Internet Connection
Check the speed of your Internet, and turn off any downloads or video streams that might be eating into your network’s resources. If the images are not being sent at full speed from your computer to the printer, the speed is affected at the beginning of the process.
Paper Quality
Having high-quality paper can significantly increase the speed of printing. This is because high-quality paper loads smoothly and flows easily through the printheads. On the other hand, low-quality paper presents problems during loading and printing and is more likely to cause a jam inside the printer.
Print Quality
If you are printing a large number of sheets for public distribution and general lower-level work, reducing the print quality will result in quicker printing. On the other hand, if you are printing fewer documents for a visual presentation, the print quality should be kept high to create the best possible look.
Clear Legacy Prints
Your printer’s memory might be getting clogged up by remnants of legacy print jobs. These are the prints that were canceled or paused before completion. Look in the print queue for such print jobs that are no longer needed and delete them permanently to clear up the printer’s memory and boost performance.
Checking Security Features
Go through your device’s security settings to make sure they are not interfering with the printing process. If your printer is disconnected from any external network and you are printing documents directly from your device, you can turn off any antivirus programs that are slowing down the printer.
On the other hand, if you are printing through the Internet, never completely turn off your computer’s security firewall during printing, since hackers are known to steal data directly from the printer itself.
Bypass Spooler
The spooler found within the printer is a midway point that is used to provide a waiting station for information in case of any lag in the printing process. For fast devices, you can bypass the spooler entirely by choosing the “Print directly to the printer” option on your printer. This will eliminate one of the steps in the printing process and thus speed up the proceedings.
RAM Increase
In general terms, having more RAM on your computer allows it to perform more tasks. While adding RAM does not make programs run faster, it allows for more programs to run together without bringing down the speed of operations. You can add more RAM to your device by having your RAM cards upgraded by a professional.
Upgrade Software
Finally, make sure the printer software you are using is up to date. If, on the other hand, the printer itself, even at full capacity, performs at less-than-desirable speeds, it might be time to get a newer model that operates faster.
Conclusion
Having your own printer can be a good way to avoid frequent trips to print shops when your work requires regular printouts. With the above steps, you can ensure your printer works at maximum speed even after several years of being in operation. Image Credit: Mike MacKenzie from Flickr
