Do you ever feel like your printer is just not up to snuff? You are not alone! Most printer owners experience issues with print quality at some point in their printer’s lifetime. Still, the good news is that you can take plenty of steps to improve print quality without expensive hardware upgrades!
In this blog post, we will offer seven tips on how to do so.
1. Clean the printer’s printer head regularly
Cleaning printer heads is a simple way to improve printer quality and get the most out of your printer.
Make sure you’re using authentic printer cleaning paper or cartridges when doing so, as substitutes will lead to smudges, blotches and lines across printing. If dry ink stains are persistent on the print head, try soaking it in rubbing alcohol for about five minutes before wiping clean with a lint-free cloth.
If there’s dried-up toner inside the printer cartridge, clip off one corner of an envelope (one without any writing) and use it to scoop out any excess – this might also be necessary if you find that page prints come out blank even though there was enough ink left!
Be careful not to touch anything inside the printer when you’re cleaning it, as this will leave oils and residue that could lead to future printer problems. The printer head can get quite dirty after constant use, so make sure you clean it regularly for a better quality of prints!
2. Learn about printer settings and optimise printer usage
Printer settings can make a big difference in the quality of your printer’s output. Play around with the printer driver and see what works best for you, as well as optimising printer usage to get the most out of it!
For example, when printing drafts or large batches, use draft mode and toggle off toner save features; if using the default printer setting, go to “print preferences”, which may show helpful tips such as “toner save will decrease the print quality.”
When printing photos from an online source like Facebook, try turning down colour saturation and contrast under printer properties before hitting print. This is also recommended when copying text documents, so they don’t come out too dark or faded.
There are plenty of printer settings that can be adjusted to increase the print quality you get from your printer, so don’t assume it’s just a lost cause!
Also, make sure you only use genuine printer paper and ink cartridges when printing documents, as this will ensure they turn out clear with no smudges or blotches!
3. Move the printer closer to your computer, so it doesn’t have as far to travel to print your documents
Moving the printer closer to your computer will cut down on time wasted when you have to wait for documents to print – and it’s an excellent way to improve printer quality too!
Try putting the printer in an accessible location, such as next to or near your desk. Additionally, ensure that its cables are routed so they don’t get caught up under any furniture (which can happen if you’ve got them running behind couches or tables). It may also be helpful to purchase a printer stand with wheels, so it is easier to move around.
Making the printer as accessible and close to your computer as possible will make printing documents quicker. And by trying out different printer driver settings or optimising printer usage, there’s a good chance that print quality will improve too.
4. Replace printer paper with glossy or photo quality paper
If you’re printing graphics, photos or text documents that require high print quality and details to come out clear – then glossy or photo paper is the way to go!
One great thing about printer paper like this is how it doesn’t let through any excess ink, leading to smudges, blotches and lines across your print. If you want crisp images and a professional-looking document, try using semi-glossy printer paper.
It’s worth noting that for printer settings such as “toner save” (which reduces output) it might be necessary to use higher-grade materials instead of default printer paper.
5. Replace printer ink cartridges with high-quality printer ink
Not all printer ink cartridges are created equal, so it’s always worth trying out a different printer cartridge to see if print quality improves.
Some printer companies offer printer cartridges that have been designed for use with their printers only, and these will often deliver the best printing results. Samsung multifunction printer is one example of this and they offer numerous types of printer ink cartridges which come in black or tri-colour!
Others may be compatible with other brands as well, such as Epson printer ink. This company also has lots of colour options including white (which can help you save on paper) and light cyan, dark blue and yellow hues too! It might seem expensive at first but remember, using original printer ink from your manufacturer means there’ll be fewer printer problems and more professional-looking printouts in the long run.
6. Consider printer alternatives
There are printer alternatives to consider if all else fails, such as an inkjet printer if you’re on a budget or a laser printer if the print quality is your main priority. Laser printers often have higher resolution and produce a sharper output, but they also tend to be much more expensive than their counterparts!
One downside of using them is that the toner cartridges can wear out over time – so it’s essential to make sure they’re replaced as needed. If this happens before a new cartridge has been purchased, don’t worry, compatible replacements exist, which will work just as well as OEM branded materials from brands such as HP (and cost less!).
7. Have the printer and ink cartridges professionally serviced
One of the best ways to improve print quality is by having your printer serviced. This should be done at least once a year as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. Still, it may also need servicing more often if there are issues with printing, for instance, blank pages that won’t go away might mean the ink cartridges are ready to expire!
Many printer service companies offer professional printer and ink cartridge servicing packages that can be scheduled conveniently to you. So whether it’s the printer itself or just an easy-to-set appointment to get your printer fixed up as well as its cartridges serviced all in one go, they’ve got you covered!
Conclusion
No matter what changes you make, one thing not worth considering is printer paper with a higher cost per printer sheet, just for print quality or printer ink which is more expensive but promises better printer performance.
What’s most important when getting great printing results is following these seven tips and finding what works best for you! If these steps don’t work, it might be time for an upgrade – but there are plenty of ways to boost printer performance before jumping in and buying a new printer.
