Lexmark Printer Support
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- Lexmark Reviles Color Desktop Printer
Lexmark's color desktop printer, the Z1320, is now available
The printer offers print resolutions of upto 1200 x 1200 pixels (Black) and 4800 x 1200 pixels (color). It promises print speeds of up to 22ppm Black and 16ppm color. The printer comes with an optional six-color printing feature, and claims to be capable of creating color photos and professional-quality text and graphics, as well as borderless prints up to 5-inches x 7-inches. It can print on transparencies, envelopes, and photo paper.The Z1320 comes with high-yield Black and color cartridge, and has an option for additional higher capacity ink cartridge as well, which offers users best cost-per-page among printers of its class, says the company.
The printer's package includes "Lexmark Software Suite" which includes the "Lexmark Imaging Studio" software to edit images. Through this, users can crop, rotate, and resize photos, manage colors on the photo, and enable red eye reduction as well.
Supporting Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, XP Professional x64, and Apple Mac operating systems, Lexmark Z1320 promises a duty cycle of 3000 pages per month, and comes with a one-year limited exchange warranty.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:45:56 GMT - How to connect Windows to a network printer?
Hi.. lots of my friends keep on asking me for steps to troubleshoot their printer problems and most of them are some short of connecting their printer with their windows.
Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP
- Open the Windows Control Panel
- Double-click the "Printers" or "Printers and Faxes" icon.
- Double-click the "Add a printer" icon.
- Once in the Printer Wizard click the Next button to get started.
- Select either "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" or "Network Printer" and click Next. This option is different in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
- Type the name of the printer's network address. This will be the name of the computer and then the name of the printer. For example, if the computer on our network was called "hope" and our printer was called "lp" the network path for our printer would be: "\\hope\lp", if you are adding the printer on a Microsoft Windows XP computer you can click the Browse icon to browse your network and locate the printer. If you're unable to connect to the printer or browse and see the printer make sure you have the network rights and that any installed firewall is temporarily disabled.
- Once the path has been typed in click Next.
- If the printer was located over the network Windows should either install the printer or you may be required to install the drivers for that printer on the computer before completing the installation. If you no longer have the software or drivers for your printer you can locate the drivers for your printer through going to the printer manufacturer’s website.
Microsoft Windows 95, 98, or ME
- Open the Windows Control Panel
- Double-click Printers
- Double-click the "Add a printer" icon.
- Click Next to start the Add a printer wizard.
- Select Network Printer and click Next.
- Type the network name of the printer. This will be the name of the computer and then the name of the printer. For example, if the computer on our network was called "hope" and our printer was called "lp" the network path for our printer would be: "\\hope\lp", or click the browse icon to browse to the location of the printer. If you're unable to connect to the printer or browse and see the printer make sure you have the network rights and that any installed firewall is temporarily disabled.
- If the printer was located over the network Windows should either install the printer or you may be required to install the drivers for that printer on the computer before completing the installation. If you no longer have the software or drivers for your printer you can locate the drivers for your printer through going to the printer manufacturer’s website.
Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:53:34 GMT - Lexmark C935 series Awarded Innovative Product of the Year
Lexmark C935 series receives Innovative Product of the Year award from Better Buys for Business
Better Buys for Business gives its Innovative Product of the Year award to a product or family of products that introduce an exciting new technology.
"The C935 product family puts together all the pieces," said Stephen Hannaford, Better Buys for Business editor-in-chief. "It's hard to imagine a departmental color printer that could offer this much for such a moderate price. It fully deserves our 2007 Innovative Product of the Year award."
With print speeds up to 40 pages per minute (ppm) in color and 45 ppm in black, in addition to a wide range of printing options, the Lexmark C935 color laser printers "stand out in terms of speed, features and price," according to Better Buys for Business.
"At Lexmark, we go to work every day with a relentless drive to help our customers achieve their goals. Our commitment to meeting the unique needs of our customers, along with our technology leadership and innovative approach, enables us to deliver a great customer experience with products such as the Lexmark C935 color printer family. We are very proud to receive this important validation from Better Buys for Business," said Marty Canning, Lexmark vice president and president of its Printing Solutions and Services Division.
The Lexmark C935hdn was also awarded a Fall 2007 "Pick of the Year" award from Buyers Laboratory Inc. for Outstanding Large Workgroup Color Printer.
News Source CNN Money.com
Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:29:06 GMT - How to install a printer driver on a Windows XP
To install a printer driver locally on a Windows XP based computer, follow these steps:
* Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
* Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard, and then click Next. Click Local printer, clear the Automatically detect and install check box, and then click Next.
* Click Create a new port, and then click Local Port in the Port type section.
* In the Port Name box, type the path to the printer in the following format, where server is the name of the print server and printer is the name of the printer:
* \serverprinter
* Click Next, and then select a Windows 2000 or Windows XP driver for your printer.
Click Next, and then follow the instructions to finish the wizard.
Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:19:56 GMT - New Lexmark Color Lasers Make Professional Results Easy, Affordable For Busy Workgroups
Lexmark International, Inc. recently introduced three new color laser printer families to help business customers save time and money by printing professional color documents in house.
