Printing at home is expensive, especially when it feels like you’re swapping out ink cartridges every other week.  The cheapest way to cut down on printing costs is to avoid printing altogether (have your boarding pass emailed to your smartphone for your next flight!), but unfortunately that’s not always a possibility.  From expense reports to concert tickets, most of us still need to print on a regular basis, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  Here are some smart tips to help you cut down on printing costs:

Fast draft printing mode
The fastest and easiest way to cut down on ink use (and cost!) is by printing in draft mode.  Draft mode lays down less ink, and while your text will look a bit grayer than black, it’s useful for less important documents.  The draft option should come up in the print dialog box each time you print, so you can decide on a case by case basis when the print quality isn’t important.  Alternately, you can set the printer default to draft mode so it automatically saves you ink and money.  While settings vary from program to program, in Windows you can find the option by choosing File > Print then look around for a setting called “draft” or “fast draft.”  If you don’t see a drop-down option or checkbox named this, look for the Print Quality tab to adjust your settings.

Choose your font wisely
When you print, you probably pick your favorite font or go with a default — perhaps the tried-and-true Times New Roman or maybe something with a little more flair?  But font choice can dramatically affect how much ink you use — and a new font was actually designed to save you a chunk of change.  Thicker, bolder, or more ornate fonts naturally require your printer to lay more ink down on the page.  Choosing a simple, sparse font can add up to real savings, especially if you often find yourself printing page after page of text.

Dutch company Printer.com put 10 popular fonts to the test and found that a home user who prints 25 pages a week could save $20 a year by switching fonts.  For a business with a printing rate of around 250 pages a week, savings tallied up to $80.  Of course, if you’re printing more than this, you’ll save even more cash by changing to a low-ink font.  So what are the best, leanest fonts?

1. Ecofont Century Gothic*

2. Century Gothic

3. Ecofont Vera Sans*

4. Times Roman

5. Calibri

*Ecofont is a neat font designed with savings in mind.  The typeface is actually perforated by tiny holes, so it remains readable while gobbling down less ink.  There are a number of different Ecofont typefaces, but the Ecofont Century Gothic is the real super green superfont.

So, what are some fonts to avoid?  Impact, Cooper Black, and Comic Sans are all ink-hogs, but the easiest way is to just steer clear of any font that looks thick or bold.

How to install a new font
Your computer will come pre-loaded with a wide array of fonts, but for special ink-saving fonts, you’ll need to manually install them.  First, check through your word processing program to see what fonts you’ve got at your disposal.  If you’re missing the one you’re after, Dafont.com has a huge catalog of free fonts that you can browse.  But for Ecofont typefaces, you’ll need to buy a license to use the font through Ecofont’s own site.

In Windows Vista or Windows 7:

1. Download the font file

2. Locate the font file on your computer (where you chose to save it or your default download folder)

3. Right-click the font file and select “Install”

On a Mac:

1. Download the font file

2. Locate the file on your computer

3. Double click the file (if you’re prompted to unzip it, just locate the new unzipped file afterward)

4. Double-click the font file and click the button that says “Install font” at the bottom of the preview

More tricks for ink savings
* Power down your printer properly, don’t just unplug it.  This allows the printer head to move into a position that protects your ink from drying out.  If you turn your printer off from a power strip it leaves the heads exposed. You actually lose money on ink while you are trying to save on so-called vampire power drain.

* Sites like printwhatyoulike.com are helpful for printing webpages.  They let you print only the content you need while skipping ads and sidebars that eat up your precious ink supply.

* Look into buying a good, affordable laser printer.  Laser printers are great if you’re only printing in black and white, and you’ll get more bang for your buck out of toner cartridges rather than having to swap ink in frequently.  A laser printer might cost more up front, but the long term savings will add up.

* Either way you go, we are here to save you money on the supplies.  Our cartridges do NOT void any manufacturer warranties.  We can bring them to you, or you can come see us at the store.  You don’t need to bring in empty cartridges to do business with us … we have plenty of empties that we’ve already collected and refilled for you.  Your cartridges at some point will go empty.  Do you throw out your car when it runs out of gas?  Of course not.  The same logic applies towards these little bundles of print stuff.  They’re not broken, they’re just empty!

