Why do you need toners for printer in the first place?
Imagine this: you hit print at the computer, get up from your chair, and head over to the print station. Maybe you’re already busy thinking about the upcoming presentation in your head where you will need the materials you’re printing. Or maybe you’re trying to make a mental list of the people you need to sign on the documents to ensure that a new project takes off the ground sooner rather than later.
Within that short span of time, a pile of blank white paper sheets is already being permanently marked with the printer toner. The seemingly trivial substance just turned into critical documents you will need for your job.
Printer toner is an important office supply. But toners are not the same. There are several important things you need to think about before you order a new batch of toners. Choosing the correct type of printer and printer toner cartridge will ensure lots of stacks of legible and crisp documents before it’s finally time for a replacement.
But before anything else, it’s important to know more about printer toners, what sets them apart from each other, and how to look for the right one for your needs.
What are Toners for Printer?
Printer toners are powdery fine substances that laser printers use to produce permanent images and text on paper documents.
Different types of printer toners are also made of various materials which depend on the specific color and manufacturer. Many types of toners are mostly made up of polyester, a certain type of plastic fiber. The plastic element is important in the triboelectric process that laser printers use.
To make it easier for you to understand, here’s how the process goes.
First, the laser printer will receive a document from the network or device connected to it. The printer will then use its laser to draw the inverted version of the images and text of the document across the statistically charged drum. The printer laser will disrupt the charge of every area it touches. It defines the specific parts of the finished document that will stay white.
The toner will then be released from the cartridge of the printer. This is attracted to the drum’s charged parts. This follows the same principle that makes packing peanuts stick to clothes. The printer will then pass a paper sheet over the drum where the toner will be transferred.
The finisher of the printer will apply heat that melts and fixes the toner in place. It explains why you will feel a certain warmth on paper documents once they come out of the printer. The finished document will then emerge from the printer.
Modern laser printers may carry out each of the steps above 20 or more times in a span of one minute.
Things to Know Before Buying Printer Toners
Now that you know more about toners for printer and the role they play in the printing process, it’s time to learn some of the important things to remember when shopping for your next toner.
Every Toner Cartridge Has a Different Paper Yield
There’s no single definite answer as to how long a printer toner lasts. The quantity of documents that can be printed will vary according to the specific type of printer you have, the currently installed cartridge or cartridges, and the specific type of printed documents.
Laser printers usually come with their starter cartridges to make it more convenient for the new owner. Standard cartridges can also last for 2,000 pages or more.
Efficient Replacement is Possible with Individual Color Toner Cartridges
If you have a color laser printer, you’ll discover that it comes with different cartridges for three primary printing colors: yellow, magenta, and cyan.
Although maintaining it may seem to require more work at first, the truth is that it means less waste if you often print more of a certain color than the others.
Instead of replacing one tri-color cartridge that might have plenty more magenta and cyan left to go, all you have to do is switch to the yellow cartridge.
Printer Ink and Laser Printer Toner are Not the Same
Although it is often called ink, toners for printer are quite different in terms of the substance and the application from the viscous fluid that inkjet printers use. Toners are dry powder instead of liquid and because of the efficient nature of their application and storage, printer toner cartridges often last much longer compared to printer ink cartridges.
Toner Replacement Processes are Not the Same
The printer toner cartridge is a critical aspect of the operation of laser printers. It means that the cartridge’s replacement process is often precise and lengthy and involves moving and replacing several components.
If you’re not too careful, it may result in configuration errors that might require you to repeat the process from the start or you may even spill the toner. You might want to look for a printer that will let you replace the printer toner cartridge quickly and easily to prevent these potential issues.
Use an Official Toner
It’s important to keep in mind that a laser printer is a machine engineered for precision. These printers rely a lot on highly technical procedures to come up with excellent results. The ones that you can count on to meet every challenge are those printer toner cartridges that are being sold by official licensees or manufacturers.
An unofficial cartridge might not deliver a similar level of top-of-the-line results. These might even affect and shorten the lifespan of your printer. It can easily undermine the cost savings they may provide compared to official cartridges.
The Bottom Line
Toners for printer play a big role in the overall printing process. Without them, you won’t be getting those documents you need for important presentations and other purposes. So the next time you need to print something, make sure you get the right printer for the best printing results.