The Lexmark C780n, C782n and C935dn color laser printer families are designed for business workgroups that need access to high-quality, reliable color printing technology at affordable prices.
“Color can have a tremendous impact for businesses, but it can be expensive for customers to use widely, especially if they are outsourcing documents to the local print shop,” said Paul Rooke, Lexmark executive vice president and president of its printing solutions and Services Division. “These new printers give customers a more flexible and efficient way to get the same impact without breaking their budget.”
With extensive media-handling capabilities and outstanding print quality, the Lexmark C780n, C782n and C935dn printer families can help customers implement color easily across their business. These new printers can be used for everything from printing color logos on letterhead and labels to help businesses increase their brand awareness to helping increase productivity in a retail store by printing color photos of each product on shelf planograms. The Lexmark C780n, C782n and C935dn printer families can print on difficult media like heavy card stock for documents such as invitations and oversized banner paper for signage and can also be used for unique applications such as printing color photos of patients on hospital wristbands to increase patient safety.
While these products offer a cost effective alternative to color document outsourcing, they also feature Lexmark’s Color Care technology to help customers manage color usage and control the cost of color in general office printing. For example, network administrators can control which employees can access the color capabilities on each device to make sure that color is only used when necessary. Customers can also use unique tools such as the coverage estimator, which helps customers calculate the approximate cost of specific print jobs so they can determine the most cost-effective way to get large jobs printed.
The Lexmark C780n color laser printer family features print speeds up to 31 pages per minute (ppm) in color and up to 35 ppm in monochrome. For customers who need more powerful performance, additional paper handling options or want the ability to upgrade to a multifunction device, the Lexmark C782n color laser printer family prints at speeds up to 35 ppm in color and 40 ppm in monochrome. The Lexmark C935dn color laser printer family gives customers access to even faster speeds, printing up to 40 ppm in color and 45 ppm in monochrome, as well as A3 ledger or tabloid printing capabilities and finishing options such as stapling, hole-punch and booklets. It also features two-sided printing standard to help customers reduce paper usage and conserve resources.
All three printer families are also supported by Lexmark’s new universal print driver, which helps customers increase productivity by making it easy to print to multiple Lexmark products using the same, intuitive driver.
Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:51:57 GMT - How to choose the right Inkjet Printer
Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Epson and Lexmark are responsible for the majority of inkjet printer sales in the global consumer market. If you have plans to buy an inkjet printer, this blog will definitely help you in arriving at the right choice.What are the different types of inkjet printers available in the market?
The paper handling capacity should be of great concern to you if you print frequently or in bulk. In such cases, search for a printer that can hold a large quantity of paper at a time. Many inkjet printers have paper trays that take up to 250 sheets. Inkjet printers with ship paper trays can handle only 100 or 150 sheets and envelopes. Few business-oriented models feature option of additional paper trays.
Which type of cartridges is better?
Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:45:42 GMT - Learn how to save money for your small business or home office through printer repairs
What does your company do with malfunctioning printers? With the costs of printers coming down in recent years, many corporate decision makers assume it is less expensive and time consuming to simply buy brand new printers. But while printer costs have certainly come down, so have the costs of printer repair.
Given that
is a nation of do-it-yourself, it is surprising that many don't realize how easy it is to fix common printer problems that can save their businesses thousands of dollars. If your company is having trouble with its printers, consider repairing them yourself as your first solution.Most printer problems are relatively easy to fix - if you have the parts that are included in a standard printer maintenance kit. For example, the printer fuser, the part that fuses the toner onto the paper, is one of the most common trouble spots. Repair "depots" (companies that provide replacement parts and services for major manufacturers like Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, and Canon) say that most of the time, malfunctions are caused by a damaged fuser. Even on top-of-the-line printers, fusers can stop working properly long before the rest of the printer.
Yet replacing fusers is simple if you follow the directions in the maintenance kits available for your printer models. For most HP model, it simply requires opening the printer, releasing the fuser levers or unscrewing the connection screws, and then replacing the old part with the new. Most other printer problem can be identified and repaired with similar ease.
As companies of all sizes are learning, it's easy to turn printer repair into an opportunity to trim capital expenditures, and there are several companies that provide parts and maintenance kits for do-it-yourself printer repair. Leading companies provide maintenance kits for all major printer models and their web sites also offer free detailed instructions. These printer maintenance kits contain spare parts that have highly predictable wear characteristics, which help eliminate repeat service calls and maximize the paper feed and print quality performance.
In addition to simply providing you with the parts to fix your computer, printer repair depots also provide further means to save money. Here are some common ways to save money through printer repair:
1. By removing the broken parts and sending them to a printer repair depot instead of throwing away the whole machine, businesses are finding that they can save thousands of dollars each year.
2. Even more money can be saved by opting to have the depot's technicians replace broken parts with remanufactured parts. Corporations with staff people assigned to supporting their computers typically want the remanufactured parts because they know that the remanufactured parts need to be tested to comply with the manufacturer's standards and that the depot selling them guarantees their performance. These high volume users appreciate the substantial savings that come from using "good as new" over "brand new" parts.
