Whatever you want to call what is commonly known as copiers or copy machines, they’re a big investment. Copiers are not cheap and require considerable care. The wrong fit for your business could mean downtime caused by repairs or underperformance.

How do you pick the right copy machine? Before the foreseeable listicle questions, consider whether you even need a copier for your organization.

For this inquiry, we got you covered with these resources:

Should Your Office Have A Printer or Copier?

Is it Time to Trade in Your Old Office Printer or Copier?

The Naïve Copier Buyer Checklist (eBook)

Now off to the listicle questions:

SHOULD YOU BUY A COPIER?

As mentioned, copiers are an investment, especially if you chose to buy one. The average cost of a 40 page-per-minute digital copier that copies, prints, scans, and faxes is around $7,800. A high-end copy machine is easily double this price. You could buy a car with that kind of money!

SHOULD YOU LEASE A COPIER?

Leasing from a dealer is a viable option – and tends to be more cost-effective. However, just as there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is no such thing as a free document copy. In other words, be wary of costs accrued in your contract like minimum-prints-per-page.

Also, keep in mind that technology changes quickly. That includes imaging devices. What worked yesterday with network security or connectivity will probably not work tomorrow. A typical copier lease varies but can range from two to five years.

DO YOU HAVE THE SPACE?

In the beginning, we stated how we playfully call copiers aircraft carriers. There’s a reason for the moniker: the typical copier takes up approximately 15 to 20 square feet of office real estate. Part of this size-requirement allows for paper trays to open, access to jam clearance areas, and required room for service/maintenance.

If space is an issue, then a copy machine will be an issue as well.

WHAT VOLUMES WILL YOU BE PRINTING/COPYING?

You need the right copier for your office, which cannot be solved by throwing money around but only with keen knowledge. If you acquire one that is too small to match your printing volumes, then you’ll likely require more service/repair (not to mention you’ll have increasingly frustrated coworkers). If you acquire a copier too powerful for your work needs, then you’ve wasted money and space.

Check your potential copier’s recommended usage, as well as the ISO yield (number of pages that can be printed with a copier cartridge). This exploration will help you understand if a potential copier meets your work needs.

WILL YOU BE PRINTING IN COLOR?

Color copying is more expensive and slower than the monochrome alternative. Take this into account when shopping for a copier, or as we sometimes suggest, get a dedicated black and white copier and pair it with a small but powerful inkjet printer for those in your office who need color collaterals.

WHAT TYPE OF MATERIAL-SIZE WILL YOU BE USING?

Copiers are known for their ability to handle different paper sizes. While shopping, make sure you find out what types of documents your office prints. That can go beyond paper size to include transparencies and index cards. Also, a flatbed copier is essential for copying books or other bulky objects.

Studies indicate that less than two percent of global office printing requires ledger size paper (11X17). But again, do your due diligence (like, as mentioned, download our eBook: The Naïve Copier Buyer Checklist).

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE YOUR RESPONSE TIME?

All copiers require some warmup time. You’ll pay a lot more for a copier that wakes up soon after the touch of a button. But even the most advanced copier models might take about ten seconds to warm up (a far cry from the ancient time of a decade ago when copiers could take 45 to 90 seconds to warm up).

At the same time, consider the print and rendering speeds of a potential copier. When people are in a hurry at the office, every second counts for both productivity and stress levels.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO TOLERATE DOWNTIME?

Copiers are as much a Death Star as they are aircraft carriers – meaning they’re powerful and productive, but all it takes is one manufacturing glitch to bring the whole thing down. According to a global database of copier and business printer service providers, copy machines require three service calls for every service call required to maintain a printer.

So be prepared for copier service, and there is nothing wrong with having a backup multifunction printer around just in case.

WHAT KIND OF CONNECTIVITY DO YOU WANT?

When it comes to connectivity in the modern office, you want your copier to turn on and connect, but the more options you have, the better. Apart from direct USB connectivity to a computer, most copiers come with network connectivity like Wi-Fi. If you need printing from the cloud or mobile devices, ensure you acquire a copier that supports technologies like Apple AirPrint or Google Cloud Print.

DO YOU NEED DUPLEXING?

Duplexing is not making clones (it does that enough as it is). It’s the capacity to print/copy on both sides of the page. Duplexing might be a highly desirable feature in a copy machine. Besides saving paper, it is a must for making professional copies of two-sided printed material.

