Posts Tagged ‘inkjet printers’
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
Do you ever wonder why we advise customers to do a head clean nozzle clean through their computers printer software? We give this advice because what this normally does is un-block any dried ink and cleans the printer heads within your printer. This should be done once or twice a month if you do not use your printer very often. This maintains your print quality and can prolong the life of your printer.
This usually solves the problem if the ink is not showing correctly on the page.
How can I do a Head Clean Nozzle clean?
This can be done through your printer software nearly all printers have this software program on their computer. This is usually found in the printer properties or under maintenance in your programs, it all depends on your printer model where it would be
By following the instructions when you click onto printer properties or maintenance your printer will automatically does a printer head clean. When this is done print a nozzle check pattern. If the ink is still not showing on the page or correctly sometimes you have to try this a few times.
What can I do if this does not work?
If the printer head is located in the cartridge if you remove the cartridge from the printer and sit the cartridge on some moist tissue making sure the bottom on the cartridge (where the ink comes out from) is in contact with the tissue.
Leave the cartridge sitting on the tissue for 15 minutes, and then re-insert the cartridge back in to the printer. This should soften any blocked ink.
If the Printer head is located in your printer there are a couple of things you can try.
(Only try the following if you are confident doing this to your printer)
By using isopropyl alcohol putting 7 to 10 drops in the ink where the ink flows from the cartridge to the head. You can also leave it for a few hours or overnight before repeating the head clean nozzle clean.
Cleaning cartridges are available. These are just what they sound like cartridges that fit into your printer just like a normal cartridge. They help to unblock the printer head without getting your hands dirty
There are also printer head cleaning kits available on the market. If you follow the instructions carefully, this can also be successful in unblocking the printer heads.
If you are still having a problem with printing the cartridge may be faulty. If you have another cartridge please try this to rule this out.
If still unsuccessful you may want to consult a service technician to repair your printer head, if you have a damaged print head or your print head failed no amount of any cleaning solution will fix a damaged print head.
Tags: best ink cartridges, compatible ink cartridges, inkjet printers, OEM cartridges, Recycle inkjet cartridges
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Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
Digital Photo Printing Tips
Photographs taken with film can fade with age, but digital photographs retain the same colour and clarity every time you view them on your computer screen. Your digital photos will last forever if you take good care of them. Below we have some helpful tips for storing, displaying printing and archiving your digital images.
Inkjet printers that are especially configured for printing colour photographs will offer 6 or more colours to provide superior colour graduation as well as colour matching. If you are planning on printing lots of photographs you should consider purchasing an inkjet printer which has separate ink cartridges for each colour and includes special photo inks.
The kind of ink and photo paper that you use can have a significant effect on the lifespan of your photograph. The standard photo ink for inkjet printers will typically last a maximum of 20 years. Inkjet photos always fade faster than photos done in a photo lab or a digital photo printing booth. Photo labs use a special ink that is archival quality and can last well over 100 years. Kiosks use a dye-sublimation process where layers of film are fused onto a special paper. These are more expensive but the prints that are produced are dirt and water resistant and last up to 5 times as long as inkjet prints.
If you are looking for excellent quality photo prints, you should use the glossy photo paper that is recommended by the printer manufacturer. These photo papers are always configured to work best with the printer’s inks to offer the top quality and longest lasting photo prints.
Photo Storage Tips
Memories will fade but you don’t want this to happen to your digital photos. No photo print is going to last forever and contact with artificial and natural light, pollutants in the air and the humidity of the environment in which the print is stored will cause it to fade over time. You should always avoid storing photos in direct sunlight; it is not even a good idea to store photos under a bright light indoors. Harsh light can cause the ink to break down and the pictures will quickly begin to fade. Also avoid heat, like sunlight heat can cause the ink to break down faster then normal. It is best to store your photos in a cool, dark area where you won’t need to worry about temperature fluctuations. You will need to avoid humidity; it’s obvious that water is bad for pictures but humidity can permanently damage your digital prints and speed up deterioration. High concentrates of pollutants and ozone in the air with significantly increase deterioration in your digital prints. Even if you live in an area with low pollution, it’s still not a good idea to leave your prints constantly exposed to the air.