3. Many depots offer core buy back programs. Companies with damaged printers send the depot the damaged parts and subassemblies for a cash incentive. The depot then repairs, tests, and resells them as remanufactured parts. Everyone benefits: the seller, the depot, and the customer.
4. And a money-saver that savvy companies know very well: frequently there are environmental compliance costs associated with throwing out computers, printers, and other electronic devices. By repairing printers instead of throwing them out, companies save on trash removal fees too.Printer repair depots also provide in-depth online resources to help you identify what you need to fix. Many host printer error code library of documents on their web sites. These libraries give specific information on diagnosing many common problems.
Once you have identified the problems with your company's printers, you can purchase the proper parts or maintenance kits and make the repairs. A full inventory of parts plus optional overnight shipping means that you can have your printer fixed and operation regularly the next day. After you have learned how easy it is to repair your printers, you can begin to perform regular maintenance to minimize the chance of printer problems, saving even more money in the future.
Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:19:21 GMT - 5 Laser Printer Tips
Laser printers are likely the best printers that you regularly use. They are also complicated and often misunderstood by end users when problems begin to arise. Follow these simple tips and you will eliminate many problems and reduce frustration levels...1. It's probably the toner cartridge. If you are having problems with print quality, replace the toner cartridge. Many times, this is the cause of streaks, light spots, ghosting, and other problems.
2. Don't blow canned air inside a dirty printer! Loose toner can find its way onto laser lenses causing worse problems.
3. Use quality supplies. This includes Maintenance Kits, Paper, and Toner Cartridges. Third party products and "refurbs" often fail faster than manufacturers original parts.
4. Be careful printing on anything other than normal paper. Envelopes, labels, or transparencies can instantly ruin a fuser by melting and contaminating the fuser roller.
5. Check your connections. A loose printer cable can present confusing symptoms. Some printers (like HPs) will display a printer error, leading you to believe the problem is in the printer!-And ALWAYS unplug a laser printer while working with it. There are high voltage wires and very hot surfaces inside that can cause injury.
Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:01:31 GMT - How To Extend the Life of Your Cartridge
A cartridge contains a print head (the metallic-looking portion of the cartridge), nozzles and circuitry. All are housed within the cartridge itself. The print head, nozzles and circuitry perform most of the work when printing.
Nozzles (where the ink comes out): Cartridges can contain between 48 and 320 nozzles (and more), are smaller than a human hair and connect to a heater or resistor which heats and cools the ink inside the cartridge. When the ink is heated, a bubble forms. When the heat is removed, the bubble bursts, sending dots of ink through the nozzles and onto the page. The dots form the characters on the page at a rate of 6,000 drops per second.
When your cartridge wears out, it is actually the heaters that are "burning" out. This will happen, on average, every 3-5 times you refill or recycle.The only reason cartridges have a limited refill life is the resistors that control the current to each outlet jet. When a cartridge runs out of ink, the resistors can overheat and burn out. Most printers will warn you of a low cartridge before it completely runs out of ink. At the first sign of low ink, refill or top off your ink cartridge to ensure a long refillable life!
Prevent Print Head Burnout: (Lexmark cartridge types)
Did you know that one of the most common causes of printer cartridge failure is print head burnout?
When the printer gives the command for an inkjet nozzle to print, many things happen. A certain quantity of ink is already in the firing chamber, having been pulled there by capillary, gravity or vacuum action after the last firing. The electronics package (the copper circuitry on the side of the cartridge) instructs the heating resistor to heat the ink in the chamber, causing it to expand. This very quick expansion forces ink to shoot through the print head nozzle onto the paper.
The actual structures that make up the print head are quite small. Each print head nozzle assembly consists of the nozzle plate with hole, a chamber to contain the ink, the resistor plate in the chamber and walls to guide the incoming ink to the correct position. These microscopic structures are very sensitive and delicate, and there are over 300 on the end of a typical printer cartridge.
The ink that flows through this assembly is to the print head what water is to the engine of an automobile. With no water in your car radiator, your engine will soon burn up. The same is true for your printer cartridges. The resistor that heats the ink quickly achieves a temperature of hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit! Without the cooling action of the ink, the microscopic print head substructures crack and begin to break apart, and the nozzle plate begins to warp and pull away from the cartridge.
Once print head burnout has begun, the cartridge can no longer be expected to perform as well as it did. The cartridge may leak, print with streaks of ink on the paper, or may just print poorly -- resulting in banding, poor color definition, bad coloration, missing characters and light / dark text. Printing even part of a page with no ink in the cartridge can damage your print head.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to refill your cartridges before they run dry. Print head burnout is one reason this is so important.
Late model printers may offer an "ink level gauge" letting you know when to replace your cartridge. Unfortunately these software gauges are "guesstimates" of the actual ink level in the cartridges and are based on pages printed, not on any physical measurement of ink levels.
For this reason we suggest that you top off your cartridges on a regular basis. If you know that you use a cartridge every two months, refill every month. Place a sticky note on your printer to remind you when to refill next. If you rely on your printer ink level gauge, be sure to refill before the "out of ink" indicator pops up. Note: If you have ink left over, don't worry, it'll keep!
Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:57:27 GMT - How To Clear Incomplete/Stuck Print Jobs From Your Print Queue
When print jobs are initiated they are stored in a print job list, also called a print queue. If the printer does not complete the print job, due to a pause (the printer being off-line, or a failed print spooler,etc.), your print jobs will build up in the print queue causing it to become locked-up. Follow the steps below to clear your print queue of incomplete print jobs.
Open the Printer folder by following the steps below. (For Window 98, Me, and 2000):
- Click Start.
- Click Settings.
- Click Printers.
For Windows XP:
- Click Start.
- Click Control Panel.
- Click Printers and Other Hardware or Printers and Faxes.
(NOTE: If you have the Printers and Faxes option in this screen, skip to step five, if not, continue to the next step.)
- Click Printers and Faxes.
- Select View Installed Printers.
- Double-click the Printer to open the print queue.
- Click Printer in the menu.
- Select Pause Printing if it is not already selected. This will stop all printing to the printer.
- Click Printer again and select Purge Print Documents or Cancel All Documents, then click Yes to confirm the action.
If there are any documents left in the queue, un-pause the print queue by clicking Printer then Pause Printing to resume printing.
- Click Printer again, then Cancel All Documents or Purge Print Documents.
If there are still documents in the queue, restart the computer. Once the computer has restarted, check the print queue to insure that it is clear. In some instances the queue will still not be clear (most commonly this happens in Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP). If this is the case, stop, then restart the printer services by following the steps below.
For Windows XP:
- Click Start and then Control Panel.
- Select Performance and Maintenance.
- Select Administrative Tools.
- Select Services.
- Select Print Spooler to open the properties window.
- Click Stop to stop the service. Once the service is stopped click Start to restart the service.
- Click OK to close the Print Spooler Properties window.How to print a Photo-Proof Sheet
Have you ever wanted to print picture thumbnails on one piece of paper? If you're using Windows XP, this is what I suggest:
1) Go to the folder where the photos are that you want to print (usually saved in My Pictures).
2) Double click on one of the photos. The Windows Picture and Fax Viewer will come up.
3) At the bottom, there's a group of icons. Double click on the printer icon (fourth from right side).
4) This opens up the Photo Printing Wizard. Click Next.
5) Here you can select which photos you want to print (Select All or just the ones you want to print). Click Next.
6) This brings you to Printing Options.
7) Select your printer and printing preferences. Click Next.
8) This brings you to the Layout Selection. One of the options is Contact Sheet Prints, where you can print 35 prints per page. Click Next and your thumbnail pictures will print.
Go ahead and play with it a bit. When you're happy with the layout, print it on good photo quality paper. Now you can take it with you to show family and friends.What Happens When You Click "OK" to Print?
There is a sequence of events that take place, seemingly, in the blink of a eye:
1. The software application you are using sends the data to be printed to the printer driver.
2.The driver translates the data into a format that the printer can understand and checks to see that the printer is online and available to print.
3. The data is sent by the driver from the computer to the printer via the connection interface (parallel, USB, etc.).
4. The printer receives the data from the computer. It stores a certain amount of data in a buffer. The buffer can range from 512 kilobytes random access memory (RAM) to 16 megabytes RAM, depending on the model. Buffers are useful because they allow the computer to finish with the printing process quickly, instead of having to wait for the actual page to print. A large buffer can hold a complex document or several basic documents.
5. If the printer has been idle for a period of time, it will normally go through a short clean cycle to make sure that the printheads are clean. Once the clean cycle is complete, the printer is ready to begin printing.
6. The control circuitry activates the paper feed stepper motor. This engages the rollers, which feed a sheet of paper from the paper tray/feeder into the printer. A small trigger mechanism in the tray/feeder is depressed when there is paper in the tray or feeder. If the trigger is not depressed, the printer lights up the "Out of Paper" LED and sends an alert to the computer.
7. Once the paper is fed into the printer and positioned at the start of the page, the print head stepper motor uses the belt to move the print head assembly across the page. The motor pauses for the merest fraction of a second each time that the print head sprays dots of ink on the page and then moves a tiny bit before stopping again. This stepping happens so fast that it seems like a continuous motion.
8. Multiple dots are made at each stop. It sprays the CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) colors in exact amounts to make any other color imaginable.
9. At the end of each complete pass, the paper feed stepper motor advances the paper a fraction of an inch. Depending on the ink-jet model, the print head is reset to the beginning side of the page, or, in most cases, simply reverses direction and begins to move back across the page as it prints.
10. This process continues until the page is printed. The time it takes to print a page can vary widely from printer to printer. It will also vary based on the complexity of the page and size of any images on the page. For example, a printer may be able to print 16 pages per minute (PPM) of black text but take a couple of minutes to print one, full colour, page-sized image.
11. Once the printing is complete, the print head is parked. The paper feed stepper motor spins the rollers to finish pushing the completed page into the output tray. Most printers today use inks that are very fast-drying, so that you can immediately pick up the sheet without smudging it.
