If you think printing your files is digging a hole in your pocket, read on and find out how you can simply play around with your printer settings and save valuable ink and paper - By Monali Gaikwad
As you all know printing can be very expensive. On an average,an organization ends up spending around 20 lakh annually putting together the cost of the ink cartridges and paper alone. And guess what? The numbers are increasing rapidly every year. Even when it comes to printing at home, it burns a huge hole in your pocket every time you buy a cartridge or a paper ream. To save all you distressed souls, we have put together some simple tricks to save on paper and ink. Settings vary from printer to printer, so these tricks are generalized. You will have to play around with your printer’s settings a bit to find what suits your printer the best. And always remember the old saying “A penny saved is a penny earned”. Read on to find out more.
Tips on saving ink
Use Draft mode: The ‘Draft’ or the ‘Economy’ mode on the printer utilizes less ink, and therefore the quality of the printout is much lighter compared to the normal mode. Use this mode if you need to print drafts or sample copies. To change the setting to Draft, in ‘Printing Preferences’, select ‘Draft’ and click ‘OK’.To print important documents or images use the ‘Best’ or ‘Normal’ mode only.
Keep your printer on Standby mode: If you frequently use the printer, do not switch it ON and OFF every time you print. This is because every time the printer is switched on, it not only uses some ink during the initialization process but it also consumes additional electricity. To avoid this, leave the printer in the standby mode.
Don’t interrupt the print cycle: While printing, do not switch ‘OFF’ the printer mid-cycle. But wait until it stops printing. If you switch off the printer while the cartridge is moving, it is forced to stop midway. This can not only damage the printer head, but can also cause the ink at the nozzle tip to dry up. This can block the nozzle and cause the ink to leak.
Use Black & White/ Grayscale mode: If your printer uses both black and colored cartridges, set it to the Black & White/Grayscale mode to print text documents.Even while printing in black, some color cartridges mix different colors to form black. Setting the printer to Black & White will restrict the use of the color cartridge to a minimum, thus saving on the color cartridge which is expensive compared to the black cartridge. To set the printer to the Black & White mode go to ‘Printing Preferences’, select ‘Black & White/ Print to Grayscale’ and click ‘OK’. Select ‘Color’ while printing colored documents.
Options for printing web pages: Every time you print a Web page almost everything on the page, including the header, footer, Web address, title, etc is printed in addition to what is needed. To avoid this, open the concerned website,in the menu bar of the Web browser, click ’File Page Setup’. Remove the text in the ‘Header’ and ‘Footer’ box and click ‘OK’. The printout will only include the main content of the Web page. In case you want to retain a part of the header or footer enter the following in the Header and Footer box, depending on your requirement (refer to table). Sometimes, when you print a Web page, a part of the page is cropped and is printed on a fresh sheet of paper. To avoid this,click ‘Print Preview’, preview what is to be printed. To alter the page orientation click ‘Page Setup’ and select ‘Landscape’. In addition, if required alter the margins. This alters your page layout.
Tips on saving ink
Use Draft mode: The ‘Draft’ or the ‘Economy’ mode on the printer utilizes less ink, and therefore the quality of the printout is much lighter compared to the normal mode. Use this mode if you need to print drafts or sample copies. To change the setting to Draft, in ‘Printing Preferences’, select ‘Draft’ and click ‘OK’.To print important documents or images use the ‘Best’ or ‘Normal’ mode only.
Keep your printer on Standby mode: If you frequently use the printer, do not switch it ON and OFF every time you print. This is because every time the printer is switched on, it not only uses some ink during the initialization process but it also consumes additional electricity. To avoid this, leave the printer in the standby mode.
Don’t interrupt the print cycle: While printing, do not switch ‘OFF’ the printer mid-cycle. But wait until it stops printing. If you switch off the printer while the cartridge is moving, it is forced to stop midway. This can not only damage the printer head, but can also cause the ink at the nozzle tip to dry up. This can block the nozzle and cause the ink to leak.