The best way to protect your digital prints is to put them in photo albums with clear protective covers. The clear covers protect the photos from moisture and air pollution and keeping them inside the album prevents fading and exposure to light. If you don’t fancy using photo albums, you should find sealable containers to store photos in as they will also protect your digital prints from light, moisture and pollutants. Regardless of which photo storage method you use, make sure you keep the albums or containers in cool, dark places to avoid temperature fluctuations.
A print displayed on a brightly sunlit wall may fade faster than you would expect it to. Similarly, a print displayed behind glass will last considerably longer than one in contact with the air. You can extend the life of your printed photos by putting them in frames with glass panels.
Tags: digital images, digital photo albums, digital photo printing, digital prints, glossy photo paper, ink cartridge, ink cartridges, inkjet photo, inkjet photos, inkjet printer, inkjet printers, inkjet prints, matt photo paper, photo ink, photo inks, photo lab, photo paper, photo papers, photo printing tips, printer ink, printer manufacturer, printing colour photographs, printing digital images, printing digital photos, standard photo ink, storing digital images, storing digital photos
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Monday, July 5th, 2010
Digital Photo Printing Tips
Photographs taken with film can fade with age, but digital photographs retain the same colour and clarity every time you view them on your computer screen. Your digital photos will last forever if you take good care of them. Below we have some helpful tips for storing, displaying printing and archiving your digital images.
Inkjet printers that are especially configured for printing colour photographs will offer 6 or more colours to provide superior colour graduation as well as colour matching. If you are planning on printing lots of photographs you should consider purchasing an inkjet printer which has separate ink cartridges for each colour and includes special photo inks.
The kind of ink and photo paper that you use can have a significant effect on the lifespan of your photograph. The standard photo ink for inkjet printers will typically last a maximum of 20 years. Inkjet photos always fade faster than photos done in a photo lab or a digital photo printing booth. Photo labs use a special ink that is archival quality and can last well over 100 years. Kiosks use a dye-sublimation process where layers of film are fused onto a special paper. These are more expensive but the prints that are produced are dirt and water resistant and last up to 5 times as long as inkjet prints.
If you are looking for excellent quality photo prints, you should use the glossy photo paper that is recommended by the printer manufacturer. These photo papers are always configured to work best with the printer’s inks to offer the top quality and longest lasting photo prints.
Photo Storage Tips
Memories will fade but you don’t want this to happen to your digital photos. No photo print is going to last forever and contact with artificial and natural light, pollutants in the air and the humidity of the environment in which the print is stored will cause it to fade over time. You should always avoid storing photos in direct sunlight; it is not even a good idea to store photos under a bright light indoors. Harsh light can cause the ink to break down and the pictures will quickly begin to fade. Also avoid heat, like sunlight heat can cause the ink to break down faster then normal. It is best to store your photos in a cool, dark area where you won’t need to worry about temperature fluctuations. You will need to avoid humidity; it’s obvious that water is bad for pictures but humidity can permanently damage your digital prints and speed up deterioration. High concentrates of pollutants and ozone in the air with significantly increase deterioration in your digital prints. Even if you live in an area with low pollution, it’s still not a good idea to leave your prints constantly exposed to the air.
The best way to protect your digital prints is to put them in photo albums with clear protective covers. The clear covers protect the photos from moisture and air pollution and keeping them inside the album prevents fading and exposure to light. If you don’t fancy using photo albums, you should find sealable containers to store photos in as they will also protect your digital prints from light, moisture and pollutants. Regardless of which photo storage method you use, make sure you keep the albums or containers in cool, dark places to avoid temperature fluctuations.
A print displayed on a brightly sunlit wall may fade faster than you would expect it to. Similarly, a print displayed behind glass will last considerably longer than one in contact with the air. You can extend the life of your printed photos by putting them in frames with glass panels.
Tags: digital images, digital photo albums, digital photo printing, digital prints, glossy photo paper, ink cartridge, ink cartridges, inkjet photo, inkjet photos, inkjet printer, inkjet printers, inkjet prints, matt photo paper, photo ink, photo inks, photo lab, photo paper, photo papers, photo printing tips, printer ink, printer manufacturer, printing colour photographs, printing digital images, printing digital photos, standard photo ink, storing digital images, storing digital photos
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Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Printing Photos at home
The affordability and continuing improvement of low cost digital cameras and mobile phones with built in cameras has resulted in more amateur photographers snapping and sharing their photos with friends all over the world then ever before!
