3.8c-d - CompTIA A+ Core 1: Inkjet Printers

Inkjet Printer Pros

Relatively inexpensive printers, relatively quiet operation, and high-resolution printing.

Inkjet Printer Cons

Expensive ink, proprietary ink cartridges, ink fades over time, and tendency to clog easily.

Ink Cartridges

Place ink drops onto a printed page and follow the CMYK color scheme - cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).

Print Head

The movable part of an inkjet printer that deposits ink on the paper to produce printed output.

Feed Roller

Picks up and feeds paper through the inkjet printer and allows duplexing for double-sided printing.

Belt Roller

Moves ink cartridges back and forth to apply ink to the paper, may include its own print head.

Inkjet Printer Calibration

Ensures ink nozzles are aligned with the paper; necessary when print lines are blurry or print colors lack alignment.

Clogged Print Heads

Inkjet printers develop these from a lack of cleaning, leading to streaks or missing color sections.

Replacing Inkjet Cartridges

Components that need to be replaced as they deplete, taking seconds to remove the old and install a new one.

Inkjet Printer Calibration

Aligns nozzles to paper for crisp lines; many printers include an automatic calibration option.

Checking for Crisp Lines

Ensure lines are clear with no color overlap to verify print quality.

Removing Paper Jams

Remove loose tray paper and stuck paper from the printer path, applying firm pressure without ripping.

Jam Removal Steps

Remove any loose paper from the tray, then carefully extract stuck paper from the printer.