7 ways to preserve printer ink

We all know replacement inkjet cartridges can be quite expensive, so the following are a few random tips to prevent your ink- and wallet - from running dry...

by Marc Saltzman

* If you're looking to print a couple of dozen photos, don't do it yourself as it's more economical to drop off your memory card at a photo mat (like we used to do with film!), use a photo kiosk at the mall or email your photos to one of those services that prints them and sends them to your door.

* Stick with brand name ink. While it will cost more than the no-name ink, it will last longer and your photos will last longer too. To give your prints the professional look, and to make sure they last a long time, be sure to also buy premium photo paper, be it glossy or matte. Cheap ink also has been known to dry directly on the printer heads which can cause performance problems.

* Replacement cartridges for ink are a good idea to keep on hand but make sure they're in a sealed container or 'zip-lock' bag so no air can prematurely dry it up.

* Try to practice 'selective printing' - decide what you really want in paper form and what you can live with just on your computer. If you look through your photo album, you'll probably realize you didn't need to print off every one.

* When your printer tells you it's time to replace the cartridge - ignore the warning for a while. You probably sill have enough ink to last for a few more days...or even weeks. When you begin to see the black text fading or the colour just isn't right in a photo, then you can change it.

* Finally, before you print a photo, document or page from a Web site, select 'Print Preview' from the File tab to see what it will look like when printed so that you can catch mistakes before wasting ink.

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