If you use a digital camera there are 3 ways you can print your photos:
1. Print your photos instantly on your own photo printer
2. Order your prints online and have them delivered to your home
3. Order your prints from a local photo lab and collect them yourself
Recent surveys show that 45% of digital photographers print their own photos at home, while an equal number order their prints online and have them delivered. Consumers seem to vary their behaviour depending on the number of photos they desire.
Research shows that if they only want a handful of photos they will print them at home, if you want 30-40 prints they will order them from an online retailer and get them delivered to their home, and if they are creating large projects like a photo album or mass greetings cards then they will use a mail order company. How cost effective is printing your photos at home?
Advantages of home photo printing
The decision whether or not to print your own photos or have them professionally processed is the same issue as having your own dark room or sending the film out to be developed in a professional lab, it’s about controlling the final output. The main advantage of printing your own photos is that you have complete control over the image quality. If you are not happy with the result, you can adjust the photo editing software and re-print, learning as you go.
There is something satisfying about taking a new digital image and manipulating it until you feel that it is ‘just right’. For people who enjoy having creative control over their photos, then it is more of a control issue than a cost issue, but it is definitely worth the extra cost. If you are serious about photography, you will agree that commercially made prints can never quite match the prints you make yourself.
One way to cut your printing costs is to print the images smaller than the desired size, until you are certain that the output is what you expect. Considering that not every print on a roll of 35mm film will be exactly how you expected, likewise not every digital image will be ideal. The goal is to select the best images and then make them as perfect as possible.
To achieve the best possible results when printing colour photos; make sure you use special photo paper because it is designed to absorb the ink correctly. Glossy photo paper delivers a smooth glossy finish for everyday photos with the look of true professional prints. Premium glossy photo paper costs little more, but it has a very high gloss finish that is perfect for printing your perfect cherished photos and enlargements to display in glass frames and photo albums. Whichever paper you decide to go for, make sure you change your print settings to match the type of paper you are using.
If digital photography and printing your own photos is very important to you, inkjet colour printers will offer you the variety and colour controls that you need for the best price.
Cost of ownership
For some people, however, the price of home printing can be too high. Although inkjet colour printers may have dropped considerably in the last few years, and they often come as a package deal with some new printers, they are not that cheap when you consider the total cost of ownership. After you make the initial purchase, you then have to remember the high cost of OEM ink cartridges, and if you are mainly printing out colour photographs, you will go through them like there’s no tomorrow! You may be wondering why is the cost of ink so high? The major printer manufacturers do not make their profits on the printers, which actually return relatively low profit margins. They make the bulk of their profits from the sales of ink, toner cartridges and photo paper. Ounce for ounce, the cost of the ink inside a brand name cartridge is four times the cost of some top champagne which sells for around £280 a bottle.
In addition to the high cost of supplies, another disadvantage of inkjet printers is that the cartridge ink can dry out relatively quickly, depending on the humidity of your environment and how frequently you use the printer. OEM cartridges have a shelf life as soon as they enter the machine, which means you will need to replace the cartridge every 2 years, regardless of whether it is empty of not.
Of course, by purchasing remanufactured or compatible ink cartridges will save you a lot of money each time it comes to replacing the cartridges. Most ink cartridges will produce about 120 to 200 pages, depending on type of use.
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Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Pigmented Ink Vs Dye Based Ink
When the time comes to replace your printer, the last thing most people think of is the type of ink the printer uses. This is a very important factor and should not be overlooked. We use our printers for producing various kinds of documents, text, graphics, photos and others, different printing jobs require different printer inks.
There are two main choices in printer inks; these are dye-based inks and pigmented inks. You may be wondering what the differences are between these two different types of ink and which printer ink is the better choice, read on….
The first thing we need to look at in differentiating dye-based ink from pigment ink is the substances that go into them. Pigment ink is made with resin or binders that make them more resistance. Dye-based ink is made with optical brighteners to make the colours more vivid and vibrant. In short, pigment ink is more resistant to the elements where as dye-based ink will produce a more vivid life like image but may not withstand the test of time as well.