While talking about extra features, some copiers come with automatic stapling, but it’s going to cost more.

When it comes to technology, you may get conflicting advice about how to best maintain it. Is it better to leave my printer on or turn it off when I’m not using it? Should I use low-power or standby mode? Here are some things to take into consideration when determining what is best for your printer:

• Print Head Health

All inkjet printers have semiconductor print heads. These print heads are typically the first thing in a printer that requires replacement, so you want to preserve their life as long as possible. Keeping your printer on all the time will keep your print heads cleaner, making them less likely to break.

Regularly cleaning and maintaining your printer are essential in ensuring it continues printing high-quality documents for a long time. The difference between leaving your printer on or turning it off is generally insignificant in terms of energy costs. For healthier print heads and more efficient ink consumption, however, it’s better to leave your printer on. Constantly switching your printer off and on will decrease your printer’s lifespan, so try to keep the off/on to a minimum.

• Ink Consumption

During maintenance cycles, your printer uses up ink – sometimes 20 to 30 percent per cartridge. This can add up quickly, especially given the high cost of ink. Using ink to clean print heads is important to maintain your printer and ensure it lasts longer, but sometimes maintenance cycles may occur more often than necessary. The frequency of each cycle depends on the manufacturer, but turning on the printer triggers a maintenance cycle regardless of manufacturer. For this reason, to minimize ink consumption, it is recommended that you keep your printer on. This will reduce the number of maintenance cycles, and keep your ink usage to a minimum.

• Power Consumption

Energy costs are often one of people’s biggest worries when it comes to leaving their printer on. Your printer obviously uses more power on than off, but energy costs stay relatively low regardless. The average printer in standby mode consumes about 3 watts of power – less than a typical nightlight. If your printer operates in standby mode continuously, it only costs about $2.50 a year.

In power-off mode, your printer will consume less than 1 watt, and probably cost about $0.85 a year. Standby mode costs almost three times as much as a printer in off mode. But at under $3 a year, the cost of keeping your printer on is negligible. Long story short, when it comes to power consumption and energy costs, it won’t really matter if you leave your printer on or turn it off.

Global Brand, Local Experts

Cartridge World’s experienced and impartial staff will take the time to understand your printing needs and recommend the right ink, toner, printer and supplies for you or your business. 

There is a popular saying that goes, “Go big or stay home.” In a business sense, it means that you should give it your all, think outside the box, and invest heavily to empower stakeholders.

The saying makes sense for brand success – except when it comes to imaging devices like printers or copiers. Then it’s more like John Hammond’s repetitive cry in Jurassic Park: “Spared no expense!”

I’m sure you recall what happened to Hammond’s expensive investment in the film…

Like Hammond, offices that are gripped by “Go big or stay home” end up purchasing large, complex machines in the hopes of getting a quality printer that will yield little downtime and seamlessly produce crisp documents.

And end up getting a printer that ends up like Jurassic Park.

How do you get a quality printer then?

By focusing on the out-of-box part of “Go big or stay home.”

GET THE RIGHT FIT

Forget all the promises and marketing out there from printer brands. Forget those “top printer” articles that lead to Amazon pages (most are just affiliate marketing links that throw kickbacks to the original website).

What your business needs is what we call a “Goldilocks’ printer.” In other words, a quality printer is a printer that is just right – that matches your unique workplace needs. A printer that is too small will compromise productivity and result in more breakdowns. A printer that is too powerful is a bad investment that results in wasted space, dried-up ink cartridges, and needless energy-consumption. What’s more, the “Goldilocks printer” may depend on whether you need:

• Inkjet or a laser printer?
• A copier or a printer?
• Multifunction or just monochrome?

Some printers are more suited for specific verticals like the manufacturing industry, while others are perfect for a small business.

Yes, there is a lot to consider! And requires a bit of math.

Don’t worry. We provide an easy-to-follow framework in our eBook, How to Select the Right Printer.

TREAT ANY PRINTER LIKE A BIG EXPENSE

Two cosmic laws never change: Messing with dinosaur DNA brings trouble, and your printer is going to break down. We can’t help you with dinosaur genetics, but we do know that printer downtime results in:

• Employees wasting about 22 minutes a day on IT issues including printing— totaling up to 91 hours a year.
• Service calls that can cost anywhere from $40-$330, and with multiple calls per month, this can add up.

