Always (almost) use draft printer settings

Most people waste money and time because they use default printer settings.

I don't know what the exact savings are if you use draft printer settings, but for my use I estimate that I use only one-third of the ink/toner and print three times as swiftly.

We all have to remember that printer manufacturers often use the same sort of business model as the razor: "Give away the razor and make your money on the blades." One has simply to look at the ridiculously low prices for excellent pieces of printing equipment, which may be priced as low as $50.00. From this take away the retailer's margin, distribution, packaging, etc. costs, and the manufacturer has to be giving them away. But, start using the printer and you'll soon be paying $12.00 to $20.00 for new black and color ink cartridges.

So, how does one reduce one's inevitable expense in buying for ink?

One way is not to use the default printer settings. Given the printer manufacturer wants you to buy her or his ink, the default settings are not going to be set to use the minimum quantities. However, to be fair, for color jobs that you are sending to others then you should use the standard settings. (But remember that to print something in color for review, before you send it out, you should still always use the "draft" setting.)

For everything else, including all correspondence and other documents, you are going to find that the "draft" or equivalent setting on your printer meets all your needs. For outgoing letters, for example, you'll find that you won't be able to distinguish between the quality of "standard" versus "draft".

This is one way to reduce printing costs. We discuss in another document another way to reduce costs by suggesting where you should go to buy ink.

So here we go with an example. I'll use the printer settings for one of my printers to explain. Yours will be different, but the same principles apply. Please refer to your printer manual to find the equivalent.

To change the default printer settings,

select your "Start" button at the lower left hand corner of your screen.
Then select the "Control Panel" option, and
then the "Printers and Faxes" option, and
then your printer name. Like this:

Click on your printer name and you'll get this:

Now select "Printer" menu and the "Printing Preferences..." button: which gives you the Printing Preferences window, or whatever it is called on your printer. Sorry, but I can't do every printer that exists, so I can only give you an example with this one!

You'll see that it is set to "Standard".

Click on the "Draft" button and then "Apply".

From now on all your documents will be printed swiftly, using less ink. And, they will appear not different from when you print in what is called, on my printer, "Standard" mode.

When you want to print something, for example color pictures, in standard mode, then when you select your "File" "Print", for example for a Word document, you just select your printer settings and set it to "Standard" - this will then apply to that document. Other documents will always now print in the new default mode of "Draft".

For photographs and so on, then you'll probably use a "High" setting, but that is another subject. This article is about saving time, ink, and hence money, for everyday printing.

I hope it is of assistance. Thanks for reading it.