Choosing a high-quality printer that meets your printing needs is a great first step to keeping up with your office’s print demands. But even the best printer will fail to provide the necessary quality and quantity for your business if you’re not using the right supplies with it. How do you know the right ink or toner to use? How do you know what paper to buy? Keep reading to find out.

Choosing Ink or Toner

Choosing the correct ink or toner will ensure you get high-quality prints while also helping you manage costs. So, first, you’ll need to know if you have an inkjet or laser printer. Inkjets are ideal for printing colorful images and documents with fine details, and as the name implies, they use ink to create those images. Laser printers are better for high-volume, text-heavy printing. They use toner to churn out smudge-free pages quickly, so you can avoid long queues at the printer.

Choosing OEM, Compatible, or Remanufactured

You have several options to still consider when buying ink or toner cartridges. Generally, they come in 3 main varieties:

1.      Original Equipment Manufacturer cartridges: Also known as OEM cartridges, these are made by the printer’s brand and offer the best compatibility and quality, but at a higher price.

2.      Compatible cartridges: Third-party brands manufacture these to work with your printer model, often at a lower cost than OEM. However, quality can vary, so make sure you choose a reputable brand.

3.      Remanufactured cartridges: These are recycled OEM cartridges that have been refilled and tested for performance. They’re eco-friendly and cost-effective, but may be inconsistent in quality. So, again, make sure you pick your provider carefully.

Choosing the Right Paper

The type of paper you use significantly impacts print quality and printer performance, so choosing the right paper is just as essential as the right ink or toner. The right one for you depends on your specific printing needs, and certain types of printing may require different paper sizes. But beyond that, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is paper weight and thickness.

Paper weight is measured in pounds, referring to how much 500 sheets of the paper weighs. Twenty-pound paper is ideal for everyday office printing and copying. For professional documents, presentations, and duplex printing, opt for 24- to 28-pound paper. Cardstock is considered 60-pound paper or anything higher, and is used for business cards, brochures, and other specialty printing.

Remember, even if you have the best office printer and copier in Fairbanks, AK, its performance will be subpar if you’re not using the right paper and ink, so choose carefully.