Taking care of your printer reduces document interruption and keeps it tuned-up so that it’s always a quality printer. You can start by ensuring you have the best possible printer cartridges (and avoid counterfeits) so that your printer isn’t worn down or damaged. Even an action as mundane as loading paper can go a long way in reducing printer-destroying paper jams, as seen in this video

We also propose regular printer cleaning, standby mode, and closing the manual tray when not in use.

THINK OF LIFECYCLE COSTS

The most reliable printer in the world isn’t a quality printer if it’s draining the budget. Even if you diligently take care of your printer, as mentioned in the last section, there are going to be expenses.

Printer industry thought-leaders know that people need to think beyond the printer itself and consider the “Lifecycle Cost” of acquiring AND operating a business printer. The operating costs, including service and printer cartridges, are far higher than the cost of the printer itself.

A typical lifecycle cost breakdown is:

• 60% Printer service and toner
• 40% Printer hardware

We provide complimentary maintenance and service with many of our printer solutions. Regardless of what route you take (options are provided in the next section), make sure you have a vision of what it’s going to cost to keep your printer working and working well.

Also, keep in mind this: the cheaper the printer, the more expensive the replacement printer cartridges are likely to be (printer brands follow the razor blade model: sell the handle cheap to lock consumers and then make up the costs by overcharging for razor cartridges).

FORGET TRADITIONAL MODELS FOR THAT QUALITY PRINTER

Unless you’ve been living under the ruins of Jurassic Park, you’ve noticed that we live an economy increasingly based on subscription-based services. Think of transportation (Uber), lodging (Airbnb), or movies (Netflix). The transactional model is no longer king.

Therefore, the days of committing to owning a printer or copy machine are no longer necessary. Offices can leverage leasing (but beware of their quicksand contracts), managed print services, cloud-based printing, or a paperless office (although we contend it’s more of a myth). In our case, we evolved with consumer demands: we provider printers and printer service/repairs at no cost if you just buy our toner and ink.

The principal point is that you don’t have to drop a lot of money on an imaging device. And with a printer partner that comes with managed print services or leasing, you can get the right advice to get that “Goldilocks’ printer” whether you end up owning it or not. If only Hammond had listened to his copy machine guy.

We hope this helps you think outside-the-box so that the next printer out of the box is a quality printer. You don’t have to break the bank but break the code of your printing and budget needs, with a view of future costs and productivity.

If you still feel this is all still on the daunting side, like a T-Rex chasing your across Jurassic Park, know that we provide complimentary and personal advice on how to get a quality printer for your office.

November 16, 2021

5 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY IN YOUR HOME OFFICE

 In response to COVID-19, many companies made the transition to remote work. Whether you’re self-employed, manage a remote workforce, or are a telecommuting employee, having the proper equipment and a dedicated workspace in your home is crucial for your success.

While remote work has its perks, it can also come at greater cost to you. As you operate out of your own home, you may find that you’re paying for more equipment and supplies out-of-pocket. Fortunately, there are several ways you can cut costs without affecting your ability to work:

1.   SAVE ON EQUIPMENT

If you manage a business from home, having the proper equipment is essential for productivity and your ability to work at the same capacity as you would in-office. If you’re strategic while equipping your workspace, you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Look for ways you can save on larger pieces of equipment, such as computers and printers. You might be able to find a refurbished monitor or laptop that satisfies your business needs. You may also benefit from a no-cost printer program that includes servicing, maintenance, and repair at no extra cost to you, or by avoiding big-box retailers for your office supplies needs. Take time to shop around, so you can ensure you’re not paying more than necessary.

2.   FINANCE YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLES

Some significant expenses like a computer, phone line, video camera, and reliable internet service are unavoidable, especially if you telecommute or rely on technology to perform your job effectively. While these may become costly, there are still ways to cover their costs in a financially responsible manner.

Check with your employer to see if they offer any assistance in purchasing equipment, and look for opportunities to bundle services when you can. If you find that you require more than you’re able to afford upfront, you can alleviate some of the initial costs by tapping into your home’s equity for more substantial expenses (or opening a line of credit for smaller ones). Doing so would allow you to save money upfront and spread the costs evenly over time while still ensuring you have the tools you need to work effectively.

