Mother’s day is just around the corner (May 13, 2012), and Father’s day isn’t too far off either (June 17, 2012) – so I’ve combined a few personalized gift ideas that will help capture your appreciation for the most important man and woman in your life. Mother’s day and Father’s day is a day of appreciation for mothers, fathers and parental figures.
Why not show your appreciation with a personalized DIY keepsake? DIY is all the hype right now. So it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get creative. All you need is a few material items, most importantly a printer and you’re all set! Now let’s get started.
Gift Coupons
Gift coupons are great and most importantly cost effective to produce! What’s better than a gift that keeps on giving? Instead of the usual gift cards or certificates for stores, make your own personalized coupons filled with actions that you offer for your mother or father. Make the coupons good for 1 Special Dinner, Movie Night, Car Wash, Breakfast In Bed, or a Kitchen Clean-up. Either way, I'm sure they'll love the gesture. Every mother or father loves a little help here and there. If you just can’t get your creative juices flowing, Microsoft provides numerous templates for gift coupons that can be personalized and downloaded here. Good ol' Martha Stewart won't disappoint you either, she has a template for Mother's Day and one for Father's Day.
Personalized Favourites
Turn any of dad or mom's favourite foods like a chocolate bar, jar of peanuts or even a jar of pickles into a custom gift by adding your very own personalized label. Martha Stewart provides a template specific to Father's Day here. But don't worry; if you're looking to make one for your mother, I've got a backup plan! Create your very own label on Microsoft Word using the WordArt option; add a border and you have your own customized label. Simply print onto adhesive paper or regular paper, attach it to your gift and away you go!
Photo Calendar
Most printers come with some type of software for creating your own calendar, install it onto your computer or download templates directly from Microsoft. Most of the calendars can be customized so you can choose some of your favourite photos of mom or dad, add the photos, print them out on a colour printer and you have your very own personalized calendar. Nothing beats a reminder of how creative and thoughtful you were every time they look at it.
Colouring Card
If your little ones love to colour, HP has a generic colouring card that can be personalized here. Simply print the card out on plain white paper, colour, have them include a special message and you could have your very own Picasso in the making. It's the perfect addition to showcase on any refrigerator!
World’s Greatest... Photo Card
Every mom loves hearing that they are the “World’s Greatest Mom,” why not put it in writing? HP has a template that you can download here, it’s as easy as 1 2 3. Download the template, upload your best photo together and print! It can’t get any easier than that. Don’t fret; they also have a “World’s Greatest Dad” template available here.
Let's face it, whether it's your mother or father - they're pretty much a superhero in your eyes for all the things that they do or have done for you. They go through great lengths to be the best that they can be and it should be acknowledged all the time but we all know it doesn't. That's why there's a designated Mother's Day and Father's Day; a day that gives you the chance to show your appreciation.
Happy Mother's Day & Father's Day to all the real-life superheroes that you are!
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We have spent the last few blog postings talking about media transport issues, inkjet and laser printer quality issues. What is left? Print output of course.
Have you sent your print job to a central printer, but when you get there, you realize it didn’t print? Have you done it again, thinking maybe you forgot to press print? Well, these are the frustrating issues we are going to talk about today!
Print Que Issues
Jobs are in print que but do not print:
So you check your print que and you can see the 2 job you sent. But they are just sitting there, not printing. Help!
- Check the physical printer:
- Does it have enough paper? Is it out of toner? Is there a paper jam.
- Print a test page or status page from the printer itself. If it prints then look at printer connections.
- Have a looked at the printer in your operating system:
- Is the printer paused? Right-click the printer in the Printers and Faxes window and uncheck pause printing.
- Is the printer offline? Right-click the printer objects and choose User printer online to rest this.
- Is the print spooler stalled? Stop and restart your print spooler. You will likely have to resubmit your print jobs.
- Incorrect driver. Update or replace the driver; if possible, delete the driver and then re-install using the manufacturer’s installation instructions, if available.
Network Printing Issues
User cannot access network printer:
You are trying to print to the central office printer but you don’t see the printer in your printer lists.
- User is disconnected from the network connection. Reconnect to the network.
- Network printer or print server is down. Check the status of the printers print server and restart if necessary.
Print jobs never appear in print queue:
- General network problems. Check the network status of the client, printer and print server.
