| Let's face it. Printer ink cartridges are expensive. | | | | computer without shutting it down properly, right? |
| Even if you buy generic brands you're still going to | | | | So why do that to your printer? Take the time |
| be spending a hefty amount of money, especially | | | | to power down your printer the right way. |
| if you print a lot on a regular basis. Each time you | | | | Otherwise, you'll be cutting off the power while |
| print, you use ink. But there are ways that you | | | | the print heads are not in the right position, |
| can save your resources just by taking a few | | | | meaning the ink will dry up faster! |
| measures before you hit "Print." | | | | Organize Your Prints |
| Make "Preview" Your Friend | | | | Do a little bit of planning before you hit that print |
| In most printer driver programs there is a | | | | button. This means, proofread text, organize |
| preview function that lets you see just what | | | | images and double check everything before you |
| you're going to be printing before you print it. This | | | | print. If you look over the copy once it prints out |
| is especially helpful when printing things from the | | | | and are dissatisfied, that's wasted ink, right there. |
| Internet. Images can be shifted around, whole | | | | Not to mention, wasted paper. |
| pages can be blank and there can be just | | | | Use Black Ink |
| generally disorganized. A quick preview can help | | | | If you aren't planning on submitting the print outs |
| make sure all is well. | | | | as a report or project, skip the color. Make sure |
| Only Print What You Want | | | | your printer is set to print in monochrome and |
| If you want to print just a portion of a page, only | | | | you can save your color ink for more involved |
| print a portion of the page! There's no use in | | | | projects later down the line. No use in wasting the |
| printing out graphics and text you have no use | | | | color on simple text or web print outs, right? |
| for. If printing off the Internet, simply highlight the | | | | Use the Draft Setting |
| text you wish to print and then print it. You | | | | The draft setting in your printer options is really |
| should end up with a print out that contains only | | | | one of the best ways to save ink. It makes it so |
| what you want. | | | | the printer prints much faster than normal and |
| Keep The Cartridges Alive | | | | the amount of printer ink used per page is much |
| Even though you may not have a need to print | | | | less than if you printed at a normal setting. You'll |
| something everyday, try to use both your black | | | | also notice a difference as the pages just shoot |
| and color cartridges once a week or so. Just print | | | | out of your printer rather than leisurely coming |
| something small or run a diagnostic test. If you let | | | | out. |
| your printer ink cartridges sit, they will eventually | | | | Use Helpful Software |
| dry up, meaning you're out of luck when it comes | | | | There are a lot of programs out there that can |
| to ink. This applies to all brands so Epson ink | | | | help organize all of your printing endeavors. These |
| cartridges will be just as affected as Brother | | | | programs work by eliminating empty space, |
| printer cartridges. | | | | removing images if you don't want to print them |
| Use Generic | | | | and giving you the option to select what you |
| While you won't necessarily get more ink out of a | | | | want to print without having to go through a big |
| generic cartridge than you would with a | | | | process. Just do a quick search for "save printer |
| manufacturer brand cartridge, you will most | | | | ink" and "printer driver software" and you should |
| definitely save money. And the whole point of | | | | come up with several choices. |
| saving ink is to save money, right? Well, you can | | | | Print What You Need |
| definitely save money by using generic ink, | | | | It can be tempting to print any old thing all the |
| especially for those bulk print jobs. If you need to | | | | time, especially when you get a new printer or |
| print a lot of black and white copies of something, | | | | something. However, try to restrain yourself. You |
| generic is the way to go all the way. | | | | can keep most records on your computer these |
| Power Down Right | | | | days, and as long as you back them up on a CD |
| Don't just flip off the power strip switch each | | | | or an external hard drive, you don't need a hard |
| time you want to turn off your electronics. You | | | | copy. If you print only when you need to, those |
| wouldn't just shut off the power to your | | | | printer ink cartridges will last a lot longer. |