Smart Tips For Multi-Platform Printing

Setting up network printing is relatively simple when all your computers run on the same platform—say, all PCs or all Macs. Adding one or more of another kind, however, can get complicated. Here are some pointers.

First, find a driver that allows the workstation to communicate with the
printer. This may be supplied by the workstation’s vendor or look for a third-party or open-source driver online.

Second, set up the workstation using one of three possibleapproaches:

1. Make the new client workstation understand the server. For example, if all your PCs are printing through a Windows server, set up the new workstation to use the Windows printing protocol to print to the Windows print queues.

2. Make the server understand the client. For example, install AppleTalk suite (or other software) on the Windows server, setting it up to make the queues available to the Mac (or other workstation) using AppleTalk (or other program).

3. Bypass the server so the new workstation communicates directly across the LAN to the printer. Choose the option that causes the least turmoil to your existing system. Compare the time and cost required to implement each option, and do some online research to learn whether
others have had problems with the approach you think may work.

As you proceed through the setup process, jot down each step so you can undo your changes—and choose another approach—should problems develop. Once you’re successful, document what you did to accomplish the job as a reference should you decide to add another workstation of the same type later.■

Best Printing Tips for Digital Photos

Not everybody has a true photo
printer, but that doesn’t mean they can’t print good quality photos. How well your photos look in print is determined by the resolution of your
printer, the pixel resolution of the photo and how large you want the photo to appear.

Ideally, you’ll use the maximum
resolution your printer can produce— hopefully at least 300 dots per inch (dpi). You can determine how large the picture
can be printed and still look good by
applying a little math. First, you’ll need to know what resolution the picture was taken at—640x480 pixels, 1600x1200, etc. Dividing the number of pixels by the printer's resolution will tell you how large you can print the picture and get a good quality result.

For example, at a printer resolution of 300 dpi, a 640x480 pixel photo would print a 2.13"x1.6" print (640 ÷ 300=2.13; 480÷300=1.6). The same printer resolution with a 1600x1200 pixel photo would yield a nice-quality 4"x6" print. Increase the printer's resolution and the picture will print smaller and better; decrease it and you'll get a larger, lower-quality print.

Note: You can drop down to 225 dpi on many printers and still get a
photographic-quality print. The key to producing larger, great-quality prints is starting with a high-resolution image. So, set your camera accordingly! ■

Inkjet-produced prints last just as long as those produced by a laser printer.

Answer: False. Whereas the ink applied by an inkjet printer dries
on top of the paper, laser printers actually melt toner into the
paper. Ink can flake off over time, especially where pages are
folded or creased, and stick to other prints. Laser-produced pages
simply last longer over time.

Note: If you intend to archive your prints, be sure to select the
right kind of paper. Ask your paper vendor to recommend a
paper that will meet your archival needs. ■

Price is often the driving factor that determines whether a consumer
decides to purchase one product over another similar one. When buying a printing machine, make sure you’re not getting less for the lower price you’re thinking of paying. For example, low-end laser printers sometimes ship with a starter cartridge that may have only one-third the page capacity of a normal cartridge. If the normal cartridge
costs $75, you’ll actually pay $50 more for the starter-cartridge machine
(because you’ll have to buy a new cartridge sooner) than a similar printer with a normal-capacity cartridge.

Do the machines you’re considering ship with a USB or parallel cable? If not, add the cost of buying a cable to the purchases price of the machine before making comparisons.

Monochrome laser printers have long been relied on to produce sharp text at lowest per-page costs while inkjets have dominated the market for high-quality photo printing. A change is under way. Now, even mid-priced color lasers ($500 or so) can produce good-quality images. And that price range is affordable for even the smallest offices. If you’re looking for a printer that can do it all—text and graphics— consider a new color laser. The more you move up the scale from mid-range, the closer you’ll get to photographic-quality prints. For both text and photos, you’ll minimize per-page printing costs since toner is less expensive than ink and laser printers need not use the high-cost glossy paper inkjets require to print good-quality photos. Call us to find out more!

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