If you have a Canon Pixma printer, you certainly know how much you should take care of your printer. In fact, if we are talking about ink cartridges, it is even more vital. You might be printing your family photos, office documents, or other creative work; in any case, taking full value from your Canon Pixma cartridge saves time, money, and headaches. Here are the basics on how to obtain your full value from the Canon Pixma cartridge:
Table of Contents:
1. Right Ink for Your Model
You must make use of ink intended for your particular model of Canon Pixma printers. In fact, Canon has released a series of cartridges which can be used with the Pixma: for your standard models both the PG-245 and CL-246, while there are the PGI-280 and CLI-281 for higher print volume capacities. Always refer to your printer’s manual or use the model number on the old cartridge for proper replacement. Using cartridges other than your printer manufacturer can bring you low print quality, and sometimes it can also damage your printer.
Canon Pixma cartridges vary depending on the model of the printer you have.
2. Ink Cartridge Storage
Store all your cartridges in an air-tight container to ensure shelf life. The extra cartridges should be placed in a cool and dry place. Avoid letting them be in direct sunlight or humid places since this may dry out the ink or cause blockage to the cartridge’s nozzles. Store them with plastic caps to prevent leakage and the ink from evaporating.
3. Clean Printhead
One of the commonest issues when using Canon Pixma cartridges is a clogged printhead. This is what dispenses ink onto the paper, and if clogged, it would result in a faded print or streaks on it. You should ensure the printhead remains clean for such mishaps to not happen. Most Canon printers have a cleaning feature, which can be accessed either from the control panel of the printer or the software installed on your computer. Sometimes, the solution to uneven printing and missing colors is cleaning cycle.
4. Do Not Leave Your Printer Idle for a Long Time.
Unused printers have more ink drying up in their nozzles. In order to reduce such incidences, it is recommended that you print something at least once a week whether a test page or some small document. This ensures that the ink keeps running and thus reduces incidences of it getting clogged. With the infrequent use of printers, it would be wise to turn them off using the power button rather than leaving the machines in stand-by.
5. Use Eco-Friendly Settings for Cost Efficiency
Then when printing, save on that high-priced ink by activating an eco-friendly setting at the printer. Most settings would include draft mode where some simple documents can go to print in a somewhat watered-down version for easier paper use. Your page count per cartridge lasts for much longer without dropping below your threshold of losing any quality.
If you have the Canon printer and it’s not printing colors correctly, or you are missing one color of the Canon Pixma cartridges, or you have some issue with the printing, do as shown in the video and solve the problem.
6. Do Not Dry Your Cartridge Completely
If you let your printer’s ink cartridge dry completely, you may have caused damage to your printhead, and to have it repaired could result in a hefty fee charged for the repair of the printer. You should be replacing your cartridge immediately after you see that you have low ink, or if the print quality has begun deteriorating. Most Canon Pixma printers have an ink level indicator that will inform you when the ink is running low.
7. Return Your Empty Cartridges
Last but not least, once your Canon Pixma cartridge is out, you don’t just throw it to the garbage bin. You can return it to Canon so that it may refill it or use it for a later time. The beauty is that in conserving this non-renewable material that you need to create another, you are earning points at preserving the earth.
If you adhere to these simple guidelines, you will be able to extend the life of your Canon Pixma cartridge with good print quality in your projects. Whether printing out photos, reports, or school projects, making sure the printer is maintained results in quality appearance in documents.
