Archive for June, 2010

The Canon BJC-55 and BJC-85 are compatible printers that use the same  ink cartridges. Both weighing less than 4 pounds, these machines are very portable and designed to be used on the go.

Different configurations of ink are required for optimal print quality, so it is useful to understand the best method for various types of jobs.

Here is a layout of the appropriate ink types for specific tasks:

Color

When printing in color, BCI-11 Color ink and a BCI-10 Black ink are both needed. Using these two ink cartridges will allow the printer to create an enormous scale of colors to produce bright, vivid graphics. Continue reading “Ink Cartridge Configurations for the Canon BJC-85 and BJC-55 Printers” »

Inkjet and laser printers have core differences, but determining which exact machine is the best choice for you is mostly based on your specific printing needs.  Typically, low volume printing, such as in a dorm room or at home, can be handled by an inkjet printer.  Laser printers are designed more for frequent printing in offices, large and small.

Listed below are the primary features to look at when weighing your options: Continue reading “Laser Printer vs. Inkjet Printer” »

If you are using an inkjet printer and you have started noticing a decline in print quality, it is possible you have clogged printheads.  There are a few types of printheads, so be sure you refer to your printer manual if you do not know which type your machine uses. Once you have an idea, you can try a few different methods to clean the printheads and get back to better print quality. We have also included a video for a clear demonstration of the manual cleaning process. Continue reading “How To Clean Printheads” »

Carbon footprint is basically the measure of the greenhouse emissions generated from a company, product, or home.  This determines the impact a specific entity has on the environment.  For instance, the carbon footprint of a factory is going to be massively higher than that of a retail store because it creates more waste and emits more carbon dioxide during manufacturing.  With so much focus on being “green” in recent years, it is important to the success of your business to keep your carbon footprint as low as possible. Continue reading “Reducing Your Carbon Footprint” »

Do you have an error message that won’t go away or blinking status lights endlessly trying to communicate an error? Sometimes, even after the cause of an error is fixed, the printer will continue to show an error message. It’s easy to get frustrated or even give up altogether, but the best thing to do is clear your printer’s memory and start from scratch. Continue reading “Clearing Printer Memory” »

Paper jams are extremely frustrating, especially in a busy environment. Clearing a paper jam is typically a simple process, but taking proper care of your printer paper could help to minimize jam issues altogether, as well as increase the overall quality of documents.  There are a few precautions and steps you can take to ensure your paper is in the best condition before loading.  Some may seem obvious, but you might be surprised by the difference they can make. Continue reading “Preventative Paper Care” »

The process of removing and/or installing an ink or toner cartridge is typically fairly quick and simple.  It is generally as easy as opening the panel covering the cartridge carriage, pulling out the empty cartridges and sliding in the new ones.  On occasion, though, cartridges do get stuck, in both laser and inkjet printers.  This issue is most often caused by dried ink that has become stuck or a cartridge that has become lodged in its slot, and it can happen with all brands, including Samsung toner cartridges or HP ink cartridges.  Below is a list of recommended steps to take to get the cartridge out.

(Always turn off your machine and unplug it from the wall before attempting these steps).

Inkjet Printer

1. Open the cartridge cover.
2. Use a cotton swab doused in isopropyl alcohol to wipe the part of the carriage where the printhead and cartridge connect.  This will loosen dried ink.
3. Wiggle the stuck cartridge to loosen it further.
4. Use a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol to wipe the entire assembly.
5. Once the cartridge is out, be sure to thoroughly clean the printhead and cartridge to avoid a similar issue in the future. Continue reading “How to Fix a Jammed Cartridge” »

So you are looking for a new inkjet printer but are not sure which one to get?  With so many options, it can be confusing, so let’s see if we can narrow it down for you.

Is it for office use?

The essential features of office printers are overall costs, quality and efficiency.  You will want a machine that can produce a high number of pages per minute while still maintaining a professional standard for quality (600×600 dpi minimum).  The overall costs can be determined by calculating the page yield, average page coverage and price of replacement ink cartridges, as well as considering the features you are getting for the upfront price of the unit.  Review the cost of replacements and be sure to get a unit that offers cartridges that can yield hundreds of pages, has a low price tag and perhaps has compatible versions available.

Is it for personal use?

Personal printers are preferably compact in size and light in weight, so you can move it around easily and not have it take up too much space.  Affordability is also key, as you won’t want to spend a ton of money on a machine that will be used occasionally.

Is it for printing text documents or pictures?

If you are a student looking for a printer to handle basic tasks such as research papers and light graphics, an inkjet with only two ink cartridges will provide ample quality.  If you are looking more for a photo printer, be sure to get an inkjet printer that has at least four separate ink cartridges and boasts a resolution of 1200×1200 dpi or higher.  Keep in mind, the quality will be better on inkjet photo paper.

Do you mind wires?

Connection options vary from printer to printer, though more current models tend to offer all of them. Continue reading “Choosing the Correct Inkjet Printer” »