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Maximizing Printer Output - Adjust Print Density

There is a density dial located in the upper left-hand corner of your printer. It regulates print darkness by controlling the amount of toner deposited on the OPC drum and then transferred to the paper.

On older HP Laserjet printers (Series III and earlier), you can save toner and extend the cartridge life by simply adjusting this dial. You may change the print density by turning the dial ("1" produces the darkest prints and"9" produces the lightest). The factory default is usually "5". After you find the setting that meets your needs, you may have to print up to 15 pages before it takes effect.

Some new lines of HP's (most Series 4's and higher) allow you to change print densitv through your printer's software. But some Laserjet 4 printers - the 4V and 4MV - don't have this feature. To change the density dial on the Series 1V:

1. Take the printer off-line by pressing the On-Line button.
2. Press the Menu option.
3. Press Continue until "Configuration Menu" appears.
4, Press Item until "Density" is displayed.
5. Adjust (density with the + or - key.)
6. Press Enter to save the setting.
7. Return the printer to on-line.

You can conserve toner by switching to Economode which causes the printer to print pages at one-fourth their normal resolution.

To activate this feature:

1. Take the printer Off-line by pressing the On-Line button until the light goes out.
2. Choose the Menu Option.
3. Press Item until ECONOMODE=OFF appears.
4. Press + to activate ECONOMODE=ON.
5. Press Enter to save your selection.
6. Press On-Line to return the printer to on-line.

Some LaserJet 4 series printers (the 4V and MV) have the density dial and Economode feature. The Laserjet 4 only allows you to change the print densitv internally.

Remember that recycled cartridges with long-life OPC drums use a lighter print setting then OEM cartridges to produce the same quality prints. Because OPC drums in recycled cartridges are charged at a high level than those in OEM cartridges, they cause more toner to be transferred to the page during printing. If you opt for a lower print density and use a recycled cartridge with a long-life drum, you will be saving even more money on toner cartridges.