Using The Least Ink Possible For Bright Pictures

2010-07-14

It is common for a printed image from an ink jet printer to look dull and a little blurred compared to the image that is displayed on the screen. Many consumers will replace their printer ink cartridges with more expensive ink, or change the printing settings so that there is more ink delivered during the printing process. People who use an ink refill system may blame the process for providing off-color images. The fact is, you can reduce the amount of ink that you use and increase the brightness of your images by choosing the right kind of paper and adjusting your printer settings properly.

Use the Right Paper

The paper you use is vital to the performance of your printer ink cartridges. Inexpensive copy paper is fine for printing black and white documents, but color images tend to soak into the fiber of the paper and appear dull and washed out. If you try to increase the ink setting, the image will probably become blurry or streaked because there is too much ink to soak into the paper. Using more ink will also mean that you need to spend more money on unnecessary ink refill cartridges, as well. If you want bright, crisp pictures that use the least possible ink, choose good quality paper that is bright white. Glossy paper will provide the best results for printing images, but a dense matte paper will give you good results when glossy is not appropriate.

Adjust Printer Settings

When you change paper type, it is important to change the printer settings as well. Your printer dialogue on your computer should give you the option to choose the type of paper that you are using. When you select the correct paper, your printer will make the necessary adjustments so that it uses just the right amount of ink. Using the wrong settings can lead to excess ink that creates streaks and blobs instead of the sharp images that you want.

Thoroughly Proof Images Before Printing

It may seem obvious, but one of the most effective ways of conserving ink when you create bright images is to only have to print once. The most common and expensive problem most people experience while printing is finding a mistake once the image or document has already been printed. A thorough proof of your document before you press the print button can save you time, paper, and ink. It also saves you from the frustration of having to start a print job over again when you thought you were finished. If possible, talk someone else into looking your document over as well. They may see something that you have overlooked.