- Insufficient user print permissions. Update the permissions.
- Insufficient space on the drive containing the spool folder. Move the spool folder or add disk space.
I would call you IT support staff for these fixes. I’m great with printers, not networks!!
Print Output Issues
Print output is garbled:
Have you ever seen this? It’s actually interesting… you start wondering if your printer is possessed!
- Printer is low on memory. Check whether you can install additional memory.
- Incorrect driver. Update or replace the driver
- Intermittent cable problem. Replace the cable.
I would call an experienced service tech or your IT support staff.
Printer does not print the way the user expects it to:
This is a frustrating one, you wanted one page, double sided and you got three!
- Check your page setup selections made in the application or in printer properties.
- Check your margins and page breaks.
We hope this four part services on common print issues has helped you determine if you need a service call are can save yourself a few dollars. Look for future posting about scanner and fax issues!
For more information on how to extend the life of your equipment, download our free guide!
Last blog posting we talked about inkjet printers. We hoped you enjoyed the posting and we are excited to bring you the next part of our common printer problem series.
Laser Printers are more complex in the operation, contain chemicals, high-voltage and have high-temperature areas. As a result, you may need an experienced service laser technician to diagnose and replace parts.
Often Laser Printer Issues can be categorized into three 
solutions:
- Toner
- Drum
- Fuser – please call an experianced service technition
Depending on your printer model, the toner and drum may be one unit or two separate units.
Printing Quality Issues
Smeared output, or output rubs off the paper:
- Check that you are using the right paper media. I once used inkjet card stock in a laser printer and results were disastorous. The toner just wiped off!
- Have the fuser looked at.
Low Quality Image or Light print:
- Check that the shipping strips have been removed from the toner cartridges
- Change the toner cartridge. It could be empty or defective.
- Poor quality paper or wrong media. The paper may not be accepting the charge and transfer of toner as a result you have poor image quality.
- Have the fuser looked at
Repetitive horizontal lines or white spaces:
- Check that the shipping strips have been removed from the toner cartridges
- Damaged drum – replace drum or toner cartridge
- Have the fuser looked at.
Repetitive vertical lines or white spaces:
- Damaged drum – replace drum or toner cartridge
- Change the toner cartridge. It could be empty or defective.
- Have the fuser looked at.
Ghost Images: Images that seem to appear gain farther down the page.
- Damaged drum – replace drum or toner cartridge
- Have the fuser looked at.
Repetitive Dots:
- More often than not this represents a problem with the drum. Replace the drum/toner cartridge
In general, it is cost effective to replace the toner/drum first to see if the issue persists. If the issue persists after changing the toner/drum, then it may be your fuser.
Stay tuned for Common Printer Problems – Part 4: Help! It Won’t Print
For more information on how to extend the life of your equipment, download our free guide!
How inkjet and laser printers produce their images is very different and as a result, the problems that plague the printers can be very different. Today, we are going to look at common Inkjet issues. 
Generally, problems associated with inkjet printers can be solved by one of three things
- Cleaning the printer
- Replacing the printer cartridge
- Using good quality paper.
Occasionally, you might need to replace the print head.
Any other issues and we would probably advise you replace the printer rather than fix it as it is not cost efficient.
Printing Quality Issues
Poor Print Quality:
- Perform print cartridge cleaning process. You may need to do this a couple of times.
- Replace the ink cartridges
- Change to paper specifically meant for ink jet printers.
Paper Passes through the Printer but is Blank:
- Replace ink cartridges – ink may be dry or empty
- Check for tape on the cartridge and remove if nessessary
- Perform a printer alignment.
Fuzzy Output:
- Perform print cartridge cleaning process. You may need to do this a couple of times.
- Replace the ink cartridges or print heads
- Try paper/media specifically meant for ink jet printers.
I have found the best way to diagnose your ink jet machine is to print a configuration page. The results of the output usually give you an indication of what colours are not printing or are printing poorly.
For best results, you should use your inkjet printer at least one a week to ensure the ink does not dry and cause damage to your printer.
Stay tuned for Common Printer Problems – Part 3: Laser Printer Issues
Over the next little while we will present to you 4 articles on common printer problems that plague your devices. We are starting the series with Printer Jams!
Common Printer Problems – Part 1: Paper Jams!
