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Save Ink and Paper Every Time You Print
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#2
ceemeister 
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Posted 10 November 2008 - 07:44 PM
You really missed the boat on saving ink IMO. By far the best and easiest way is to change the default printer settings to use "Fast Normal" (or Draft if Fast Normal is not avaible.) If you don't routinely need color, set the default to Grayscale-Black Only too.
You can set the default print quality by going to the Printers folder, right-clicking on the printer to get it properties, and choosing the Printing Preferences button.
You can still choose higher quality whenever you wish from the application's Printer or Print Setup dialog box. Draft printing is HIGHLY recommended as the default if you let your child use a printer since they tend to print excessively! (Also consider loading their printer with scrap paper you've saved from failed print jobs.)
You can set the default print quality by going to the Printers folder, right-clicking on the printer to get it properties, and choosing the Printing Preferences button.
You can still choose higher quality whenever you wish from the application's Printer or Print Setup dialog box. Draft printing is HIGHLY recommended as the default if you let your child use a printer since they tend to print excessively! (Also consider loading their printer with scrap paper you've saved from failed print jobs.)
#4
AuroraDizon
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Posted 11 November 2008 - 11:30 AM
Steve still writes for the print column. You can find his technology newsletter at www.techbite.com
#5
jonathanpwyl
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Posted 11 November 2008 - 11:10 PM
Another way to save on printing is to use a site like printwhatyoulike.com. Printwhatyoulike.com lets you remove ads and other junk off webpages, so you only print the content you actually want. The site also provides a bunch of other ways to save paper- you can merge multiple webpages into one print document, make any page black on white, change the text font and size, and widen articles to take up the full width of the page. Any page can be saved as a pdf. Printwhatyoulike.com is free and runs inside your browser, so you don't have to install anything.
#6
Evildave
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Posted 11 November 2008 - 11:24 PM
I just print things to PDF files and archive 'em somewhere and/or email 'em or print to FAX. Let somebody else kill a tree.
Doesn't really save me ink, though. My brother MFC doohicky eats all the ink in a year whether I use it or not. Approximate cost per page... let's see, about $40 for all four cartridges, and I printed about four pages all year, so about $10 per page. What really ticks me off is I can't print black & white if it's out of any color, I can't even SCAN or send a FAX. It's a useless brick as soon as any ink cartridge runs out (or low enough so the ink sensor believe's it's out). That makes Brother the #1 maker of CRAP in my book.
Oh well, as soon as the current batch of ink runs out, I'll just buy a laser printer. They don't wake up at 2:00am to eat toner just because they're bored (aka 'self cleaning').
Doesn't really save me ink, though. My brother MFC doohicky eats all the ink in a year whether I use it or not. Approximate cost per page... let's see, about $40 for all four cartridges, and I printed about four pages all year, so about $10 per page. What really ticks me off is I can't print black & white if it's out of any color, I can't even SCAN or send a FAX. It's a useless brick as soon as any ink cartridge runs out (or low enough so the ink sensor believe's it's out). That makes Brother the #1 maker of CRAP in my book.
Oh well, as soon as the current batch of ink runs out, I'll just buy a laser printer. They don't wake up at 2:00am to eat toner just because they're bored (aka 'self cleaning').
#7
Cham1203
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Posted 13 November 2008 - 08:17 AM
jonathanpwyl - Thanks for the tip - I've never heard of that site, but it will definitely come in handy!
First - a question based on this topic: Does anyone know how to print a single page of an email in Outlook 2007? It seems like such a waste to print 6 pages of an email when I get a
response to the 5-page email I've already printed - I only need to
print out the most recent response. I was able to do it in Outlook 2003, but can't for the life of me figure out how to do it in Outlook 2007. I consider myself to be relatively computer savvy, and with a little research I can usually find an answer on my own, but I've searched online and on Microsoft's webpage with no luck. There is no option to choose to print current page or to enter which page you want to print in the print dialog box or properties. I'm printing to an HP Laserjet 4250. Any suggestions?
Evildave - you may be able to do a little research online and find a way to reset your color color cartridge sensor to get around the issue. I don't know what model you have, so I can't offer any specific suggestions, but I've been able to tweak my printers in the past. You may also be able to find a way to adjust the self-cleaning schedule as well. Laser printers are great - they're fast, give very clean printouts and the ink doesn't bleed if it gets wet, but toner is VERY expensive and if you want to have the option to print in color, forget sending your first born child to college :-) Most models require you to replace the entire cartridge if one color runs out, which can add to the expense.
