Summary

Chapter 14: Advanced Printers and Scanners 23Figure 14-13 Printer VacuumScanner MaintenanceFor proper scanner maintenance, you should clean scanners regularly to prevent dirt, fingerprints,and other smudges from showing in scanned images. On flatbed scanners, keepthe lid closed when the scanner is not in use. This will help to prevent dust buildup andaccidental fingertip smudges. If the glass becomes dirty, consult the user guide for the manufacturer’scleaning recommendations. If the manual does not list any recommendations,use a glass cleaner and a soft cloth to protect the glass from scratching. Even very smallscratches can be visible on high-resolution scans. If dirt becomes lodged in the scratches,the scratches will become more visible.If the inside of the glass becomes dirty, check the manual for instructions on how to openthe unit or remove the glass from the scanner. If possible, thoroughly clean both sides andreplace the glass as it was originally installed in the scanner.Describe Checking Capacity of Ink Cartridges andTonersWhen an inkjet printer produces blank pages, the ink cartridges can be empty. Laser printers,however, do not produce blank pages, but do begin to print very poor-quality printouts.Most inkjet printers provide a utility that shows ink levels in each cartridge, as shown inFigure 14-14. Some printers have LCD message screens or LED lights that warn userswhen ink supplies are low.A method for checking ink levels is to look at the page counter inside the printer or theprinter software to determine how many pages have been printed. Then look at the cartridgelabel information. The label should show how many pages the cartridge can print. You canthen easily estimate how many more pages you can print. For this method to be accurate,each time you replace the cartridge, you must remember to reset the counter. In addition,some printouts use more ink than others do. For example, a letter uses less ink than a photograph.