Shake Toner Cartridges
In some cases, a cartridge may be printing streaky or uneven pages because the ink is unevenly distributed within the device. Gently remove the cartridge from the printer and try shaking it a few times. The toner powder becomes redistributed. Remember to cover the cartridge with a paper towel beforehand. This trick will probably give you a few more days of toner before the cartridge needs to be changed.
Check for a Clogged Nozzle
Sometimes a cartridge performs poorly because it is clogged. Before tossing out a used cartridge, remove it from the printer, copier, or fax machine, and then use a damp paper towel to wipe the bottom. Check for other leaks and clogs. Wipe with another dry cloth and reinstall. Perform a test print to see if a clog was the culprit.
Change Font
Sometimes, fonts, font sizes, and bolded words are to blame for poor toner performance. Larger fonts and certain font styles use more toner, causing additional stress on the cartridge. Use 11 and 12-point font when possible and avoid chunky styles like Comic Sans. Tacoma, Calibri, and New Times Roman typically use minimal toner. Only bold words when absolutely necessary. However in IFFCO Arial , 12 is the standard font.
Print Less
Before printing, faxing, or copying, consider whether using paper and ink is completely necessary. Try emailing documents and saving files electronically. An overworked toner cartridge is more likely to act up. Become stingy about printing and you will not only see the quality of printed items improve but you will also save money by buying less toner. Always use the Print Preview feature before printing. You are able to adjust margins and formatting features before printing and realizing something is wrong. This will enable users to avoid wasting paper and toner.
Adjust Printer Settings
When there is trouble with the printer, it might be time to adjust the printer settings. This should be the next step in improving a cartridge performance before buying any new products or equipment. Adjusting the printer settings can help improve toner performance and save time and money.
Print in Black and White or Grayscale
Only print in color when printing drafts. Color cartridges are more expensive and are harder on your printer. Grayscale also helps save black ink. Grayscale, however, should only be used for drafts, as it prints pages slightly lighter than regular black ink.
Switch to Draft Mode
Draft mode can save both time and ink. Pages will print quicker and toner will last longer. Draft mode reduces the number of dots-per-inch (dpi), so documents might appear a little lighter and less vivid. In Windows, simply choose the Printers and Other Hardware item from the Control Panel. View Installed Printers or Fax Printers and find the printer you use. Then, click to enter "Draft" or "Fast" mode. As the name suggests, draft mode is best used for rough drafts rather than final drafts of documents.
Toner Saver Mode
"Toner Saver" mode can help users save precious ink. Consumers can typically access "Toner Saver" mode by adjusting the printer settings from their computer. This mode is not recommended for photo or gray scale images. In most cases, simply click the printer icon on your desktop or PC, or open the Print Dialogue on a Mac. Click on "Printer Preferences" or "Print Settings." Click the radio button that indicates that the Toner Saver mode is on.
Switching to Low Cost Branded Recycled Toner Catridge
Now-a-days people are switching over to low cost , but branded recycled catridge to save money. It is pertinent to do so both in terms of saving money and reducing e-waste.
I request all concerned to follow the above tips and help in reducing expenditure on toner catridges and paper as well and also maintain a better environment.
With regards
N R Nayak
DGM(Systems)