How to set your color printer to print in black and white.

Let's face it. It costs at least four times more to print in color than black. One way to save money is to limit your color printing by setting your printer to black and white only. Although it varies by printer manufacturer and model, the steps are generally the same. 

Since this feature is controlled by the printer driver, you'll have to make the changes at each computer, unless the driver is installed on a server. We're assuming your printer driver is installed on each computer.

Windows 7: 

1. Open Devices and Printers by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then, on the Start menu, clicking Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click the printer that you want to use, and then click Printing preferences.
3. Click the Color tab.
4. Under Color Options, check the box next to Print in Grayscale. 
5. Click apply, and then click OK.

Window 8 should be similar:

1. Press the Windows key on the keyboard to open the search bar.
2. Type Printer in the search bar and press enter/return.
3. Click on Devices and Printers.
4. From there, it should be similar to above steps (Windows 7).

When you want to print in color:

1. Open the document to print.
2. Either click File, Print or type CTRL + P to open the print dialogue box. 
3. Click Preferences.
4. Click the Color tab.
5. Under Color Options, check the box next to Print in Grayscale.
6. Click OK.
7. Then Print.

Feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

Andy Brasfield

865-675-5900 x 103

Printer shuts down for one empty color?

HP OfficeJet Pro 8600

FAQ:
Is there a color printer that won't stop printing when one of the colors goes empty of toner or ink?

Answer:

• From HP, "HP Officejet Pro 8600 e-AiO will continue to print black even if one of the colored cartridge is empty." 
• From Canon, "Canon offers a huge benefit over our competitors with Pure Black technology. What this feature does is when printing the color black (text for example) on any of our color models the printer is not using any of the colors in the print.  Therefore, allowing the printer to print black even if the colors are low/empty.  This feature is found in our laser and inkjet models."

For more info on the printers mentioned above:

• HP OfficeJet Pro 8600, $199.99. 
• Canon color printers. 

Southeastern Laser, 865-675-5900, sales@southeasternlaser.com

3 Times to Save on Printing Costs

Everyone loves to get the best bang for their buck, but have you ever thought about ways to get a longer life out of your printer cartridges?

On any given day, you have three opportunities to save money on your printing costs: When you create a document; when you print a document; and during routine maintenance of your printer.

Try these simple tips to milk your cartridges for all they’re worth.

When Creating a Document

• Use smaller font sizes and you’ll use less ink. For most fonts, an 11-point or 12-point font is sufficient for regular, daily purposes.
• Don’t over-use the “bold” function or choose “thick” fonts. Century Gothic, Times Roman and Calibri are good examples.
• Read, re-read and read again before printing. Proofing on your screen saves hard copy errors.
• Go the route of digital photos and consider not printing at all! Sometimes a digital file is sufficient, or even preferable, to a hard copy.
• There is special software available for purchase (such as ecofont) that purports to save up to 50% in printing costs.

When Printing

• Catch errors in advance by viewing printer output before you print. Choose “print preview” and take the extra few minutes to re-read your document before committing it to paper.
• Consider printing in “draft” or “grayscale” modes for routine, everyday documents.
• Duplex or combine multiple pages into one page (saves on paper).
• Print only what you need. Free services like PrintWhatYouLike help to get rid of unnecessary and costly clutter when printing web pages.

During Routine Maintenance

• If you get a low-toner message or start to see streaks on your printouts, there is likely still toner left in the cartridge. Simply remove it from the printer and gently rock it from side to side several times (do not shake!). You will likely be able to eke out a few more pages before having to change your cartridge.
• Beware the dreaded clogged nozzles! Before assuming your printer has stopped because of a bad or empty cartridge, run a nozzle check or remove the cartridge(s) from the printer, gently wipe it with a damp cloth, then reinstall and re-try.

By implementing even just a couple of these tips, you are sure to see some cost savings in your printing bill over the long-term.