So, now you know! Printers are truly a wonderful technology!
Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:45:31 GMT - Printing Tips & Trick to Exploit Your Printer to its Full (Part I)
It is often that we are not able to exploit our printer to its full extent and get along with all useless contents being printed from a document where we only need that last 2 pages or in between 2 para or just some text from a webpage. So to get out of this mess here are some printing tips that will help you along your due course of printing experience. Printing Tips & TrickExpand Your Printer's Allowable Printing Area
Most printers have an "unprintable" border area for each page printed. Check your printer's manual for its minimum settings and make sure they match the settings listed in Windows under "Unprintable Area."
Click Start > Settings > Printers to open the printer's dialog box. Select your printer, choose File/Properties, then click the Paper tab. If the settings are too high, lower them to increase the printable area. ** Don't lower them past what your printer manual calls for. Experiment to get the printable area you want.How To Print Only the Part You Need
Here's a tip to help you save on ink and paper...
Want a printed copy of only part of the information on a web page and don't want to copy the entire page or multiple pages? There are a couple of options:
1) Highlight the part of message desired, then copy and paste to a blank email and print it without sending the message. Cancel the email and you have a copy of the desired information.
2) If you are using Internet Explorer: From the web page you are on, highlight the text you want to print. Click on File/Print. In the print dialog window, under "Print range" click on "Selection" and then click the "OK" button at the bottom. Only the text you have highlighted will print.Print Preview: Add it to your browser's tool bar.
Printouts don't always come out looking like you'd expect, especially when printing from the Web. For instance, when printing directions from Google Maps, I usually get a page at the end of the print out with nothing but a header and footer containing the site's url, date, time, etc.(what a watse of paper!). When this happens it pays to use your browser's Print Preview function to make sure what you see is what you'll get.
You can always go to the File section of your browser's tool bar and select Print Preview to determine what going to be printed from the Web, but adding the Print Preview button to your browser's toolbar will make it even easier to use. Here's how:
In Internet Explorer select View -> Toolbars -> Customize. In the "Available toolbar buttons" box, select the "Print Preview" line, click on "Add", then "Close."How To Clear PC Memory Space For Printing
Are you getting a "Not Enough Disk Space to Print" message on your PC screen? Memory, or lack of it, could be the problem. Here are some steps you can take to clear up space:
-Click the desktop Start button.
-Select Find and then Files or Folders.
-Type "*.TMP" in the Named box.
-Type "C:\" in the Look In box.
-Make sure that the Include Subfolders box is checked.
-Click the Find Now button.
-Highlight any temporary files returned in the Search Results list by choosing Edit and then Select All.
-Click File and then Delete to delete the files. *If any of the files are necessary to Windows, then Windows will not allow them to be deleted.
-Double-click the Recycle Bin to open it.
-Click on File and then Empty Recycle Bin to remove the files from your system.
-Click the X in the upper right corner of the Recycle Bin to close it.
Note: Before printing large, graphics-intensive documents, close other programs to free up virtual memory space and don't mess with your computer during large print jobs. ;)Watermarks... Add some class to your Word documents!
Watermarks, images barely visible behind text, add a touch of class to your Microsoft Word documents. Inserting a watermark once took some effort, leading many users to buy paper with preprinted watermarks. But Word 2002 makes it very simple to print pages with your own custom background images and text. Here's how:
1. Choose Page Layout from the View menu.
2. Go to the Format menu, click Background and choose Printed Watermark. * For picture watermarks, click Picture Watermark and Select Picture. Find the image you want to use on your hard drive and click Insert. * For text watermarks, choose Text Watermark and type the text you'd like to use.
3. Tweak your options and press Apply.
Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:32:31 GMT - Don't Let the Cartridge Dry Out.
The number one refilling problem is waiting too long to refill your cartridge. If you run out of ink, leave your cartridge in the printer. Don't let your cartridge dry out. Inside just about all inkjet cartridges with a built-in print head, there is a foam sponge. When the cartridge runs out of ink, the sponge may dry up and go hard, especially when the cartridge is removed from the printer. Once the sponge has hardened the cartridge is "done for". Even if you refill the cartridge before the sponge becomes useless, dried ink can clog the microscopic holes (jets) in the print head. It's always better to refill the cartridge before it runs dry. Topping off the cartridge every 200-300 sheets ensures that the cartridge always has ink in it to stop the sponge from drying out, and preventing you from running out of ink in the middle of a job. The print head of an ink jet cartridge can reach temperatures of 500 degrees centigrade and the ink itself serves as a coolant, so allowing the cartridge to run dry can destroy the print head.
If you are out of refill ink supplies and want to preserve, your cartridge for future refilling, wrap your cartridge in a slightly moist paper towel or cloth and seal it in tightly a plastic baggie. Remember to get as much air out of the baggie as possible. This will buy you time to get resupplied.