1. Water resistance
Dye-based ink needs to be dissolved in order to work. Inkjet printers mainly use dye-based inks because they easily dissolve in water and flow easily. However, if a print is made from dried dye-based ink and the print gets wet, then the ink will run. On the other hand, pigmented inks will absorb water but do not dissolve with it; therefore they are a lot more water resistant!
2. Light resistance
Dye-based ink contains optical brighteners which produce very vivid bright prints. These optical brighteners are vulnerable to light and other chemicals, and therefore tend to fade more quickly. Pigmented ink is the top choice if you are archiving prints because it lasts for years, even under light or chemical exposure.
3. Sharpness of colour
Dye-based inks are the best option if you require sharp, bright and vivid images. They are better suited for printing images and photographs. The same cannot be said for pigmented ink, and they are more limited to grayscale prints and black text documents.
Now we know the pros and cons between each type of ink, but we need to know which printer brands are dye-based and which are pigmented, see below for a brief overview.
It is also important to remember that the type of paper you use can also affect the longevity of the print.
Tags: black text documents, Canon, canon printers, Dell, dell printers, designjet, dye-based ink, dye-based inks, Epson, epson printers, grayscale prints, HP, hp printers, ink, inkjet, inkjet printers, inks, Lexmark, lexmark printer, optical brighteners, pigment ink. pigmented ink, pigment inks, pigmented black ink, print longevity, printer, printer ink, printers, printers inks
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Friday, March 26th, 2010
Canon Pixma iP4600 printer review
Canon’s range topping A4 PIXMA inkjet printer makes creating beautiful long lasting prints quick and easy, with extra media handling features for added versatility. Below is an in depth product review taken from Channel Five ‘The Gadget Show’.
The Basics
Canon’s range-topping inkjet photo printer produces photo-quality prints in approximately 20 seconds. Thanks to PictBridge technology you can print direct from compatible digital cameras. It has a max speed of 26 black and white pages per minute and 21 colour pages per minute.
The Good
Why spend hundreds on a sparkling high-resolution camera and then print out photos on the plasticky inkjet you got free with your computer? Canon’s flagship photo printer treats your masterpieces with the respect they deserve, lavishing on them five separate inks (including a rich dye-based black) that should shimmer fade-free for over a century. Picolitre drops mean pin-sharp detail, and you can swap out individual cartridges (and even the print head) to keep running costs under control. It’s great at text printing, too, firing out crisp documents at 12 pages a minute.
The Bad
This is a stripped-down photo-making machine, with none of the all-in-one extras like scanning, photocopying or even printing direct from memory cards (although there is a PictBridge port). It’s not wireless like many of the newer printers, either.
The Bottom Line
Less of a computer accessory than a photographer’s best friend, the iP4600 dishes up some of the tastiest looking inkjet prints we’ve seen – and at a superb price.
Tags: Canon, canon pixma, canon pixma iP4600, canon's pixma, inkjet, inkjet photo printer, inkjet printer, inkjet printers, inkjet prints, iP4600, photo printer, photo quality prints, pictbridge, printer, printer review
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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
How to install your new printer
So you’ve decided which printer best suits your needs, you’ve found the best price, been to the shop and picked it up, now it’s sitting there all boxed up waiting to be installed, where do you start? Installing a new printer is a relatively easy task, even if computers aren’t your strong point! A few years back you had to go through a load of nonsense to get a printer up and running, but those days have now passed. We can’t possibly cover how to install every individual printer model in one blog post, but we can show you how to install printers in general. Follow our straight forward guide below to get your new printer up and running!
Materials needed –
- New printer
- Printer cable
- Computer with an Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) or Extended Capabilities Port (ECP)
- Printer software installation disc
- Internet connection (optional)
1. Turn on the computer and then wait for the operating system to fully load.
2. Now attach the printer cable to the corresponding parallel port. After you securely connect the printer to the computer, switch on the printer. Windows will automatically detect the new printer and will prompt you to install the required drivers. Some printers may not be detected automatically by your computer. To manually detect the printer, click the ‘printers and faxes’ option available on the ‘start’ menu. Double click the ‘add printer’ icon to launch the add printer wizard. If your computer still does not detect the new printer, unplug and adjust the connection of the printer to the computer.
