Collections

How to Get the Most from These Collections

Each collection groups related guides so you can work through a printing question from start to finish instead of hunting for answers one article at a time. If you are not sure where to begin, start with the problem in front of you right now. A cartridge that will not fit, a page covered in faint lines and a photo that looks dull on paper each have a natural starting point.

Choosing a starting point

• Buying or replacing supplies: Start with Cartridge Know-How. It covers how to read model numbers and what page yield really means, and it explains why the cheapest cartridge is not always the cheapest per page. Our guide to checking cartridge compatibility is a good first read before you order anything.
• Something has gone wrong: Fix the Print walks through checks in a sensible order, beginning with the quick ones such as nozzle checks, paper settings and driver options. The more involved cleaning steps come later. If your inkjet has sat unused for weeks, read about why printheads clog first, because dried ink causes many streaking problems.
• Improving everyday results: Better Home Printing is about getting sharper text, truer colours and less waste. It also helps you decide whether an inkjet or a laser suits the way you actually print.

A few habits that help across every collection

Keep a note of your printer's exact model name and the cartridge codes it uses. Most troubleshooting and buying advice depends on these details. Print a short test page every week or two on an inkjet to keep the ink moving. Match the paper type setting in the print dialogue to the paper actually loaded, because the wrong setting causes many smudges and washed-out photos. When a guide suggests a maintenance routine, check your printer's manual as well, since cleaning cycles and menu names vary between manufacturers.

New guides are added to these collections over time. If you are weighing up a new machine, our comparison of inkjet and laser printers for home use pairs well with any of the three.