Remember that time you were rushed to meet a deadline but when you ran to the printer to pick up your report, the printer told you there was a
paper jam. No matter how many drawers you opened or levers you pulled you just could not get that message to go away!!!
Paper jams are one of the most common and frustrating issues when using printers. Media damage is related to paper jams, which includes creased pages, wrinkled pages, folded pages or torn pages. The causes of media damage are usually similar to paper jams so we will cover both of these media transport issues together.
Foreign Objects
Imagine you are driving and then there is suddenly a wall in front of you … you may smash into the wall or just clip the side. This is what happens when a piece of paper, traveling through your device, hits foreign object. The paper may jam, fold, wrinkle, or tear.
Staples lost inside the printer or ripped paper from a previous paper jam is another common issue. If you do not properly remove the paper jam, bits of paper may be left over. Sometimes these are so small they are hard to get at or see.
Pick up or Delivery Rollers
Pick up rollers and delivery rollers are like the tires of your car. They have a tread or a texture to them. When they are worn, they become bald and slippery. When they try to transport the paper they will not have the tread to pick up or push the paper causing unpleasant problems. They will need to be cleaned or replaced.
Paper Tray Set up
Paper jams often occur because the paper trays themselves are set up incorrectly. If your device is experiencing paper jams, do not to fill the tray to capacity. Also, make sure the paper is aligned properly and the sliders are holding the paper in place. They should be snug with the paper.
Media Type
Use standard office paper when possible. Folded paper, labels and specialty paper such as hard bond paper can often cause paper jams. If you are uncertain about what media you can use, check to see if your device supports the media you are using.
If you need to change the paper type or size, remove any other paper in the tray or feeder before inserting the new media. Also change the paper type in your printer driver, this will tell the printer you are using nonstandard media. This change will alter how the paper travels through the printer to reduce wrinkles and jams.
Malfunctioning Duplexer or Fuser
If the jams are occurring at the duplexing stage, your duplexer may need to be replaced. Similarly, if jamming occurs frequently at the fuser stage of the print job (usually you know because the image is on the paper when you pull it out but it will rub off), then the fuser may need to be replaced.
Another indication of a fuser problem is singed paper. It could be the media is incorrect or the fuser is running too hot and will need to be replaced. Look at your media first before assuming it is a costly repair.
We hope we have helped you understand a bit more about those pesky printer jams! Watch for a future article on the proper way to remove a paper jam!
Stay tuned for Common Printer Problems – Part 2: Inkjet Issues
Reports of incorrect page counts have been found in HP’s M5025/5035 as well as the 9040/9050 series printers.
When the toner is full both printers report 54,000 pages remaining, which is rather odd considering the M5025/5035 series has a yield of 15,000 pages per cartridge, and the 9040/9050 series yields 30,000 pages per cartridge. Both of those yields are much lower than the 54,000 pages being reported by the machine.
It seems that when they get down to about 25 percent the correct yields appear, but you’re left guessing until then. Last thing you want is to see 54,000 pages remaining before a large print job, and find there’s really only 3750.
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LaserJet® 9040/9050 MFP
|
08.220.1B 20111213
08.200.5 20110406
|
|
LaserJet® M5025/5035 MFP
|
48.240.0B 20111212
48.213.7 20110602
|
Thankfully there is a fix and you can resolve this issue. If you have any one of these printers, take into consideration whether you or your IT counterpart has done the update. If not, take the time and visit the HP website and upgrade to avoid any printing interruptions.
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Photo Credit: Office Space (1999)
Valentines gifts don’t actually have to break the bank, why not get creative and make something much more personalized?
There is a variety of interesting yet money saving gifts you can make your valentine just by using your printer. If you’re loved one is just like me then they are going to love any gifts made especially for them by you.
Personalized gifts add a personal touch and are much more meaningful. These gift ideas are not only adult appropriate but children will enjoy making them as well.
Here are a few gift ideas you can make using your printer:
Greeting card: Valentine’s cards, flowers and chocolates, still remain one of the most sought-after gifts. There are free design programs online that you can download right onto your PC. You can produce your own personalized card, complete with a personal message in a matter of minutes! Use scented or coloured paper and print it directly from your own printer. Check out HP for template downloads.