Now, my comments on the article and suggestions for conserving resources:
While I think this article offers some valid solutions for occasionally
conserving paper and ink in certain situations, I have to say that for
me, printing two pages to a sheet simply isn't very practical for
everyday use, especially after sitting in front of a computer all day.
You might save on ink and paper, but your eyes probably won't be very happy
with you :-)
Some simple suggestions for conserving ink and paper (and saving money!):
- To review a document, just read it on your screen. You can view
actual size, print layouts, and larger than life versions in most programs. It can take a little getting used to not having the document in hand, but will become second nature in no time.
- Obviously, in a business environment, we often have no choice but to print emails and other documentation for our files. If this is the case, as others have suggested, set your printer to print grayscale and draft/fast print. The difference in print quality is practically non-existant, and you can always change the settings manually on the rare occasions where you need a color or a high-quality printout. If what you're printing isn't text-intensive, this is a good time to do the two per page printing as suggested in the above blog.
- To save paper, print on the front and back whenever possible, especially if you're just printing for future reference or printing something like an equipment manual (also suitable for two per page printing).
- As others have suggested, print on the back of previously printed pages (we all print things that end up with one or two lines on the second page) have printed whenever possible - especially if you're just printing to review layout, or printing a webpage for reference. We charge our kids for every non-school related page that is printed (just like the library - 10 cents each for b/w, 15 cents for color) and it comes directly out of their allowance, or they can work it off doing extra chores. They learn really quickly to be more selective about what they print :-)
- If you want to print a certain section of a webpage or document but not the whole thing, highlight that portion, click print, and choose 'selection'. If the webpage won't let you highlight a certain portion, click 'Edit' then 'Select All' and paste into a Word document. Once there, you can highlight the specific section you want and print that selection only. If you're doing a lot of research for small snippets of information, you can always cut and paste into a word document (include the link if you think you'll need it in the future)
- If you're printing Powerpoint handouts for meeting participants, consider putting 3 (or more) slides on a sheet - 3 slides per sheet still gives participants space to make notes, and since most slides contain key points and are not text-intensive, they should still be easy to read. If you have any text-intensive pages, you can always include a full-page copy along with the others.
- If you're sharing a document with someone, or asking them to review it, email it to them instead of giving them a hard copy.
- Encourage others to reduce consumption by including a little blurb in your signature line like, "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail."or if you think it would be a better motivator - "Print this e-mail only if necessary - saving money means a bigger raise/profit sharing/stock dividend/etc."
First - a question based on this topic: Does anyone know how to print a single page of an email in Outlook 2007? It seems like such a waste to print 6 pages of an email when I get a
response to the 5-page email I've already printed - I only need to
print out the most recent response. I was able to do it in Outlook 2003, but can't for the life of me figure out how to do it in Outlook 2007. I consider myself to be relatively computer savvy, and with a little research I can usually find an answer on my own, but I've searched online and on Microsoft's webpage with no luck. There is no option to choose to print current page or to enter which page you want to print in the print dialog box or properties. I'm printing to an HP Laserjet 4250. Any suggestions?
Evildave - you may be able to do a little research online and find a way to reset your color color cartridge sensor to get around the issue. I don't know what model you have, so I can't offer any specific suggestions, but I've been able to tweak my printers in the past. You may also be able to find a way to adjust the self-cleaning schedule as well. Laser printers are great - they're fast, give very clean printouts and the ink doesn't bleed if it gets wet, but toner is VERY expensive and if you want to have the option to print in color, forget sending your first born child to college :-) Most models require you to replace the entire cartridge if one color runs out, which can add to the expense.
Now, my comments on the article and suggestions for conserving resources:
While I think this article offers some valid solutions for occasionally
conserving paper and ink in certain situations, I have to say that for
me, printing two pages to a sheet simply isn't very practical for
everyday use, especially after sitting in front of a computer all day.
You might save on ink and paper, but your eyes probably won't be very happy
with you :-)
Some simple suggestions for conserving ink and paper (and saving money!):
- To review a document, just read it on your screen. You can view
actual size, print layouts, and larger than life versions in most programs. It can take a little getting used to not having the document in hand, but will become second nature in no time.