Use Black & White/ Grayscale mode: If your printer uses both black and colored cartridges, set it to the Black & White/Grayscale mode to print text documents.Even while printing in black, some color cartridges mix different colors to form black. Setting the printer to Black & White will restrict the use of the color cartridge to a minimum, thus saving on the color cartridge which is expensive compared to the black cartridge. To set the printer to the Black & White mode go to ‘Printing Preferences’, select ‘Black & White/ Print to Grayscale’ and click ‘OK’. Select ‘Color’ while printing colored documents.
Options for printing web pages: Every time you print a Web page almost everything on the page, including the header, footer, Web address, title, etc is printed in addition to what is needed. To avoid this, open the concerned website,in the menu bar of the Web browser, click ’File Page Setup’. Remove the text in the ‘Header’ and ‘Footer’ box and click ‘OK’. The printout will only include the main content of the Web page. In case you want to retain a part of the header or footer enter the following in the Header and Footer box, depending on your requirement (refer to table). Sometimes, when you print a Web page, a part of the page is cropped and is printed on a fresh sheet of paper. To avoid this,click ‘Print Preview’, preview what is to be printed. To alter the page orientation click ‘Page Setup’ and select ‘Landscape’. In addition, if required alter the margins. This alters your page layout.
Use your cartridge to the last drop: Whenever your cartridge runs out of ink, your printer will display a message asking you to replace the cartridge. Before you run off to the store to buy a new one, try this simple trick. Remove the cartridge from the printer and gently sway it side by side and reinsert it into the printer. The remaining ink is redistributed and this allows you to print a few more pages before it is discarded.
Print what you need: Instead of printing the entire document, print only what you need. To do this, copy the required text onto a fresh Word document and print it.Alternatively, select only what is needed,right-click on it and click ‘Print’. Then in the ‘Print’ dialog box, click the 'Selection’ radio button and click ‘OK’. If you intend to print from a document that has several pages,select and print only those that are required. To do this, click ‘Print’, in the ‘Print’ dialog box, select the ‘Pages’ radio button and enter the range of pages to print. For example 2-7, 11-17 etc and click ‘OK’. This will save a considerable amount of both paper and ink.
Tips on saving paper
Remember to check the Print Preview:Before you print a document, always remember to check it in the ‘Print Preview’. This will give you an idea of how your final printout will look and it allows you to make the required changes to the layout or text in advance, instead of having to regret hitting the ‘OK’ button too soon. This will ensure that you do not end up reprinting the same document over and over again, thus saving both ink and paper.
Avoid Page Separators: Many printers include a ‘Separator Page’ setting. When different sets of print jobs are fired on the same printer, it separates them with a separator page. This helps in identifying the first and last page of the various sets,especially on a network printer. To change this setting, click ‘Start Settings Printers and Faxes’. Now, right-click on the printer and click ‘Properties’ and look for the ‘Separator Page’ option, turn it ‘OFF’ and click ‘OK’. This avoids paper wastage.
Use duplex printing: Some printers allow you to print on both sides of the paper automatically while some offer manual settings. Duplex printers perform the entire function automatically, including flipping the paper over. Manual printers print the even/odd pages first and then you manually need to flip the entire set over,insert it into the paper tray head first, with the printed pages facing up, and continue printing on the other side. Whatever the method, printing on both sides of the paper is the most efficient way of saving paper. To use this option go to ‘Printing Preferences’ select the option ‘Both-sided’ printing or ‘Duplex Printing’ depending on the printers setting and click ‘OK’. It is advisable to set this as your default setting for the printer.
Shrink your document: To accommodate and print two or more pages onto a single sheet, Try formatting the font size/style or alternatively click ‘Print’, in the ‘Print’ dialog box, select ‘Pages per sheet’ and select the required number of pages that you want to include onto the sheet. This will automatically shrink the document to fit to a single page. This is very useful in
case you need to print a huge number of pages, especially reference documents.
