If you had a nickel for every time your printer gave you an error message, you’d probably have a retirement fund. Printing errors are an irritation which stands the test of time. Even the best equipment sometimes gets hung up on a simple mistake. From paper jams to incorrect colors, printing errors frustrate everyone from kids in school to professional designers. The good news is they’re almost all avoidable! Common printing errors are easy to avoid if you know how to. We’ve got the details on how to tackle the toughest printing errors.
1. Paper Jams
Arguably the most common printing error is the dreaded paper jam. Every office worker has been frustrated by this, but the fix is relatively easy. The likely reason for a paper jam is the paper wasn’t properly put in the tray. To remedy it, try to align the paper exactly in the tray. The guidelines tell you how to lay the paper in each tray, and each sheet should be stacked so none stick out. If you’re still having issues, consider replacing the rollers. Over time, they can wear down and fail to evenly grip paper.
2. Too Many Sheets Per Job
Broken rollers could also be the reason for another common printing error: the multiple-sheet drag. Printing one page but having three come out is either a roller issue (at which point they should be replaced through a reputable printer parts company) or cheap paper. Try upgrading your paper before spending on new parts!
3. Artwork Colors Coming Out Differently
Having your photos and artwork look not quite the same out of the printer as opposed to the screen is another common printing error. Unlike paper jams, this error is usually a human one. Printers work best with files that have been designed specifically for print. Most printers prefer CMYK files, which have been designed using colors created from cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. You may recognize these as the colors of your toner cartridge, which is why your printer recognizes them more easily! Files designed using RGB colors will always be a bit different, so change your design settings to CMYK before printing a piece.
4. Long Printing Times
It shouldn’t take five minutes to print out a document. If you’re noticing your printer takes quite some time to print off your work, try printing documents in ‘draft’ mode. When in draft mode, the ink isn’t as heavily applied. Instead of going over each word multiple times to get a dark black, it stops after the first or second and leaves a lighter color. You may not notice the difference in quality, but you’ll notice the difference in time!
5. Ghosting
What’s referred to as ‘ghosting’ in the printing industry is when each document has a faint trace of the previous document stamped on top of it. This printing error is caused by either the ink kit or the drum wearing down inside the printer. Neither are difficult repairs, and your print supply company can swap out each part with a replacement within a few minutes.
6. Low Print Quality
Do you have a gorgeous piece of art or photo that you can’t wait to frame, but it keeps coming out blurry? Adjust the print quality settings! Most printers run photos best at 300 DPI (dots per inch) or better. Between 150 – 300 DPI should be fine for a high-quality print. Make sure both your computer and printer are set to print at the highest quality output, and don’t cheap out on the paper. All pieces combined will make a beautiful, high-quality print! Contact Vegas Ink and Toner at 702-850-7703 for any tips or questions you may have during your project.
