subject: Peripherals Maintenance - Printers and Scanners [print this page] If you dont think that maintenance matter, then you will pretty soon start to see a decline in the quality and performance of your most used peripherals.
Your printer and scanner both offer a relatively trouble-free lifespan that can be extended if you get into the habit of running maintenance routines.
Take measures to prevent problems
Both your printer and scanner should be situated away from excessive heat and lights to avoid the spread of dust and fibres. Dust is a major problem in a digital workflow and once it gets embedded into the internals of your peripherals, it can be almost impossible to clean or remove. If your film scanner has a permanently open film holder slot, thereby leaving it open to environmental problems such as dust, moisture and otherforeign bodies, consider protecting the unit by taping some clear plastic over the open slot, hinged for easy use in the future. Film holders should be kept packed away in a drawer, rather than left out in the open to gather dust. Keep a blower brush or a can of jet air nearby, so you can clean the holder before inserting your film originals.
Alignment of the printer head
Experimenting with different types of media, especially thick watercolour paper types, can push the printer heads a little bit out of position. It's necessary to run a printer head alignment" routine every month or so. If you get a very thin white Iine appearing across your printout, then your printer heads need realigning. Goto your printer software dialogue box and press the tool icon and then follow the instructions for the Printer Head Alignment option.
Head cleaning and Nozzle check utility
Run regular nozzle cleaning routines, especially if you use pigment-based inks and make a simple check on ink blockages by printing a head cleaning test. All blockages in individual ink cartridges lead to an instant change in the color balance of your printouts, but are usually accompanied by an unexpected texture. If you get a shift in color, make a head cleaning test on paper to confirm which colors are currently printing.
Vendors software updates
Software and Drivers for printers and scanners are updated regularly by hardware manufacturers and not only in response to changes in computer operating systems. The threat of incompatibility between your driver software and your system software is unlikely to happen today. For both printer and scanner software, chances are that your version has probably been updated with a much better version that will improve your workflow. New printer software updates also include the very latest color profiles for todays paper brands, and vital information if you start to use Photoshop's soft proofing functions. If you have access to broadband internet, you can download updates in a matter of minutes and nearly all hardware manufacturers provide this download service for free.
You should give yourself all the necessary time to do this maintenance accurately. The final output will be rewarding and look more professional.
