subject: Printing at home and ordering photo printer inks using the web: Is it cost-effective and how can you get the best results [print this page] Printing at home and ordering photo printer inks using the web: Is it cost-effective and how can you get the best results
If you're looking for printing supplies then look no further than http://www.ink-supplies.co.uk/. You'll find below some useful information on printers and buying printer ink cartridges.
Most people who regularly use computers to print off documentation have at some point been struck by how expensive it is to keep their printer in ink or toner.
One way is to minimise the amount of ink or toner you use. This can be done by having a policy of never printing a hard copy of a document if it can be avoided, and also by using the printer at its most economical setting. Draft print quality is adequate for most purposes, and printing in colour should be kept to an absolute minimum as colour ink or toner is much more expensive than black.
Refill kits are the cheapest option and help you reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money because you do not throw away the empty cartridge. Instead, you refill it using the syringe or other device that is provided with the kit. The drawback with this is that great care is needed; ink and toner are easily spilled, and can make a considerable mess. If you do choose this option, you will find that your technique improves with practice.
However, many suppliers sell alternatives at a far lower cost. The manufacturer, if challenged, would assert that these are inferior products. There may be a small grain of truth in this, as some alternatives do occasionally result in smudgy or faint printing. It is for the consumer to decide whether the risk of slightly reduced print quality balances out the very significant difference in price. The chances of any alternative product damaging a printer are infinitesimal.
Alternatives to OEM replacements include buying refill kits, buying refilled cartridges, and buying brand new compatible' cartridges.
Using refill packs and refilled cartridges is environmentally friendly, since you are recycling rather than buying new and throwing away plastic. Unfortunately, more and more manufacturers are incorporating microchips into their print cartridges. These microchips are read by the printer, so that the printer can identify whether you have inserted a new cartridge or put the old one back in; if the latter, the printer will insist that it is empty and will refuse to print. It will also not accept a non OEM product. These scenarios are unlikely to occur and both can be resolved, but you should check with your supplier to see if they have been known to arise with your model of printer.
Whilst any of these options should provide good print quality, if your business requires optimum quality every time you may decide that you will continue to purchase OEM replacements. Online and mail order suppliers are sometimes able to offer these at a discount.
However, it may be possible to save money simply by reducing the amount of ink or toner you use. By only printing a document when a hard copy is absolutely necessary, by using the draft quality setting on your printer and by avoiding printing in colour, as colour cartridges are more expensive than black, you will be able to prolong the life of your print cartridges.
About the Author: Journalist and researcher Gemma Hayes has a special interest in shopping, http://www.ink-supplies.co.uk/ and consumer affairs. She's been involved in numerous user recognition campaigns and is currently working on a research project to assess whether UK consumers are getting a great deal from technology suppliers. If this article interested you, visit http://www.ink-supplies.co.uk/
