When buying printer cartridges, one of the most important questions is: how many pages can a cartridge print? This question revolves around the concept of page yield, which is a key factor for home and office users who want to effectively manage printing costs. In this blog, we will explore what page yield is, the ISO standards for page yield, reasons why a cartridge may not print as many pages as advertised, and tips for maximizing the page yield of a cartridge.
Contents:
What is Page Yield?
Page yield refers to the estimated number of pages a printer cartridge can print before it runs out of ink or toner. Page yield is typically determined under controlled conditions and serves as a general guideline to help consumers compare different cartridges.
To provide a consistent and reliable method for measuring the page yield of printer cartridges, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed a series of test standards. These standards help ensure that the page yield claims made by printer manufacturers are comparable, accurate, and based on real-world usage scenarios.
ISO Page Yield Standards
To ensure consistency and transparency in reporting page yields, most printer and cartridge manufacturers adhere to standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These standards provide a standardized way to measure and report page yield for monochrome (black and white) and color printer cartridges.
ISO/IEC 19752 for Monochrome Laser Toner Cartridges
ISO/IEC 19752 standard is designed specifically for monochrome (black-and-white) laser printers. It involves printing a standard test document with approximately 5% page coverage continuously until the toner cartridge reaches its end of life. The result is an average page yield that provides a consistent benchmark for comparing different monochrome laser cartridges.
ISO/IEC 19798 for Color Laser Toner Cartridges
ISO/IEC 19798 standard applies to color laser printers and uses a set of five standard test documents that simulate various color printing scenarios, including text, graphics, and images. The test documents are printed continuously until the toner is depleted, and the average page yield across these documents is calculated to provide a reliable comparison of different color laser cartridges.
ISO/IEC 24711 for Inkjet Printer Cartridges
ISO/IEC 24711 standard is used for inkjet printers, covering both black and color ink cartridges. It includes a specific set of test documents that represent typical user printing behavior, such as mixed text and graphics. These documents are printed continuously under controlled conditions until the ink runs out, ensuring a fair and standardized method for assessing the page yield of ink cartridges.
These ISO standards take into account different types of content, page coverage, and printing conditions, providing a standardized way to measure and compare page yields across various printer models and cartridge types. By adhering to these standards, manufacturers can provide consumers with a reliable estimate of how many pages a cartridge can print under typical usage conditions. However, it is important to remember that the actual page yield you achieve can vary greatly based on a number of factors, such as the type of documents you print, print settings, and environmental conditions.
Why Doesn't My Cartridge Print the Advertised Number of Pages?
You may have noticed that your printer cartridges don't print as many pages as the manufacturer claims. Here are some reasons:
- Print Coverage: ISO standards are based on standard documents with approximately 5% page coverage, which is equivalent to a short email or letter. However, most users print documents with varying coverage. For example, a full-page photo may use up to 100% page coverage, which can significantly reduce page yield.
- Print Settings: The print quality settings you choose can significantly affect page yield. Draft mode uses less ink or toner than normal or high quality settings, resulting in a higher page yield.
- Content Type: The type of content you print (text-heavy documents, graphics, photos, etc.) can affect the amount of ink or toner used. Graphics and photos typically use more ink or toner than simple text documents.
- Printer Maintenance and Cleaning Cycles: Inkjet printers typically perform automatic cleaning cycles to keep the print heads in good condition. These cycles consume a small amount of ink each time, but this ink does not count towards your page yield.
- Environmental Conditions: Factors such as humidity and temperature can affect the behavior of ink or toner. In a humid environment, ink may take longer to dry, resulting in more ink used per page.
Therefore, it is normal for a cartridge not to print the advertised number of pages. You may get fewer or more pages than advertised due to the above factors.
How to Get More Prints from Your Cartridges
If you want to maximize the number of pages you can get from your cartridges, consider these tips:
- Use High-Yield Cartridges: High-yield cartridges contain more ink or toner than standard cartridges, allowing them to print a significantly higher number of pages. Using high-yield cartridges is an excellent way to get more prints from your printer and reduce the frequency of cartridge replacements. While high-yield cartridges may cost more upfront, they usually offer a lower cost per page, making them more economical over time.
- Use Compatible Jumbo Cartridges: Many printers do not have the option of high-yield cartridges. But third-party manufacturers may offer compatible jumbo cartridges which are typically less expensive than OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) cartridges while offering greater page yield.
- Shaking and Reinstalling the Cartridge: Shaking the toner cartridge helps distribute the toner powder inside evenly, allowing you to print more pages in good quality. It is a simple yet effective way to extend the life of your toner cartridge.
- Order Cartridges from Reputable Suppliers: Some manufacturers may reduce the amount of toner or ink refill to lower manufacturing costs, so that the cartridge cannot print the advertised number of pages. Therefore, it is also crucial to purchase printer cartridges from reputable suppliers.
- Use Draft Mode: For less important documents, switch to draft or economy mode. This setting uses less ink or toner and can extend the life of your cartridges.
- Print in Black and White: Use monochrome instead of color whenever possible, especially for drafts or internal documents. Color printing generally uses more ink or toner.
- Reduce Print Coverage: Minimize the amount of ink or toner used per page by reducing font size, choosing lighter fonts, or decreasing the use of graphics. This can help increase the number of pages you get from a cartridge.
- Monitor Print Jobs: Keep track of what you’re printing. Avoid unnecessary print jobs or excessive reprints, which can deplete your ink supply faster.
- Store Cartridges Properly: Keep your ink or toner cartridges in a cool, dry place to prevent them from drying out or leaking. Proper storage helps maintain ink quality and longevity.
Conclusion
Understanding the factors that affect page yield and how to measure it can help you make more informed decisions when buying printer ink and toner cartridges. By adopting better printing practices and properly maintaining your printer, you can maximize the number of pages you can print from each cartridge, saving money and resources.