Note: If you've refilled a cartridge and find that it's clogged up and won't print, there is something you can try before discarding it. Place the print head of the cartridge (just the nozzles where the ink comes out) in a small bowl containing roughly a half cup of very hot water and hold it there for five minutes. In some cases this will dissolve the dried ink that's obstructing the nozzles, and, if it works, you should see a little ink bleeding from the print head into the water. This procedure can be repeated two or three times if you wish. Once it looks as though the nozzles have been unclogged, you should gently wipe off the entire cartridge, especially the copper electrical contacts, with alcohol on a soft, lint-free cloth, insert the cartridge into your printer, and run it's print head cleaning cycle (consult your printer's manual if necessary) before you try printing. If this doesn't fix it, you should discard the cartridge but you may wish to recover the ink from it first.
All Printers Require Good Preventive Maintenance.
The number one complaint about poor print quality, specifically streaking print, white lines through the print, or no print at all, can be avoided by frequent use of your printer. These print problems are caused by ink drying up in the print head or nozzles, clogging them and preventing ink from reaching the paper. If you don't use your printer regularly you can help keep it in working order by printing a test page or running a print head cleaning cycle once a week. Consult your printer's manual for additional, or more specific preventative maintenance tips.
Power Down Properly.
Always use your printer's power switch rather than the switch on a surge protector to shut the unit down. Most ink jet printers have a print head parking function that's triggered by the printer's own power switch. This ensures that your cartridges are 'sealed' properly and not exposed to the drying effects of ambient air.
Keep The Print Head Clean.
Care needs to be taken to ensure that the print head is kept clean in order to stop ink clogging in the print head. Some printers (Hewlett Packard for example) don't do a very thorough job of cleaning the print head when you run their normal cleaning cycle. Deposits of ink can build up on the print head, causing the cartridge to function poorly. You can help circumvent this problem by occasionally cleaning the print head with a soft cotton cloth or Q-tip (don't use tissues and be gentle) dipped in water. Snap the cartridge in and out a couple times to get a good connection after cleaning. Keeping the print head clean will result in a maximum number of successful refills. You can also purchase Inkjet Printer Cleaning Kits to aid you in this.
Preventing "Color Mixing" When Refilling.
When refilling a three color (or more) cartridge, there is a chance that you can have the cartridge turned the wrong way and get the colors on the ends backwards. In other words, you might put the magenta ink in the cyan chamber. To avoid this from happening and ruining your cartridge: use three tooth picks and insert one of them into each fill hole, deep enough to pick up some ink. Mark the cartridge with a marker or piece of tape to help you remember which chamber is which color.
Warning when refilling color cartridges be sure to follow the instructions provided with your refill kit very carefully.
Do Not Run Back-to-Back Cleaning Cycles.
Give the cartridge a chance to let some ink flow in between cleaning cycles. This will purge air bubbles or foamy ink that a cleaning cycle may have created. Print a test page or a color balanced image. If the printing quality hasn't improved, run another cleaning cycle and test it again. Repeat the process as often as needed.
Purge the Cartridge.
Purging the cartridge regularly is one of the most important steps in ensuring a long cartridge life. The purging cycle is not the same as the cleaning cycle. If you don't know how to do this, read your printer manual, It's all in there. The purge cycle consists of a process that heats all the jets in the cartridge and then cleans them from the inside out. All purge cycles produce a grid which consists of vertical and horizontal lines which represent all the jets in the cartridge.
Prevent Printhead Burnout.
One of the most common causes of printer cartridge failure is print head burnout. When the command is given for an inkjet nozzle to "print" many things happen; ink has been brought to the "firing chamber" by a combination of gravity, capillary action, and vacuum caused by the last firing. The circuitry applies current to the heating resistor which rapidly heats the ink in the chamber, causing it to expand. This quick expansion forces ink to shoot through the print head nozzle onto the paper. There are over 200 of these microscopic expansion chambers on the end of a typical printer cartridge. The ink which flows through them also serves to cool them off. The resistor which heats the ink achieves very high temperatures and without the cooling action of the ink, the print head very rapidly begins to deteriorate. Printing even part of a page with no ink in the cartridge can permanently damage the print head. Most printers will warn you of a low cartridge before it completely runs out of ink. At the first sign of low ink, refill your cartridge to ensure a long refillable life.
Late model printers may offer an "ink level gauge". Be aware that these software "gauges" are not accurate measures of the ink level in the cartridge and should not be trusted. For this reason we suggest that you top off your cartridges on a regular basis. If you know that you use a cartridge every 2 months, refill every month. Place a sticky note on your printer to remind you when to next refill. If you rely on your printer ink level gauge, be sure to refill before the 'out of ink indicator' pops up. Note: if you have ink left over don't worry, it'll keep.
Pressure Equalization.
When some cartridges are refilled the cartridge may require time to reestablish internal equilibrium. Some may require you to re-pressurize them with a plastic squeeze bottle while others require only time to stabilize before being inserted into the printer. This superior refilling method greatly reduces the amount of foaming (bubbles) within the tank.
Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:57:37 GMT - 5 Simple Tips To Save Money On Printing
Printing can be expensive because of the need to replace the ink cartridges. However there are still ways of saving money on printing . Below are five simple tips to help you to do so.
