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Printing power tips

Written by Shiv Prasad on 9:07 PM

Printer ink isn't cheap, and there's nothing worse than getting stuck without paper or a new cartridge when you absolutely need to print a document. As with most tech tools, modern printers have more bells and whistles than most people bother to learn about. But a little knowledge can go a long way. Today I've got a few tips for saving on ink, paper, money and time while you print.

Current Selection:- Why waste toner printing online ads, navigation elements, or other extraneous junk? Or what if you just need to print a phone number or graphic, rather than an entire page? You may already use page range printing, but most programs allow you to print even smaller portions of a document.

Print Preview:- Printouts don't always come out looking like you'd expect, especially when printing from the Web. For instance, when printing directions from Google Maps, I often get a page at the end of the printout with nothing but a header and footer. In cases like these, it pays to use your browser's Print Preview function to make sure what you see really is what you'll get.

Duplex Printing:-Many larger printers offer an automatic duplexing option, allowing you to easily print on both sides of a sheet of paper. Unfortunately, the option is not always enabled by default. If you're not sure whether your printer is capable of duplex printing, look in the driver settings or on the printer's configuration page for information on duplex or double-sided printing.

All-In-One:- Windows users may also want to try out a copy of FinePrint. FinePrint installs as a go-between printer driver, providing WYSIWYG preview, n-up printing, and other functions regardless of the software or printer being used. If the $49.95 price tag sounds steep, a feature-limited trial version is available to test before buying. And with the program's wealth of features, it may pay for itself.