3. Next, the installation wizard will ask you to choose between a local printer and a network printer. The computer will search for the connected printer after you select the type of printer.
4. The computer will now prompt you to install the needed driver. Your new printer will usually come with an installation CD which contains all of the drivers for the printer. Insert the installation CD into your computers CD tray. The computer will now automatically detect the driver files on the CD.
5. You need to manually detect the driver required for the installation just in case the driver is not detected. Select from the predefined list of driver software depending on the manufacturer and model of the printer.
6. If you can still not find the driver for your new printer, you may need to perform a windows update. You will need to connect to the internet in order to gather components from the online windows product support.
7. The computer will finalise the installation procedure after the driver is successfully installed. A notification will appear on screen informing you that you have successfully installed a new printer. A new printer icon will appear on your task bar. This enables easy access to the configuration and maintenance settings of your printer.
Installing your new printer on a home network
Installing a network printer allows multiple users and computers to share a single printer, rather than having numerous printers throughout the home or office. When you install a network printer, ensure it is located in a central place so all users can access it conveniently.
There are three types of network printer you can install.
These printers use a built in wireless card and they plug into a power source, not your network or computer. After you turn on the printer, you will need to refer to the printer manual and read how to set up a wireless connection to each computer on a home network. The security options for a wireless printer are determined by each individual printer manufacturer.
- Connect to a printer directly to the network
To do this, you will need to plug in the printer to your network hub or router. How to install these printers depends on whether the printer and your network device use Ethernet, universal serial bus (USB) or any other type of connection. You also need to refer to any installation information or tools provided by the printer manufacturer.
- Connect multiple printers to the network
If you want to connect more than one printer directly to the network, you must make sure your router is able support more than one printer connection.
If you want to install the printer using an IP address, go to Start>Control Panel>Printers and Faxes and then click the ‘add printer’ icon. Next click ‘Create a new port’ then ‘Standard TCP/IP Port’ from the drop down menu. You will then be asked to enter the IP address. Enter the IP address of the print server and click ‘next’. You will be asked to select the printer manufacturer and the model from the list. If you do not see your printer model listed, insert the installation disc that came with the printer and click ‘have disc’.
If you do not know the IP address of the printer, you can select ‘browse for printer’ in the beginning of the process. If the networked printer is attached to another computer being shared, you will need to enter the name of the computer followed by the share name of the printer. For example //computername/printername.
Spending extra on a network printer can save you money in the long term. Network printers can be higher grade and the ink cartridges can last longer than personal inkjet printers!
Tags: ink cartridges, inkjet, inkjet printers, installing a printer, local printer, network printer, networked printer, new printer, printer, printer driver, printer drivers, printer installation, printer model, printer models, printer networks, printers, wireless network, wireless printer, wireless printers
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Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Tips for buying a photo printer
There are three main types of printer to consider when purchasing a photo printer. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages, so you will need to think about how you want to use the printer. A standard inkjet printer is designed to handle 8.5” x 11” paper, so you are able to print 8” x 11” photos. There are larger models available which can accommodate larger paper and produce larger prints. Another inkjet printer variable is the number of ink cartridges it requires to print in colour. The more colours you have, the closer the colours will represent true life. Also, you may just want to replace a particular colour cartridge that has run out, instead of replacing an entire multi-colour cartridge. A colour laser printer is also another option to consider, however they don’t always provide the best photographs. A photo produced by a laser printer will not have the same level of clarity or brightness as other options. The final option is a snapshot printer; this is a good choice if you want to produce high quality photos mainly in 4” x 6” or under. Some snapshot printers are designed to be portable and they won’t take up a lot of space on your desk.
If you want to truly judge the quality of a photo printer, you need to see some actual results. Ensure you ask the shop assistant if you can view some samples before purchasing the printer. Some stores may even print some of your photos for you, so always bring your memory card with you. The most important thing when viewing the results is to examine the fine details of the photo.