3.   FURNISH ON A BUDGET

As you’ll be spending a considerable amount of time in your office, you’ll want to make sure it’s outfitted with ample lighting, tasteful decor, and comfortable seating. The cost of furnishing a home office can add up quickly, which is why you’ll want to seek ways to save money wherever possible.

Instead of purchasing new furniture right away, take time to survey your home for any items you can repurpose for your office space. You may be able to find spare desks or lamps tucked away in your attic or basement. For any items you don’t already have, consider checking out garage sales, online marketplaces, thrift stores, and store clearances before heading to the store. These pieces are often more affordable and can add a sophisticated touch to your workspace.

4.   BUY IN BULK

Many retailers offer discounts when customers buy in bulk. If you anticipate running through a lot of supplies while home, you may want to consider stocking up on essentials like paper, pens, and staples. Not only will this give you the convenience of having these items on-hand, but you could also save a few dollars by ordering in larger quantities.

Before shopping for supplies, determine whether it makes sense to buy certain items in bulk. For instance, while you may frequently need to replace paper clips and printer paper, it might not make sense to buy perishable items like printer cartridges in bulk, as these can expire. Instead, you may want to consider automating delivery, so you don’t have to worry about them going bad on your shelf.

5.   CLAIM TAX DEDUCTIONS

If you use your home office regularly and solely for business purposes, you may qualify for a home office tax deduction. This would allow you to write off rent, utilities, taxes, repairs, and maintenance related to your home office, putting money back into your pocket come tax season.

You should note that you can no longer claim the home office deduction if you are an employee. However, if you’re self-employed or an independent contractor, you may still qualify for certain tax deductions. Regardless of your employment status, a home office may still be worth putting money toward, especially if plans to return to the office are still uncertain.

A home office doesn’t have to break the bank. With these tips, you can create a workspace that accommodates both your budget and business needs.

Need help getting the most efficient and economical printing environment at home or office? Contact us. 

Is your business ready to work from home? Regardless of your personal feelings toward more flexible work accommodations, there’s a good chance that your competitors are already making use of remote work packages to entice the best talent in your field and develop a highly motivated team of employees.

Add this already mounting interest to the current need for businesses to practice social distancing measures, and remote work becomes more than merely an optional benefit. It is a vital practice to preserve the health and wellbeing of customers, companies, and the people they employ.

We at Cartridge World know this reality well. As a network of small businesses and a corporate office, we’ve made that abrupt shift to a remote workforce. It was no simple task (and that doesn’t even include modifying our business model to serve home and business customers safely). We had to adopt a certain mindset, collection of useful technology, and transparent communication.

We’d like to share what we’ve learned.

EQUIP THE RIGHT RESOURCES

To get started, let’s consider this simple, unavoidable fact about remote work: its success is contingent on using the right technology.

Although all of your employees — both inside and outside of the office — likely use technology at work to accomplish their jobs more effectively, technology is the only bridge between remote employees and their ability to communicate, collaborate, and innovate with their larger teams.

When looking to supply your remote workforce with the right types of tools, there are a few features you should keep in mind. Solutions that download updates over the internet or automatically through the cloud helps ensure that everyone works with the same versions. It’s also likely worth the investment to utilize the highest quality products and supplies, as your remote employees will not have access to in-person IT support should their at-home solutions break.

There are a few typical tools that find their way into most typical remote set-ups. A place for storing documents online provides a secure place for sharing relevant documents and collaborating on new objectives. Other remote-friendly equipment, such as task tools for greater productivity, help teams of all sizes manage current and future objectives. Tools for video conferencing will do the trick when phone calls or chat messages won’t suffice.

It’s also important to use technology that is easily maintained, regardless of where you are physically located. By having your printers managed through Cartridge World, you can reduce overhead related to printing expenditures, monitor current supply levels for toner and ink, and track the current statuses of your printers remotely through the Printer Pulse App.

FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR YOU

When it comes time for you to draft up a remote work policy, remember that your solution may look different from other businesses in your area or your competitors. Depending on the particular needs of your employees or customers, you might experience constraints around your type of work that make remote environments, under normal circumstances, an obstacle, or even infeasible.

Fortunately, there are a number of creative solutions that businesses can use to reconcile the needs of their business with work from home experience. Although many employees currently find themselves at their at-home desks for a full work week, splitting your time between off-site and on-site work is one way to enjoy the benefits of both (plus, it can save you upwards of $11,000 per part-time telecommuter per year).

