is that alcohol may actually dry out the plastics and metals in the printhead. This could actually increase the chances of clogging later on down the road. So try to avoid alcohol if possible.
For tips on cooking chickpeas and cooking fresh green beans, visit the Best Cooking Tips website.
2.7.10
How to Select Printer Paper
Everybody wants to know about the correct inkjet cartridge for his or her printer, but what about printer paper? Inkjet and laser printers can print on a variety of surfaces, including photo paper, labels, business cards, stickers, and t-shirt transfers. One of the biggest advantages of laser printers is their ability to churn out quality prints on almost any paper. However, the same does not apply to inkjet printers. Although most of your inkjet printing probably involves standard white papers, when it comes to this medium, you may have more options than you realise.
Inkjet Printer Paper Although standard printer paper can do the job as well, your printouts will probably be better if you use paper specifically made for inkjet printers. The quality of your printouts is affected by two major factors: brightness and absorption.
1. Brightness When a type of paper is advertised as being brighter than average, it indicates that the surface of the paper is smoother than average. The smoothness of the page determines the amount of light reflected from its surface. This factor also determines how bright your images appear on the page. The brighter or smoother the printer paper is, the better your printout will appear.
2. Absorption In this case, if the printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will definitely look better. As the paper absorbs ink, tiny dots on the page may spread outside their borders. This may cause the edges of text and images on the page to look fuzzy and soggy. To counteract this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance that prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well-coated paper allows for more precise and smoother printing. In general, most of the printers on the market print at a higher resolution on coated paper than on standard paper.
Branded Paper - To Buy or Not to Buy It's no secret that the big names in printers, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer a complete line of inks and papers. Each company claims that you will get the best results when you use its products with its printers, and warns you to steer clear of products sold by other companies. Generally speaking, they're right. In the case of inkjet printers, especially, companies design printers, inks, and papers to work together to yield the best results. If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper before drying, causing inaccurate colours, lower print resolution, and a dull finish. Plus, it is likely that the prints will fade faster.
The choice, after all, lies with you. Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don't make it easy on the consumer's pocket. You can reach the most economical solution through a little experimentation.
Alternatively, laser printers can print plain text documents or draft-quality graphics with equal ease, and you can stock up on your local office supply store's bright white copy or laser paper to your heart's content.
Getting Past the Jargon To find out if the paper package on the shelf is right for your printer, simply read the fine print that usually lists out the compatible companies and models. Moreover, if you are interested in high-quality photo printing, you can generally see if a particular paper makes the grade.
For example, some papers may have unusual descriptions such as "swellable" or "cotton rag." Swellable paper is designed for high-quality photo printing-the coated surface actually swells as it absorbs ink. Cotton rag is ideal for inkjets that use pigment-based inks; most low-cost inkjet printers, on the other hand, use dye-based ink, so you should steer clear of cotton rag in this instance.
High-quality paper also has a polymer coating-for both dye-based and pigment-based inks-that keeps the ink from spreading, and it protects the ink from fading over time. However, coated paper can take a number of hours to completely dry your prints. Better quality paper may also be advertised as acid-free and lignin-free; these indicate that your paper is more likely to give you the best image quality and the best overall life span.
Checklist It is important to remember that most branded photo printer paper from corporate names, including well-known ones, is only suitable for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. Here is a simple checklist to help you when deciding the inkjet photo paper best suited to your needs.
1. Always check the DPI (Dots Per Inch) of the photo printer paper.
DPI is an indicator of how much ink the photo paper can absorb per inch on the page. Using low DPI photo paper for high-resolution printing will result in poor quality prints. Usually, if the seller does not advertise the DPI of its inkjet photo paper and card, then it is likely that it is very low and therefore a lower grade paper.
2. Check that the photo paper is instant dry.
Cheaper photo paper may not be designed to dry instantaneously and can result in colour running or smudging while the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, then it is likely that it is absent.
3. Decide the weight of inkjet photo paper you need.
Although the weight of photo paper and card vary, the most common weights are between 120gsm to 280gsm.