- Obviously, in a business environment, we often have no choice but to print emails and other documentation for our files. If this is the case, as others have suggested, set your printer to print grayscale and draft/fast print. The difference in print quality is practically non-existant, and you can always change the settings manually on the rare occasions where you need a color or a high-quality printout. If what you're printing isn't text-intensive, this is a good time to do the two per page printing as suggested in the above blog.
- To save paper, print on the front and back whenever possible, especially if you're just printing for future reference or printing something like an equipment manual (also suitable for two per page printing).
- As others have suggested, print on the back of previously printed pages (we all print things that end up with one or two lines on the second page) have printed whenever possible - especially if you're just printing to review layout, or printing a webpage for reference. We charge our kids for every non-school related page that is printed (just like the library - 10 cents each for b/w, 15 cents for color) and it comes directly out of their allowance, or they can work it off doing extra chores. They learn really quickly to be more selective about what they print :-)
- If you want to print a certain section of a webpage or document but not the whole thing, highlight that portion, click print, and choose 'selection'. If the webpage won't let you highlight a certain portion, click 'Edit' then 'Select All' and paste into a Word document. Once there, you can highlight the specific section you want and print that selection only. If you're doing a lot of research for small snippets of information, you can always cut and paste into a word document (include the link if you think you'll need it in the future)
- If you're printing Powerpoint handouts for meeting participants, consider putting 3 (or more) slides on a sheet - 3 slides per sheet still gives participants space to make notes, and since most slides contain key points and are not text-intensive, they should still be easy to read. If you have any text-intensive pages, you can always include a full-page copy along with the others.
- If you're sharing a document with someone, or asking them to review it, email it to them instead of giving them a hard copy.
- Encourage others to reduce consumption by including a little blurb in your signature line like, "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail."or if you think it would be a better motivator - "Print this e-mail only if necessary - saving money means a bigger raise/profit sharing/stock dividend/etc."
#8
Evildave
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Posted 17 November 2008 - 01:57 PM
How to print a single page - copy/paste the relevant portion of the email into an editor (or word processor) and print that.
That 'very expensive' toner lasts for-f@*&ing ever. If one toner cartridge does 5000 pages (typical), and I print an average 50 pages per year, how long will the toner last?
If you answered 'longer than the printer', you are RIGHT. Dust (and cat hair) contamination, and stiffening rubber wheels and other mechanical problems will do the printer in long before the toner runs out. Even if I went crazy and averaged 250 pages a year, the toner would still outlast the printer. Granted, the toner cart that ships with most printers is a 'demo' with far less toner than it ought to, but that means I might replace the toner ONCE.
Keep in mind, I do most things electronically and only need 'convenience' prints when I can't do it electronically.
And laser multifunction things don't cost much more than inkjet MFC things. So it's black & white? I almost NEVER want color anyway.
Far better than 'tinkering' with toner cartridges (and no, the 'refill' places won't touch newer Brother cartridges) and potentially making an indelible mess.
Toner carts for most newer inexpensive laser printers contain practically the whole print engine. That's why they're so 'expensive'. It was sad, my dad's HP laser printer (which he got for $129 several years ago) started printing lines and blank patches. It wasn't out of toner. Replacing the $50 toner cartridge replaced everything that 'went wrong'. It's worked fine ever since. He's been through $100 worth of ink in the newer multifunction printer next to it, even though he doesn't use it as much as the laser. He & his GF print a lot more than I do, but even they rarely print pictures. The color ink just 'disappears'.
That 'very expensive' toner lasts for-f@*&ing ever. If one toner cartridge does 5000 pages (typical), and I print an average 50 pages per year, how long will the toner last?
If you answered 'longer than the printer', you are RIGHT. Dust (and cat hair) contamination, and stiffening rubber wheels and other mechanical problems will do the printer in long before the toner runs out. Even if I went crazy and averaged 250 pages a year, the toner would still outlast the printer. Granted, the toner cart that ships with most printers is a 'demo' with far less toner than it ought to, but that means I might replace the toner ONCE.
Keep in mind, I do most things electronically and only need 'convenience' prints when I can't do it electronically.
And laser multifunction things don't cost much more than inkjet MFC things. So it's black & white? I almost NEVER want color anyway.
Far better than 'tinkering' with toner cartridges (and no, the 'refill' places won't touch newer Brother cartridges) and potentially making an indelible mess.