So many times, especially because we don’t sell printers, people are more comfortable asking us what we recommend when the time comes to buy another printer.  Maybe you’re considering putting one under the tree this year.

Maybe you’re just setting up your home office, or perhaps your old printer went belly-up and it’s time to replace it.  Either way, the range of printers available to the general public has changed significantly in recent years, so it’s definitely a good idea to do some research before you pull out your wallet.

What will you be printing?
The first and most important question you should ask yourself is what and how you will be printing.  This is the biggest determining factor in whether you’d be better off with an inkjet or laser printer, because each type of printer has different strengths and weaknesses.

Will you be printing mostly black and white text pages or color photographs?  Hundreds of pages a week, or just a few?  Is it more important that your black text is crisp and clear, or that the colors on your photograph be true and rich?  Will you be using your printer mostly to print out web pages and simple spreadsheets, or high-quality documents for clients?

You will also need to decide whether you’d rather spend more money up front, or more money later on for ongoing supplies like ink.

Advantage:  Inkjet
You mostly want to print lab-quality photographs.  Inkjet printers generally produce richer, truer colors, and higher-quality photographs.  There are also many inkjet printers on the market specifically designed to print photographs.

You don’t print very much, but want what you do print to be high quality. In this scenario, an inkjet will be more cost effective than a laser printer.

Lower startup costs are important.  Though laser printers have come down in price a great deal in recent years, inkjets still tend to be cheaper.  The ink cartridge refills also cost less than laser toner cartridges, so while a laser printer will have a lower per-page cost because you can print more pages with one toner cartridge, inkjets require less up front.

Size is an issue.  Inkjets tend to be much smaller and lighter than laser printers, so if you don’t have a lot of room in your office, an inkjet is your best bet.

Lower ongoing cost for supplies.  We like the inkjet printers that have multiple cartridges (one for each color, plus black).  Those old “tri-color” cartridges which use three colors in one cartridge are not very economical if you print a bunch of Valentine’s Day cards and run out of red … you’d have to buy a whole new cartridge just because one color is out!  Singular cartridges allow you to buy only the color that you need.

Advantage:  Laser
You print a large quantity of mostly black-and-white text pages.  Laser printers are much cheaper per page than inkjet printers and print faster.  If you don’t need to print in color, then a monochrome laser printer is an excellent choice.

You want very crisp and clear text and images that won’t blur or smudge if they get wet.  Inkjet printers spray ink onto the page, whereas laser printers actually burn the image onto the paper, resulting in clearer lines that won’t smudge.

Startup costs aren’t an issue, but ongoing costs are.  Laser printers tend to be more expensive than inkjets, and the toner cartridges are more expensive than inkjet ink cartridges, but the cost per page is much cheaper because you can print far more pages from one toner cartridge than you can from one set of ink cartridges.

You’ll be printing a lot of large files and want to print them quickly.  Many laser printers have as much memory as a computer itself, which allows them to store large files in their memory.  This means that they will print these files more quickly, since they don’t have to process the image as it’s printing.

Other considerations:
There are a few other things you should bear in mind as you’re comparing models and making your printer buying decision.

Digital camera memory cards
Does the printer need to have built-in slots for these devices?  Most of the newer inkjet printers do, while most laser printers do not.

PostScript fonts
Most inkjet printers are not PostScript-compatible.  If you need to print PostScript graphics or fonts, consider a laser printer.

Network- and/or bluetooth-enabled
Will you be connecting the new printer to a home or office network?  Most laser printers are network-enabled, verify whether that means connecting to your network with a wire, or wirelessly.  Generally, the newer the printer, the more likely it is that it will have wireless functionality.  Newer inkjet “multi-function” printers are now mostly wireless network capable, allowing you to print directly to it from virtually anywhere in the house from any computer or laptop.  Note:  If you use Apple products like i-Pad and want to print from them, make sure the printer you select is Apple-Friendly.

Ease of use
How easy is the printer setup process?  Inkjet printers tend to be a bit more plug-and-play than laser printers, though how simple the setup process is will depend a great deal on the specific printer.  If you’re not comfortable dealing with the inner workings of your computer, look for a printer that will be easier to install and use.