If you are printing in bulk, then 120gsm is usually sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing photographs at home, then 160gsm to 200gsm should suffice. Buy glossy printer paper if you want shiny pictures, and matt paper if shine is not an issue for you.
As a general rule, bigger the weight is, thicker the photo paper or card will be.
Want to find out about cleaning grease and cleaning plasma screens? Get tips from the Best Cleaning Tips website.
Inkjet Printer Paper Although standard printer paper can do the job as well, your printouts will probably be better if you use paper specifically made for inkjet printers. The quality of your printouts is affected by two major factors: brightness and absorption.
1. Brightness When a type of paper is advertised as being brighter than average, it indicates that the surface of the paper is smoother than average. The smoothness of the page determines the amount of light reflected from its surface. This factor also determines how bright your images appear on the page. The brighter or smoother the printer paper is, the better your printout will appear.
2. Absorption In this case, if the printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will definitely look better. As the paper absorbs ink, tiny dots on the page may spread outside their borders. This may cause the edges of text and images on the page to look fuzzy and soggy. To counteract this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance that prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well-coated paper allows for more precise and smoother printing. In general, most of the printers on the market print at a higher resolution on coated paper than on standard paper.
Branded Paper - To Buy or Not to Buy It's no secret that the big names in printers, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer a complete line of inks and papers. Each company claims that you will get the best results when you use its products with its printers, and warns you to steer clear of products sold by other companies. Generally speaking, they're right. In the case of inkjet printers, especially, companies design printers, inks, and papers to work together to yield the best results. If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper before drying, causing inaccurate colours, lower print resolution, and a dull finish. Plus, it is likely that the prints will fade faster.
The choice, after all, lies with you. Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don't make it easy on the consumer's pocket. You can reach the most economical solution through a little experimentation.
Alternatively, laser printers can print plain text documents or draft-quality graphics with equal ease, and you can stock up on your local office supply store's bright white copy or laser paper to your heart's content.
Getting Past the Jargon To find out if the paper package on the shelf is right for your printer, simply read the fine print that usually lists out the compatible companies and models. Moreover, if you are interested in high-quality photo printing, you can generally see if a particular paper makes the grade.
For example, some papers may have unusual descriptions such as "swellable" or "cotton rag." Swellable paper is designed for high-quality photo printing-the coated surface actually swells as it absorbs ink. Cotton rag is ideal for inkjets that use pigment-based inks; most low-cost inkjet printers, on the other hand, use dye-based ink, so you should steer clear of cotton rag in this instance.
High-quality paper also has a polymer coating-for both dye-based and pigment-based inks-that keeps the ink from spreading, and it protects the ink from fading over time. However, coated paper can take a number of hours to completely dry your prints. Better quality paper may also be advertised as acid-free and lignin-free; these indicate that your paper is more likely to give you the best image quality and the best overall life span.
Checklist It is important to remember that most branded photo printer paper from corporate names, including well-known ones, is only suitable for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. Here is a simple checklist to help you when deciding the inkjet photo paper best suited to your needs.
1. Always check the DPI (Dots Per Inch) of the photo printer paper.
DPI is an indicator of how much ink the photo paper can absorb per inch on the page. Using low DPI photo paper for high-resolution printing will result in poor quality prints. Usually, if the seller does not advertise the DPI of its inkjet photo paper and card, then it is likely that it is very low and therefore a lower grade paper.
2. Check that the photo paper is instant dry.
Cheaper photo paper may not be designed to dry instantaneously and can result in colour running or smudging while the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, then it is likely that it is absent.
3. Decide the weight of inkjet photo paper you need.
Although the weight of photo paper and card vary, the most common weights are between 120gsm to 280gsm.
If you are printing in bulk, then 120gsm is usually sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing photographs at home, then 160gsm to 200gsm should suffice. Buy glossy printer paper if you want shiny pictures, and matt paper if shine is not an issue for you.
As a general rule, bigger the weight is, thicker the photo paper or card will be.
Want to find out about cleaning grease and cleaning plasma screens? Get tips from the Best Cleaning Tips website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)