Another important factor to consider is the longevity of the print out. Ideally your photo should be waterproof and long lasting. Most thermal dye printers lay down a clear overcoating to protect the image. Some inkjet printers also offer waterproof prints. The key term you need to keep an eye out for is lightfastness; this refers to how long your photos will look good for. You can look for printers which use ‘archival’ inks, these are supposed to prolong fading.
A few years ago you would have to transfer all your photographs from your camera to your computer, choose your favourite shots and then send them to the printer! Nowadays, many printers come with the convenience of a USB port or even a memory card slot, so you never need to turn on your computer at all. It would also be sensible to try and find a printer with an integrated LCD screen so you can view your photos and even do some basic editing before printing!
If you need to printer smaller photos such as business cards or photos for your wallet, make sure your printer works with smaller sized paper as well.
Also, consider the types of paper available for the printer; many professionals prefer the look of matte paper.
Ensure you check the cost per page. You can get the exact cost per page for thermal dye and other printers that sell their cartridges in sets with a specific number of photo paper sheets and a matched supply of ink cartridges. Prices range from 15 pence to 50 pence per 42 x 6” print.
The three most important things to look for in a photo printer are quality, quality and quality! Everything else in secondary!
Tags: colour cartridge, colour laser printer, ink cartridge, ink cartridges, inkjet, inkjet printer, inkjet printers, laser printer, lightfastness, matte paper, mulit-colour cartridge, photo paper, photo printer, photo printers, printers, snapshot printer, snapshot printers, thermal dye printers, waterproof prints
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Monday, March 15th, 2010
Top 5 Printer Manufacturers
We have compiled the top 5 printer manufacturers and included a brief history of each company.
1. Hewlett Packard
HP began in 1939 when Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard created HP whilst working on an audio oscillator in a garage in Palo Alto, California. Walt Disney purchased several of these oscillators for their latest move ‘Fantasia’. HP started as a small company which produced all sorts of electronic products and they first focused on counters and voltmeters. In 1984 HP produced their first inkjet and laser printers. HP rose to popularity in the late 90’s by marketing their computers and printers to the average consumer and they opened an online store to help reach them. HP is currently one of the largest providers of printing hardware and printing supplies. They feature in inkjet printers, laser printers, all in one printers, multifunction printers, photo printers and large format printers.
2. Epson
Epson is a Japanese company which was established in 1961 under the name of Shinshu Seiki to provide precision parts for Seiko watches. The company won the contract to make the precision timers for the 1964 Olympics and also picked up a contract to design a printer. The first printer Epson produced was called the EP-101 and was released in 1968; it was the first printer with an electronic calculator printer mechanism. Epson’s first dot matrix printer was released in 1978; however this did not attract much attention. In the late 80’s Epson produced an improved version, the MX-80. This printer took 2 years to develop and quickly became the best selling printer in the United States and eventually became the industrial standard for microcomputers. Epson is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of dot matrix, inkjet and laser printers for home and office use.
3. Canon
Canon was established in Japan in 1933 by Goro Yoshida and Saburo Uchid, who founded the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory. Their aim was to make cameras that would compete with the most advanced German models of the day. They produced Japan’s first 35mm camera called the Kwanon with a focal plane shutter. The company name, Canon, was chosen because it was so similar to the name in Japanese of their debut product, the Kwanon. Nowadays, Canon makes cameras, printers, copiers and many other office products and their most profitable area involves the sale of digital copiers for offices. Canon makes and supplies the print engines used in many Hewlett-Packard products, specifically the LaserJet laser printers. Canon is currently working on rear-projection displays.
4. Lexmark
Lexmark is a relatively new company and was established in 1991 it was a branch off from IBM. They produce printers and ink cartridges and are located in Lexington, Kentucky. In 1994 all IBM logos were removed from Lexmark printer products as the company had made a name for itself and was proving very successful. The company went public in 1995. With over 13,000 employees across the world and 4,000 at their headquarters alone, Lexmark has come a long way from its birth in the early nineties. They currently make third-party products for other companies including Dell. Lexmark was the first company to offer a printer for under £60. They were also one of the pioneers in releasing the state of the art Wi-Fi-based inkjet printers.