Tip No1 - Always proof read before printing
Most modern word processor program has spelling and grammar check functions. So use them to check on the completed work before printing. This way any mistakes you may make can be corrected. If not, a lot of ink can be wasted printing pages only to discover there are mistakes in them and the need to correct and reprint.
Tip No 2 - Print only the pages you need
Print preview function is available in word processor programs and Internet browsers. Make use of this function to see how a document look likes before printing. When used, look over the document for the pages you wanted to print and take note of it. Then when you select the print function, enter the desire page range for printing. Further notes on printing pages from the web, beside print preview, switch off printing images or advertisements and just print the text. You may also look for the "printable version" link of the web document if available. By practicing these steps you save paper and ink.
Tip No 3 - Use draft mode
Always print the document in draft mode for proof reading. When printing in this mode, the printing will be in black and white and uses minimum ink. This will save ink and extend the usage time of the ink cartridges. Setting up draft mode can be done by going to the printer driver of your PC, then select the printing preferences and from there select draft mode. Draft mode is also known by other terms like gray scale or low print quality. Another plus point of printing in draft mode is that the printing will be faster, hence saving time too.
Tip No 4 - Use compatible or remanufactured ink cartridges
Using both types of cartridges will save considerable money as they cost less than O.E.M (Original Equipment Manufacturer) cartridges. Remanufactured cartridges are used printer cartridges and are specially refurbished. During the refurbish process, the cartridges are cleaned, worn parts replaced and recharged with new ink. Using remanufactured cartridges can save 50 percent or more off the price of new O.E.M cartridges. On the other hand compatible ink cartridges are new cartridges manufactured to O.E.M specification. They too cost less than new O.E.M cartridges.
Tip No 5 - Buy in bulk
If you are doing a lot of printing, you can save a lot by buying your ink cartridges in bulk. Sellers normally give extra discount and even provide free delivery when buyers buy in bulk. More savings can be realized if you buy remanufactured or compatible ink cartridges in bulk.
Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:34:43 GMT - 10 Buying Tips to get the Best PrinterWhen it comes down to buying a printer for yourself, the real key is finding the best printer for your needs. And how do you find the best printer? Ask questions! Here are 10 great questions to ask yourself in order to find the absolute best printer for all of your printing needs.
1. Is the printer going to be the only printer in the home or office?
If yes, then you need the printer to be able to do multiple functions like print pictures, print text fast, and do it all effectively. But very few offices have one printer, and even some homes have more than one with the price of printers on the market. So it might not be a bad idea to buy two printers for your home with one for photo printing, and one for everything else.
2. Do you need a multifunction (all-in-one) printer or not?
Nowadays you can buy printers that scan, copy and fax. Will you need your printer to perform any of those things? If you don’t necessarily need the printer do any of those things, then it will not be a factor you need to consider. If not, your buying decision will be much more speedy.
3. What are you going to use the printer for?
If you have a need for one particular function in a printer, look for just that at first. For instance, if you want scanning capability, look for that first and then go for the printing part. This means what are you going to use the printer mainly for? Here are some common printer uses, usage levels and the type of printer that may be best suited for this usage:
• Light everyday home use: occasional printing , mainly text, maps for directions, a few photos here and there. (Basic entry level inkjet printer).
• Heavy home use (Or home office, light office): High number of pages, still mainly text or no photo images (no color needed then b/w laser printer, if color is needed a good fast inkjet printer, and if budget available than an entry level color laser).
• Home photo printing: Uses a few mainstream paper sizes, print family photos, cards, scrap booking, but nothing in high volume (entry to medium level photo printer depending on the budget).
• Professional photo printing: High quality photo printing (high end photo printers).
• Printing marketing materials. Small businesses, real estate agents, etc. (color laser printers small-to-high end).
• Heavy office use for mainly text: if black/white is enough (b/w fast laser printer).
• Heavy office use with also a lot of images and color: a lot of text with graphics, company newsletters, brochures, graphs and presentations. (a good high end color laser printer)
4. What is your budget for buying that printer?
You can start by coming up with a budget and then try to get the best printer that fits your needs in that budget. This can work several ways. Most likely, however, you will think of a number that looks great on paper. After a bit of research, you may find that you overestimated or underestimated the cost of a printer that fulfills all of your needs. Then, you’ll come up with a more accurate budget and go from there. Be sure to consider the cost of printer ink cartridges in your budget as well, as they will be a recurring expense.
5. What is the true cost of printer ownership?
Things to keep in mind:
- Laser printers are less expensive per page (always) especially just black/white lasers as they are great for heavy printing.
- Off Brand Printer Cartridges. Not all of them are good. Some stores sell not-so-great quality off-brand or after market products but if the seller is reputable and has a guarantee then why not try it?
- Laser Printer Cartridges. Most of the time, if the model is popular enough, you can find good remanufactured cartridges. If you do this, buy remanufactured cartridges that have a new drum, as this will make a big difference. For less popular printer brands and models you may not be able to find cheaper cartridges so check before you buy.
