Architects, engineers, designers, and other professionals who need to print large-scale documents often use large-format printers, or plotters. Blueprints, posters, and banners are just a few things that plotter printers produce, and the possibilities don’t end there. However, such advanced devices require special handling to ensure they deliver years of service. Get the most out of your investment. Learn eight ways to maximize large-format printer efficiency and ensure it operates to its fullest potential.
Get To Know Your Printer
You’ll probably never know exactly how your plotter printer works at every level, but it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the basics. Familiarize yourself with your machine’s specifications and capabilities by reading the user manual or looking up explanatory videos online. Take note of the machine’s features and limitations and get a feel for what it can do before you begin printing. Ask the manufacturer or retailer that sold you the plotter printer about training sessions or at least a run-through on your new printer, demonstrating several projects. It’s always better to get first-hand instruction, and you can ask them questions!
Keep It Clean
Regular maintenance is a necessity. Keep the exterior clean of dust, debris, and stains. Exterior messes can lead to interior issues. Run the print head cleaning function periodically to keep it clear and ready to produce crisp prints. Check the manual for other cleaning and maintenance you can do on your own. What you can’t clean, leave it to the professionals. Schedule a routine check-up and cleaning with a technician. The manufacturer or retailer can suggest a certified and experienced company that can send out a pro to clean the printer’s interior while looking for potential issues before they become bigger problems. An expert cleaning will help your printer live a longer, fuller, and more productive working life.
Optimize the Settings
Once again, read up on how to optimize your printer’s settings. Here are several standard settings to be aware of for almost any kind of plotter printer.
Use Draft Mode for Test Prints
Conserve ink and resources by using draft mode for test prints. Draft mode employs less ink and prints faster, allowing you to assess the print quality and make necessary adjustments without wasting valuable ink and paper.
Choose the Right Media Settings
Different projects require different types of media, such as glossy paper for posters or matte paper for blueprints. Pick the best media for the job, then confirm that you selected the appropriate media settings on your printer. When the printer “knows” what media to use, it can prepare and deliver the sharpest results.
Efficient Ink Usage
Think ink! Keep the ink in mind and set the printer to react properly to the ink it uses. Watch your ink levels, and you’ll avoid the embarrassment and expense of running out of ink mid-job. Luckily, many modern plotters have software that monitors ink usage and provides alerts when levels are low. Stay on top of those levels. You won’t regret it. Also, invest in and use high-capacity ink cartridges if your printer can handle them. They provide a better cost-per-page ratio and reduce the frequency of replacements.
Smarter Software Integration
Do you know what sort of software your plotter printer uses? Probably not, so take time to find out and learn what that software can do. Most large-format printers come with bundled software specifically designed to optimize printing. Ask the manufacturer, retailer, or supplier to give you a breakdown of what the software can do.
Explore your design software’s possibilities and adjust print quality long before the project reaches the machine. AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Illustrator all offer settings that influence print quality, speed, color, and more. Use these programs efficiently by setting up templates and presets to match your printer’s capabilities.
Energy Efficiency
It’s not just about print quality; it’s also about saving money and other expenses. Use power-saving mode to let your printer slip into a low-power state when not in use, saving on electricity while giving it time to rest in between jobs. That pays off twice! Of course, simply shutting down the printer after hours and when you’re not trying to meet a print deadline also protects it from overheating, wear and tear, and more.
Workflow Management
Regulate the way you handle jobs, scheduling and organizing them so they overlap to save time and funds and give the printer a chance to relax and prepare for the next project. Organize print jobs by using printer software to queue and manage multiple print jobs, finishing urgent tasks first and leaving time to finish the others. Batch print jobs if they share similarities. Doing so also reduces time spent switching between media, print settings, and ink replacement.
Educate Your Staff
Everyone who operates the plotter printer should know how to optimize its use. Provide training to new employees and revisit the knowledge and skills of current and long-time staff. At base, every operator should know how to properly load media, adjust settings for optimal output, and troubleshoot (see below) for common large-format printer issues. Make sure they have all read and understand the instruction manual, and offer distilled information in a summary of its main points for reference. Creating a shorter company manual or poster is handy and helpful for printer operators, especially new ones still finding their footing.
Troubleshooting
Here are a few common problems that crop up with plotter printers. Keep them nearby in case of an emergency.
Print Quality Issues
Common print quality issues include streaks, smudges, and color inaccuracies. Regularly calibrate your printer and use high-quality media to minimize these problems.
Paper Jams
Paper jams are frustrating and time-consuming and may damage the printer. Familiarize yourself with the process of clearing jams quickly and safely to minimize downtime.
Color Management
Believe it or not, screen colors and print colors are two different things. Proper color management ensures the colors on your computer screen match the final printout. Invest in color calibration tools and software to maintain color accuracy across projects.
Upgrade Firmware
Manufacturers often release firmware updates to improve functionality and fix bugs. Regularly check for updates and install them to keep your printer running smoothly.
Those are just eight ways to maximize large-format printer efficiency. Contact us for a consultation and to learn more about what our large-format printers do! We offer Canon plotter printers and more. Call us today!