Finally, you should consider whether or not working from home works for your company in a long-term capacity. While some companies will choose to revert back to their normal day-to-day, you might see an opportunity to continue offering this benefit for your best employees and keeping them invested in your organization. If this is the case, remember to clearly define and outline the parameters of remote work for those you oversee: including the maximum or minimum number of hours worked off-site, which employees are permitted to work remotely and whether there are any limitations to where remote workers should be located.

AUTOMATE WHEREVER POSSIBLE

Especially as you and the rest of your team are first adjusting to your work from home arrangements, this transitionary period is the most subject to dips in productivity levels. From setting up a completely new work area to acclimating to the new methods your team must employ to stay connected, your teams may require an extra few days for project completion.

To help mitigate any lost momentum from your leap to remote work, you might consider using a technology called automation to keep your delivery teams on track. As the name might suggest, automation is the practice of making your processes work without any human assistance. Automation not only helps you save the time you would have spent on performing a task manually, but it also tends to complete this task better than you would be able to on your own. This is because automation eliminates the possibility of human error.

If you find yourself constantly impeded by empty ink cartridges and printing supplies that always seem to run low, you might consider automating your printer supply delivery for your home office. Automated supply management ensures that your local printer partners will always have the printer resources you need on-hand to prevent any interruptions in your day’s to-do list. And having your supplies delivered to your home makes it even easier to keep your office supplies fully stocked without ever having to venture out to your office headquarters.

By keeping these strategies in mind, you’ll not only find the best remote work solution for the particular necessities of your company, but you’ll ensure that any work your employees perform from their home office is productive, engaging, and timely.

Looking for automated printer solutions like monitoring and automatic delivery? Contact us for a suite of solutions that includes no-cost printers.

It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not real today. Fake news floods social media and CGI can make Robert DeNiro look like a spring chicken in The Irishman. Politicians keep making promises they can’t keep (although that’s nothing new). And shady business entities inject knockoff products like sunglasses and earphones into the various eCommerce ecosystems.

Where there’s a buck to be made, there’s a counterfeit product to make any of us a sucker this very minute.

That includes printer cartridges – especially when you consider that the annual market for counterfeit printer cartridges adds up to approximately $3.5 billion in market value. Counterfeit printer cartridges are big business these days. That’s not good for consumers – even rabid bargain hunters – for these two reasons:

• The toner or ink quality is potentially so poor it’s like buying a half-empty cartridge when it comes to value
• The shoddy quality of counterfeit printer cartridges can damage or wear down a printer (e.g., volatile organic compounds in the ink gradually erode the built-in printhead)

How do you spot counterfeit printer cartridges then?

It’s not that hard, actually, and your budget and IT department will thank you for taking a little extra scrutiny when purchasing ink or toner cartridges.

DON’T THROW OUT THE INK BABY WITH THE CARTRIDGE BATHWATER

First, it should be mentioned that we’re speaking of bona fide counterfeits, i.e., products that look exactly like brand name products, also known as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products. From the ink or toner quality to the packaging, these items are like versions of a second-rate Terminator walking among humans. And like any quality Terminator, counterfeit printer cartridges are illegal and dangerous (to your printers).

Refilling ink cartridges is perfectly legal and an option for home or business printers. The same goes for remanufactured cartridges: brand cartridges professionally cleaned, refilled with comparable-quality toner, and tested to deliver the same print quality as the original (our products go through a unique Triple-Check System check).

With that said, let’s go Terminator-hunting for counterfeit printer cartridges:

QUESTIONABLE MERCHANTS

Through an internet search or a paid internet advertisement, you might see online vendors that promise you the sun and moon when it comes to ink or toner cartridges. Just because it’s on the internet, like fake news, doesn’t mean it’s there for a good reason.

Beware of questionable merchants. Their sites often look cheap and outdated. However, that doesn’t mean you can trust known eCommerce sites, even behemoths like Amazon or eBay. They often leverage third-party companies for their products, and these can often be purveyors of bogus printer cartridges.

Tell them, “Hasta la vista, baby.”

QUESTIONABLE PRICING

Sometimes you’ll encounter arrestingly low prices on websites. That’s a red flag. This is the classic too good to be true scenario. Never be tempted by price alone.”