Toner carts for most newer inexpensive laser printers contain practically the whole print engine. That's why they're so 'expensive'. It was sad, my dad's HP laser printer (which he got for $129 several years ago) started printing lines and blank patches. It wasn't out of toner. Replacing the $50 toner cartridge replaced everything that 'went wrong'. It's worked fine ever since. He's been through $100 worth of ink in the newer multifunction printer next to it, even though he doesn't use it as much as the laser. He & his GF print a lot more than I do, but even they rarely print pictures. The color ink just 'disappears'.
#9
cputman
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Posted 17 November 2008 - 10:42 PM
I was printing more than I really needed to ... just because the printer was always on and ready to go. I turned my printer off to make it difficult for me to hit the print button so easily and the inconvenience of having to turn it on and wait for it to start up discourages me from printing anything I can really live without.
#10
LindaA
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Posted 19 November 2008 - 06:17 AM
"I just print things to PDF files and archive 'em somewhere and/or email 'em or print to FAX. Let somebody else kill a tree."
Hate to break it to ya, Dave, but regardless of how you print, whether it's to fax or not, if you're printing out a hard copy, you're using paper, so don't be so smug and think you're innocent of tree-killing, that is, unless you use 100% recycled paper.
I use a Canon i350 printer myself. It works very nicely and the ink cartridges -- which I get from PrintPal -- are dirt cheap. ($4.00 for a black cartridge; $5.00 for color, with NO shipping and handling charge.) I don't do a whole lot of printing, so a ream of paper lasts me a VERY long time, and when I do print, I usually print in grayscale and try to remember to set the print quality to either "Standard" or "Draft." As well as my i350 works, though, if I could afford a laser printer, believe me, I would most definitely get one. (I like the HP Laserjet printers, but HP ink cartridges are obscenely expensive!)
I have no experience with Brother's printers so I can't say anything either for or against 'em, but I like Brother's P-touch labelmakers, and I have a Brother personal fax machine that works very well, so I have no quibble whatsoever with the Brother products I HAVE used.
Hate to break it to ya, Dave, but regardless of how you print, whether it's to fax or not, if you're printing out a hard copy, you're using paper, so don't be so smug and think you're innocent of tree-killing, that is, unless you use 100% recycled paper.
I use a Canon i350 printer myself. It works very nicely and the ink cartridges -- which I get from PrintPal -- are dirt cheap. ($4.00 for a black cartridge; $5.00 for color, with NO shipping and handling charge.) I don't do a whole lot of printing, so a ream of paper lasts me a VERY long time, and when I do print, I usually print in grayscale and try to remember to set the print quality to either "Standard" or "Draft." As well as my i350 works, though, if I could afford a laser printer, believe me, I would most definitely get one. (I like the HP Laserjet printers, but HP ink cartridges are obscenely expensive!)
I have no experience with Brother's printers so I can't say anything either for or against 'em, but I like Brother's P-touch labelmakers, and I have a Brother personal fax machine that works very well, so I have no quibble whatsoever with the Brother products I HAVE used.
#12
scroden
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Posted 07 December 2008 - 08:56 PM
If you REALLY want to "Save Ink and Paper Every Time You Print" you should visit this site: www.ecoprintsaver.com
#13
jabo99
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Posted 07 December 2008 - 09:24 PM
I use the ecoPrint Pro version in our office - it works wonderfully.
It automatically goes by my ink and papaer savings settings and reduces ink usage on all my print jobs.
The print quality is great and you can definitely tell that its saving ink every time you print.
I installed it since last June and have just bought a new tank of ink. Normally i chew through a new cartridge once a month so this product is great for my business.
I would recommend it to anyone. Its a great product.
There is a trial version that allows you to print something like 50 times.
You should give it a try.
http://www.ecoprints...m/download.html
There is a standard version that saves only ink; the pro version saves paper as well.
It automatically goes by my ink and papaer savings settings and reduces ink usage on all my print jobs.
The print quality is great and you can definitely tell that its saving ink every time you print.
I installed it since last June and have just bought a new tank of ink. Normally i chew through a new cartridge once a month so this product is great for my business.
I would recommend it to anyone. Its a great product.
There is a trial version that allows you to print something like 50 times.
You should give it a try.
http://www.ecoprints...m/download.html
There is a standard version that saves only ink; the pro version saves paper as well.
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