The final verdict
Generally speaking, where printers are concerned, you get what you pay for.  If you want high-quality prints from a machine that will last a while and are willing to spend some money, you probably won’t go wrong with either an inkjet or a laser printer.  Consider that if you don’t really need all the “bells and whistles”, it may be a better investment to go for the lowest cost … and if it only lasts a couple of years, you will have saved the extra expense and will be replacing it again by the time the next newest technology rolls around (or the next computer operating system is introduced).

If you’re looking for high-quality photo output, you won’t be printing very many pages, or you’re concerned about initial cost, then an inkjet printer is probably right for you.  If you’d rather spend a bit more money at the outset but less on an ongoing basis, you’re going to be printing high volumes, and you’d like crisp, sharp text, then look for a laser printer.

Either way you go, we are here to save you money on the supplies.  Our cartridges do NOT void any manufacturer warranties.  We can bring them to you, or you can come see us at the store.  You don’t need to bring in empty cartridges to do business with us … we have plenty of empties that we’ve already collected and refilled for you.  Your cartridges at some point will go empty.  Do you throw out your car when it runs out of gas?  Of course not.  The same logic applies towards these little bundles of print stuff.  They’re not broken, they’re just empty!  If you want to come and see us, here’s a map:

Freehold, NJ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cartridge World Freehold Offers Five Tips to Reduce Holiday Printing Headaches

Freehold, New Jersey (Grassroots Newswire) December 4, 2011 – As thousands of Americans are getting ready to produce their own holiday cards and letters, Cartridge World Freehold can help you eliminate typical printing problems. With more than 600 stores across the country, Cartridge World Freehold is your local ink and toner expert offering five easy tips to help you create memorable holiday keepsakes.

1. When selecting paper, use a 20-pound card stock. It will run easily through a printer, avoid jams and make a good impression.  Go green this season and select a card stock made from recycled paper.  When using glossy photo paper, pre-print your personal message as this slick paper surface is sometimes difficult to write on.
2. Create a design that works for your friends, family, and business associates. When printing a photo, make sure the image is at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). A high resolution photo creates a much sharper printed image.
3. Use full printer cartridges to ensure consistent color and brightness throughout the entire printing process. Buy printer cartridges from Cartridge World and save 30-40 percent off your bill. Plus, cartridges from Cartridge World are environmentally friendly.
4. Check to ensure the image is set within the safe margin areas. Computer settings may need to be changed to ensure that the colors seen on the computer screen are the same as the colors on the printed card.
5. After printing, let each card dry for at least three minutes before signing. There’s nothing worse than smearing or smudging a beautifully printed holiday card.

With our pricing, you can afford to put the color back in your life!

For more information about Cartridge World Freehold located at 64 Village Center Drive, please contact Jim Dempsey at 732-333-1925 or cwfreehold@optonline.net. For special offers and more information about Cartridge World’s 100-percent guaranteed, eco-friendly ink and toner products, visit www.CartridgeWorldNJ.com.

Cartridge World is the leading ink and toner refilling retailer and franchisor in the $80 billion printer cartridge industry. Cartridge World stores offer customers a tremendous cost-saving alternative to buying new printer cartridges, offering a 30-40 percent discount over full-priced OEM cartridges. Plus, Cartridge World offers a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. The company refills and remanufactures printer cartridges, using state-of-the-art processes and high quality inks and toners.  Voted No.1 in the category by Entrepreneur Magazine, Cartridge World has more than 1,700 franchised retail locations in 50 countries.

The printing manufacturers don’t want you using our products … they want you to use theirs.

But theirs cost more.  Ours?  About 30% le$$.

So how can they justify that?  They could scare you into believing that if you use our cartridges, you would be voiding your warranty.  Well, that just isn’t wholly true.

If our product actually CAUSED any problems, the warranty WOULD be voided.  But if that happened, WE would not only replace the cartridge, but WE would see to it that the equipment is repaired as well.  That’s OUR warranty to you.  Stop in the store and get our complete warranty in writing.  Or call Cartridge World in Freehold at 732-333-1925.

PS:  In the seven years we’ve been kicked around, we’ve never had to honor any claims against our product.