5. Dell
Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell whilst he was still a student at the University of Texas. The company was first called PC’s Limited. The following year, Dell came out with their very first computer called the Turbo, which had an eight-megahertz processor. The major goal was to produce personal computer systems that were IBM compatible and were produced using entirely stock parts. The first Dell laptop made its debut in 1991 and by 1993; it became one of the top five computer companies in the world. By 1995. The progress of the business was rapid and in 1997, Dell had shipped its ten millionth system. In 1996, Dell began selling their products through their website and three years later they took over Compaq. Dell printers are known for being versatile and easy to use; however a recent development has brought criticism to the company when Lexmark began working with them and modified their cartridges so that they don’t work with Dell printers.
Tags: all in one printers, Canon, Dell, dell printer, dell printers, dot matrix printer, Epson, epson printers, Hewlett Packard, HP, IBM, ink cartridges, inkjet, inkjet printer, inkjet printers, large format printers, laser printer, laser printers, LaserJet laser printers, Lexmark, lexmark printer, multifunction printers, photo printers, wi-fi
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Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Choosing the right printer paper
Once you have decided which printer and ink cartridges best suit your needs, you will need to think about which kind of paper to use in the printer. Many people think the kind of paper they use in their printer isn’t important. To ensure you get the very best results from your printer you should choose your paper based on the kind of printing you do. Not all paper is suitable for all printers. Inkjet and laser printers can print on a variety of surfaces such as photo paper, labels, business cards, stickers and T-shirt transfers. One of the benefits of laser printers is their ability to print on almost any paper. Although most printer paper is up to the task, your prints can be better if you utilise paper specifically created for inkjet printers. When buying inkjet printer paper there are a number of important facts to consider. These include the brightness, absorption, weight and the purpose it was designed for.
Brightness
The brightness of the paper refers to how well the paper reflects light. Many people confuse whiteness with brightness. The higher the brightness rating of the paper, the more vibrant and alive the colours will appear. The brightness rating could be the difference between a dull looking picture and a picture that is so alive with colour it could jump out from the page. The whiteness refers to the actual shade of colour on the paper and how close it is to pure white. Also, paper which is advertised as being brighter than average will also be smoother. The smoother your paper the better your print will appear.
Absorption
If your printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will look better. As the paper absorbs the ink, small dots on the page could spread outside their borders. This might cause the perimeters of text and images on the paper to look fuzzy and unclear. To overcome this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance which prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well coated paper will produce more precise and clearer print outs. Overall, the majority of printers on the market will print at the next resolution on waxy coated paper than on normal paper.
Weight (Thickness)
The heavier the paper rating, the thicker each sheet of paper will be. Heavier printer paper will feel more substantial and stiff in your hand. Many people choose slightly heavier paper over normal paper as it has a more professional feel to it. You are less likely to have a paper jam in your printer if you use a slightly thicker paper. When it comes to photo paper, the most common weights are between 120gsm and 280gsm. If you are printing in bulk then 120gsm should be sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing images at home you should consider 160gsm to 200gsm. If you require shiny photographs you will need to purchase glossy paper, if shine is not an issue you should consider matt photo paper.
Purpose
To obtain the very best results possible you should choose your printer paper based on what you plan to do with it. All purpose paper is generally the cheapest kind of paper available, but this will tend to give you poorer results when printing images or colour. Printer paper which is designed specifically to go through inkjet printers will perform better in an inkjet printer than general purpose paper will. This will be slightly more expensive but the results will speak for themselves. Inkjet paper is also usually treated with a special coating which enables the colours to stay bright and vibrant.
Photo paper
You need to remember that the majority of branded photo printer paper from well known manufacturers is only appropriate for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. There are some important points to consider when purchasing your photo paper. You should always check the DPI (Dots per inch) of the photo paper. The DPI is an indicator of how much ink the paper will absorb per inch on the page. If you use a low DPI paper for prime resolution printing this will result in lower quality prints. Often, if the seller does not state the DPI of their inkjet photo paper, then it usually means it is very low and therefore a low grade paper. You need to also check that the photo paper is instant dry. Some cheaper photo papers might not be designed to dry instantly, and this can lead to colours running or smudging whilst the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, it is likely it won’t be instant dry.
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