Cheap or affordable doesn’t mean bad quality, mind you, but if printer cartridges are sold at more than 40% off the standard price, something might be rotten in printer Denmark. “When you buy counterfeit or cloned products based upon price,” Pinner further stated, “you are accepting the inevitable low-quality and no-service when everything goes wrong.”

Sometimes there are fire sales at eCommerce sites, of course, but that’s a rarity you won’t have to worry (or enjoy) very often.

QUESTIONABLE PACKAGING

Counterfeiters place the same amount of care in their packaging as they do in their ink – not much. We understand that most people don’t pay much attention to the branding of printer cartridges (certainly don’t take pictures of boxes to share on Pinterest or Instagram) – but all it takes is a few extra moments of inspection.

Here are some signs that the package in your hands is holding a counterfeit printer cartridge:

• Faded brand logo
• No pull-tab tape seals across the ink ports
• Visible damage to the cartridge
• Leaked ink or toner dust
• Security seal doesn’t behave in the way the manufacturer says it should (major printer sellers aid on their websites in identifying the look of security seals as well as genuine packaging in general)

Once the product is out of the box, keep in mind that counterfeit printer cartridges just feel cheap in your hands!

This video below provides an example of counterfeit printer cartridges:

With quite a variety of printers available today, printing seems to be easy peasy but, it is the behind the scenes of printers that are nothing but a heavy set of burdens to carry out which you need guidance and is what we are going to discuss below.

Every Little Thing Matters

We often bring home/office any random printer and when getting unsatisfactory results, wonder what went wrong? Hardly do we know that every minute thing in a printer affects the printing output, especially the ink. Surprised? Well, the type of ink you use can significantly affect the printed output which you would not want. Hence, let’s understand the two leading types of ink and which one you must choose for what and how?

Before that, here is a quick intro about inkjet printers 

Inkjet is a compact size and low-cost printer that is a popular solution for home printing. They use two types of ink cartridges – dye or pigment to recreate a digital image by propelling droplets of ink onto paper and plastic substrate.

The Avatars of Inks

The market is flooded with various types of inks like dye-based, pigment-based, solid, UV, 3-D, etc. but, the two among them that you might be hearing/seeing everywhere or between whom the debate of who being the best is going on for a very long time are Dye-based and Pigment-based inks. Both are, in fact, good to be used in an inkjet printer but, if you do not want disappointment as an output, then better understand both in detail and decide which one is the best match for your inkjet printer.

Dye-Based InkDye-based ink you might have got the idea already by its name that it is in liquid form which is mixed with water means such ink cartridges are nothing but 95% water! Shocking isn’t it? Dye ink is like sugar dissolving in water because they use color substances that are dissolved in a liquid. They provide a wider color space for more vibrant and colorful prints and are suitable for indoor use on products that must be consumed in less than a year as they can come off when getting in contact with water unless printed on the specially-coated label material. In short, dye-based prints are water-resistant as long as the label does not rub against anything disturbing.

Pigment-Based InkPigments, on the other hand, are solid. Pigment-based ink is powdery and dry in form and hence appears like sand mixed in water. It is a collection of extremely small solid particles that are mixed in with water inside the pigment-based ink cartridges and are held in suspension which are then printed. They create long-lasting effect and are UV resistant hence are suitable for outdoors.

Now let’s compare both inks based on their characteristics, uses, and advantages

Dye Vs Pigment

Print Quality

Both dye and pigment do not compromise on quality but, if we get into details, then dye-ink prints appear more vivid and colorful than pigment-based. The quality and performance of dye-based inks shine a little better than pigment because it provides a wider color gamut than pigment-inks. Dye-based inks are best for text-based creations and sharper prints because the black print is a lot sharper and darker than pigmented ink, while conversely, pigmented ink is best used to blend colors. There is nothing that can match custom pigment ink for color depths and blends which is why it is best suited for photo printing.

Print Fading

All inks, whether dye or pigment, will begin to fade over time but when compared, pigment ink delivers longevity. It is better prepared for sunlight and has UV resistant properties means pigment particles don’t get absorbed and only sit on the paper in layers and hence are resistant to external influences such as environmental gases and ultraviolet rays from the sun and hence fading is slow in pigment than in dye-based prints. Whereas dye ink gets absorbed into the fiber and hence generally is recommended for indoor use because exposure to direct sunlight or bright indoor lights start cause dye ink to fade quickly.