Recycle: One of the best ways to save paper is recycling. So, when you need to print draft copies, try as much as possible to utilize used paper that has information printed on one side. To apply this method, click on ‘Print’ and in the ‘Print’ dialog box click ‘Properties’. In the ‘Paper Source’ drop-down menu, select ‘Manual’. This allows you to feed the paper manually into the tray instead of allowing the internal tray to automatically feed in fresh sheets. And most importantly, ensure that you always use original cartridges. This is absolutely essential for the health and well being of the printer. Refilled cartridges no doubt are cheap, and can save you a few bucks, but they may seriously damage the printer. So the money that you consider as a saving on the cartridge, might really not be worth the effort.
Published in CHIP Magazine, August 2008
Print what you need: Instead of printing the entire document, print only what you need. To do this, copy the required text onto a fresh Word document and print it.Alternatively, select only what is needed,right-click on it and click ‘Print’. Then in the ‘Print’ dialog box, click the 'Selection’ radio button and click ‘OK’. If you intend to print from a document that has several pages,select and print only those that are required. To do this, click ‘Print’, in the ‘Print’ dialog box, select the ‘Pages’ radio button and enter the range of pages to print. For example 2-7, 11-17 etc and click ‘OK’. This will save a considerable amount of both paper and ink.
Tips on saving paper
Remember to check the Print Preview:Before you print a document, always remember to check it in the ‘Print Preview’. This will give you an idea of how your final printout will look and it allows you to make the required changes to the layout or text in advance, instead of having to regret hitting the ‘OK’ button too soon. This will ensure that you do not end up reprinting the same document over and over again, thus saving both ink and paper.
Avoid Page Separators: Many printers include a ‘Separator Page’ setting. When different sets of print jobs are fired on the same printer, it separates them with a separator page. This helps in identifying the first and last page of the various sets,especially on a network printer. To change this setting, click ‘Start Settings Printers and Faxes’. Now, right-click on the printer and click ‘Properties’ and look for the ‘Separator Page’ option, turn it ‘OFF’ and click ‘OK’. This avoids paper wastage.
Use duplex printing: Some printers allow you to print on both sides of the paper automatically while some offer manual settings. Duplex printers perform the entire function automatically, including flipping the paper over. Manual printers print the even/odd pages first and then you manually need to flip the entire set over,insert it into the paper tray head first, with the printed pages facing up, and continue printing on the other side. Whatever the method, printing on both sides of the paper is the most efficient way of saving paper. To use this option go to ‘Printing Preferences’ select the option ‘Both-sided’ printing or ‘Duplex Printing’ depending on the printers setting and click ‘OK’. It is advisable to set this as your default setting for the printer.
Shrink your document: To accommodate and print two or more pages onto a single sheet, Try formatting the font size/style or alternatively click ‘Print’, in the ‘Print’ dialog box, select ‘Pages per sheet’ and select the required number of pages that you want to include onto the sheet. This will automatically shrink the document to fit to a single page. This is very useful in
case you need to print a huge number of pages, especially reference documents.
Recycle: One of the best ways to save paper is recycling. So, when you need to print draft copies, try as much as possible to utilize used paper that has information printed on one side. To apply this method, click on ‘Print’ and in the ‘Print’ dialog box click ‘Properties’. In the ‘Paper Source’ drop-down menu, select ‘Manual’. This allows you to feed the paper manually into the tray instead of allowing the internal tray to automatically feed in fresh sheets. And most importantly, ensure that you always use original cartridges. This is absolutely essential for the health and well being of the printer. Refilled cartridges no doubt are cheap, and can save you a few bucks, but they may seriously damage the printer. So the money that you consider as a saving on the cartridge, might really not be worth the effort.
Published in CHIP Magazine, August 2008
Comments
Post a Comment