Scrapbooks: What’s better than showcasing your best moments, letters, mementos and any trinkets of your life together through a scrapbook? You can purchase pre-made scrapbooks, additional designs, stickers and paper from craft shops. Use your printer to print photos, borders, and valentine related designs and away you go! Martha Stewart has some templates you can download.
Chocolate Wrapper: I found this very cute and romantic idea off of Martha Stewart. Repackage a store-bought chocolate with a homemade wrapper. The underside of the wrapper will reveal a handwritten love note. You can download the design from here; use coloured paper, print and cut it out. Wrap it around the foil-covered bar and seal with a cute sticker or tape. Embellish the wrapper with a little glue and glitter, or with glitter pens. This wrapper adds a special touch to such a simple gift.
Roses wrapped with a poem: A bouquet of roses is a typical gift idea, but why not make it special by wrapping the bouquet with a poem printed on a piece of legal-size white paper and some coloured tissue paper. There are countless love poems you can find on Google. Simply wrap the roses in paper and tissue paper, secure with tape and tie with a string or ribbon.
DIY Iron On Transfers: Iron on transfers are fun and easy to apply to clothing, bags, household linens and other fabrics. All you need is your household iron, a printer, special iron on transfer paper and a piece of plain clothing or fabric.
Get creative and personalize something for your loved ones, only your imagination is the sole limit.
Check out 5 Last Minute Gift Ideas that you can make with your Printer! for other creative ideas that can be used for Valentine’s Day as well.
Photo Credit: Martha Stewart
Happy Valentine's Day! from the staff at LaserAge Inc.
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After 132 years of business America’s photography giant Kodak has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. It’s not too surprising with the digital revolution brought about by competitors Nikon, Canon and Olympus, but it is rather ironic when you consider Kodak made the first digital camera in 1975 that never hit the market. Have a look here http://www.retrothing.com/2008/05/kodaks-first-di.html
Digital vs. Film 
Regardless Kodak didn’t immediately embraced the digital era fearing it would reduce their film business, which they had cornered, but it was inevitable. No longer were we forced to buy roll after roll of film good for one use and requiring a third party to develop (assuming you don’t have your own dark room) in order to see our images. We could now sit in the comfort of our own homes twea
k and edit picture on our own PC’s. Who needed film then? Convenience is king, or is that cash? Wait convenience = cash therefore convenience is king and Kodak missed the train.
When 2001 came around Kodak decided it was time to take the digital plunge, but unfortunately it was too little too late and now they are just trying to keep the competition in view. Kodak had a workforce of 150,000 employees in the late 80’s and since has dropped progressively to today’s 18,800.
Kodak makes printers?
They do!!! You wouldn’t know from the marketing campaigns, but they are out there. In the printer business we come across these machines very rarely, but that may change. Kodak has to find a new avenue in which they can thrive, and since it’s too late to be number one in digital photography, printing is an open avenue. 2012 could see Kodak make waves in the home photo printing sector that continues to grow.
Is it the End?
We all know filing for chapter 11 doesn’t mean the end of a company, and Kodak certainly doesn’t view it that way whatsoever with intentions of using this protection to revamp the company in the direction of the future. With cameras on countless electronic devices from phones, to computers Kodak can certainly find their way back into the market with the right innovation, but can they ever achieve the heights they once did?
Want to print your pictures from home? Get a quote today
The Toronto Star posted an article about 3D printers, I am eager to share it.
I attached a link to the article below as it is an interesting read. I've been following 3D printers recently because they are remarkable and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
I did some googling and some of things people are already doing with 3D printers is amazing.
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At the University of Washington, a team is researching replacement human bones using 3D printers. If you think about it, the idea of using a 3D printer to create a human bone seems plausible. However, you need to create the right material that will not reject in our bodies and yet be strong enough to withstand weight, strength etc.
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3D printers are used to create movie props. For example, the glove in Iron Man 2 was made from a 3D printer.
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More recently, an orthopedic surgeon in Scotland used a CT scan to load and create a 3D model of a bone. The model was then used to determine the best way to surgically correct the patient's problem. This type of use will save time on the operating table, making surgery safer and more successful for patients.
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Some are using 3D printers to shape chocolates! Yum!
Small 3D printers are becoming more commonplace and affordable and it will be interesting to see where 3D printers take us! I will keep you informed as I hear more!
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1087536--3d-printers-manufacture-objects-in-your-home
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