- For inkjet printers, most HP, All Lexmark, Xerox and some Canon do not have compatible new generic brands but do have cheaper--but not by much--remanufactured cartridges. Most Epson, Brother, Some Canon, Oki and Xerox have good compatible affordable cartridges. You can forget Dell. And Lexmark has old technology and inferior printers with expensive supplies that you can buy only from Dell.com directly but some cheaper remanufactured cartridges do exist.
6. Have you heard of the printer brand before?
Usually, very few printers have breakthrough technology and designs that can last. Try something that has been tested by the market--you can read reviews for it and supplies are and will be available.
7. What do professionals and customers think about it?
In this day and age, we spend a lot of time and money on our printers so it really is worth it to spend ample time on research. Some good printer review sources you can use include: Amazon , PC Magazine website, PCWorld Magazine Website and CNET reviews
8. What do your friends think about it?
Ask friends and family about their printers if you think they use one similar to yours. There’s nothing like a good review from a close personal friend or relative to encourage you to make that purchase—if you trust their opinion, that is.
9. Have you thought about non-traditional brands?
Consider other brands besides the usual suspects like HP, Lexmark, Epson, Canon or Dell. A lot of new good printers are out there like Brother and Samsung. Even Kodak is coming out with new printers these days. Doing your research means digger deeper than the label.
10. Where will you buy the printer from?
Many people opt to buy products online these days, which is great. But a major purchase like a printer gets tricky. Buy the printer from a local store and if you are going to use it a lot, and the printer is expensive it might worth it to get their store warranty. Don’t try to save a few bucks ordering online. Printers are still delicate equipment and can get broken during shipment. Also, you might want to return the printer after you try it out and it’s much easier to walk into the store to do so.
Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:33:59 GMT - Lexmark printer tips
Lexmark International Inc. provides consumers in more than 150 countries worldwide with a broad range of printing and imaging solutions and services. Lexmark makes it easier for businesses and consumers to move information from the digital to the paper world. The company reaches a wide variety of customers to meet their printing needs.
And now, with wireless printing going mainstream, Lexmark has announced that its 2007 product line offers customers the broadest, most affordable range of wireless printers in the market. Thus, we've decided to get some Lexmark printer tips for worldwide consumers.
Any technology offered by Lexmark proves to be affordable, easy to use and reliable. The important printer tip that anyone using Lexmark printers should remember is that all printer types require preventative maintenance. Routinely servicing, cleaning and inspecting the printer parts will ensure the maximum efficiency, optimal print output and preservation of the printer.
Here are some Lexmark printer tips to help you make the most of your printing experience. The Lexmark printer tips are powered by Skytronix, which offers Printer Service , Repairs and Preventative Maintenance.
Extend the life of your cartridge Cartridges have a limited refill life because of the resistors that control the current to each outlet jet. When a cartridge runs out of ink, the resistors can overheat and burn out. So at the first low cartridge warning sign, refill or top off your ink cartridge to ensure a long refillable life!
How often to refill/recycle your cartridge On average, a cartridge can be refilled or recycled 3-5 times. However, each cartridge varies in the number of times it can be refilled or recycled. The condition of the cartridge must also be considered, because you cannot successfully refill a cartridge that has been out of the printer for more than a few hours. The nozzles, when exposed to air, will clog up.
What to do if printed pages come out blank Try a different cartridge or try printing a different document from a different application. If the printer is networked, confirm that there is no software problem.
Vertical or horizontal marks on the page These are generally caused by the toner cartridge. Try a different cartridge and see whether the marks are repeated. If a replacement toner cartridge does not fix the problem, a service call may be needed.
How to fix paper jam errors Remove the cartridge and paper trays from printer. Remove jammed paper as well as torn paper pieces or foreign objects by gently pulling them in the direction of the paper flow.
What to do about light or faint print If you cartridge is running low try a new one. Ensure that 'economy mode' is not selected. If nothing helps to fix the problem, a printer service is required.
How to make printers work more efficiently on the network It's a cost-cutting advice. If you have two or more computers networked together, it does not mean that they each need its own printer. Both Windows and the Mac OS support simple printer sharing.
How to print only the part you need Highlight the part of message desired, then copy and paste to a blank email and print it without sending the message. Cancel the email and you have a copy of the desired information.
How to print sideways If you wish to change the paper size or layout for printing, do the following: Click Start > Settings > Printers. Right-click the icon for the printer you are using, and then click Properties. Click the Paper tab and make your desired changes. You can change this setting again. To change these settings for just the current document, click the File menu in the program you are using, then click Page Setup or Print Setup and make your desired changes.
How to add color to you prints Choose a simple color palette with just a few colors. Start by trying three colors that look good together. Repeat use of these colors in documents to project a consistent and professional look.
These are the major Lexmark printer tips we could advise to Lexmark printer users.
iYogi offers a 24-hour support on all Printer Trouble Shoot and Service. Our helpdesk will set up a mutually convenient time to schedule our experienced, factory trained and industry certified technicians, combined with up-to-date technical knowledge and practical skills, ensures the expertise needed when servicing and supporting a wide range of past, current and future printer, fax & photocopier brands and models. Our high standards enable us to preserve your printers to their maximum productivity.
Mon, 26 Nov 2007 08:53:57 GMT