Water Resistance

The biggest fear for any printed product is water. Well, in this case, pigment-ink is a clear winner as it is more water-resistant than dye-ink. Dyes have a tendency to dissolve and flow when they come in contact with water while pigments are more resistant means they have less smudging potential than dyes.

Cost Difference

Of course, long-term things cost more which is why you will have to spend some extra on pigment ink than dyes because of their durability. Moreover, producing pigmented inks requires more labor time and is a complex process hence the cost.

Use Cases

Pigment ink is the choice of professional and hobbyist photographers due to its color consistency and blending ability despite the vibrancy dye-ink provides to the prints. While low-cost dye-based inks are marketed more towards enthusiasts or amateurs. Also, pigment ink is preferred, in fact, more suitable for industrial or heavy-duty outdoor printing whereas dye-ink are used majorly in text-based documents or on indoor things.

The Verdict

Declaring a winner becomes difficult when the contenders are equally strong and impressive because when it comes to print longevity, color stability, and resistance to natural elements, pigment is the champion but considering the quality and expense, dye-ink wins the debate. So, the verdict is both are winners depending on their use cases means choose pigment if you want long-lasting, smudge-free prints on glossy paper and choose dye if the price is your concern, and your focus is on color quality.

No matter what ink or inkjet printer you choose, it’s always rewarding to have web-to-print software to make print worth printable. For the best possible ink in your cartridges, please contact us for a free consultation or order our quality ink and toner online (including office and printers).

Purchasing a printer can be a minefield, with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to make the right choice. By answering a few simple questions, it is possible to establish what your printing needs are and therefore make a decision on the correct printer.

1-    Inkjet or Laser?

Do you require inkjet or laser print technology? Most home users would opt for inkjet printers as these can offer lower running costs and cost-per-page versus a laser printer. If you require a laser printer, why not speak to your nearest store about Cartridge World Print Services?

When considering an inkjet printer, consider the type and number of cartridges used. Inkjet printers will use either a black and tri-colour cartridge or individual ink tanks with a minimum of 4 cartridge; Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. Choosing a printer that utilises individual ink tanks will provide lower running costs.

2-    Paper size:

What do you print the most? Photographs, documents, homework? Which paper size do you require?

·        A4

·        A3

·        Photo (4 x 6 inch)

·        A2

·        A1

3-    Colour or black and white?

Do you print more in colour or black and white?

4-    Multi-function features

Are any of the following features important to you when purchasing a printer?

·        Scanner

·        Standalone copier

·        ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)

·        Fax

·        Telephone Headset

·        None of the above, would prefer a printer.

5-    Is print speed important? If so, what minimum print speed are you looking for?

·        1ppm*

·        10ppm*

·        20ppm*

·        30ppm*

·        45+ppm*

*PPM refers to pages per minute

Also consider first page out, or, the time it takes for the printer to produce the first page. First page out time on an inkjet printer can be longer in comparison to a laser printer. If this is important to you, it needs to be considered.

1-    Connectivity

How do you wish to connect the printer to print?

·        USB

·        Wi-Fi (Wireless)

·        Wired network connection (Cat5)

Will the printer be used by multiple users? If so, consider a printer with wired or wireless connectivity.

2-    Double-sided printing:

Will you require the ability to print double sided? If so, check the printer features to ensure the printer has a duplex unit or the software to support duplex print.

3-    Paper trays

Will you require more than one paper tray? Paper tray capacities can range from 50 pages to 500 dependant on the printer model specification.

4-    Photo printing

Do you print photographs? Is photo printing important to you? Do you require borderless prints?

5-    What type of device are you printing from?

When selecting a printer, you need to take into account the type(s) of devices you will be printing form. As well as laptops and PC’s, will you also print from a mobile phone or wireless tablet? If so, there are a number of additional features that can be found on most printers:

o   Google Cloud Print

o   Apple Air Print

o   Pixma Cloud link

o   Dropbox

o   Evernote

These features allow easy print from mobile devices. Used in conjunction with dedicated printing apps, mobile printing is made simple from any phone or tablet.

What to do next

You should now have a clearer idea of the type of printer you need. Now speak to your local Cartridge World store to discuss your requirements further. They will be happy to assist you and can supply the printer you need with some competitive offers. For more information on the products and services we offer, visit our website