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    Managing Color Printing

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    • BRRABillB
      BRRABill
      last edited by

      I was curious how everyone manages their color printing.

      We have no desire to track individual users. However, we want to ensure they don't inadvertently print 100 pages in color that they wanted it in B&W.

      On the previous devices, we would create a "color" printer share and a "B&W" printer share, and manage it that way. (True, a mistake could still be made, but it seemed to work great.)

      What is everyone else doing? Just having the user set it in the app they print from? A similar dual print share arrangement? Or something totally different?

      jmooreJ Emad RE 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • ObsolesceO
        Obsolesce
        last edited by

        Change the default printer settings on your print server to black and white for each printer.

        Then it will default to b&w for everyone it's deployed to.

        We use PaperCut on top of that, and have a script for certain copiers that gives users a warning when printing in color and gives an option to print in b&w, or continue with color.

        BRRABillB EddieJenningsE 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
        • jmooreJ
          jmoore @BRRABill
          last edited by

          @brrabill our departments all pay for their own supplies which eliminated any need for us to manage

          scottalanmillerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • scottalanmillerS
            scottalanmiller @jmoore
            last edited by

            @jmoore said in Managing Color Printing:

            @brrabill our departments all pay for their own supplies which eliminated any need for us to manage

            Good point, IT trying to manage a human problem. To some degree, logical defaults and clear accessibility is important. But at some point, people just need to adult and sometimes that means accidentally printing in colour when they didn't need to.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • scottalanmillerS
              scottalanmiller
              last edited by

              99% of the issues are printing when it shouldn't be on paper at all. Colour instead of B&W is typically an artefact.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • BRRABillB
                BRRABill
                last edited by

                Yeah, I guess I could just say "be an adult" ... but if I can easily make it ... easy ... that is what I want to do.

                jmooreJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • jmooreJ
                  jmoore @BRRABill
                  last edited by

                  @brrabill I understand that totally. If I can think of anything I'll reply back here

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • black3dynamiteB
                    black3dynamite
                    last edited by

                    I don't remember exactly but I think we are only charged based on print counts or something like that, so we don't really worry about it that much.

                    A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • BRRABillB
                      BRRABill
                      last edited by

                      Like I said, I am not worried about charging back.

                      I am just trying to prevent someone from printing out 500 pages that happen to have one letter in red or something, and costing us $20 versus 20 cents.

                      🙂

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • A
                        Alex Sage @black3dynamite
                        last edited by

                        @black3dynamite said in Managing Color Printing:

                        I don't remember exactly but I think we are only charged based on print counts or something like that, so we don't really worry about it that much.

                        B&W are normally around 1 cent per page, Color is normally closer to 10 cents, so it makes to big difference 😉

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                        • BRRABillB
                          BRRABill
                          last edited by

                          We actually user a username and code with the last MFP.

                          That made it simple. One share had it, and one didn't.

                          Still trying to figure that option out on this new device.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • BRRABillB
                            BRRABill @Obsolesce
                            last edited by

                            @obsolesce said in Managing Color Printing:

                            Change the default printer settings on your print server to black and white for each printer.

                            Then it will default to b&w for everyone it's deployed to.

                            The issue with this, though, is if the user ends up changing it to color to some reason.

                            It would be nice to be able to lock that setting.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • BRRABillB
                              BRRABill
                              last edited by

                              Though, admittedly, that is a HR related thing.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • wrx7mW
                                wrx7m
                                last edited by

                                In our front office, we have 2 common printers. One color, and one monochrome. People just print to whichever they need. For people with individual offices, they either have a monochrome or color MFP.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • EddieJenningsE
                                  EddieJennings @Obsolesce
                                  last edited by

                                  @obsolesce said in Managing Color Printing:

                                  Change the default printer settings on your print server to black and white for each printer.

                                  Then it will default to b&w for everyone it's deployed to.

                                  We use PaperCut on top of that, and have a script for certain copiers that gives users a warning when printing in color and gives an option to print in b&w, or continue with color.

                                  We did something similar at my last company. Printer was set to black and white by default. Users had to take action to print in color. We didn't have any kind of other application that provided a warning.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • wrx7mW
                                    wrx7m
                                    last edited by

                                    I know people are printing crap they don't ever need to print. I also know that they print crap in color that doesn't need to be in color. They are buying compatible cartridges, so it is less expensive. If it were up to me, very few people would have printers or access to printers.

                                    I have made it one of my missions to get rid of as many printers as possible. We have converted most of invoicing to electronic only. Also, we are modernizing the warehouse with handheld scanners for order picking and shipping, which currently involves a vacuum tube sending paper from one end of the building to the other. Yes, a freakin' vacuum tube.

                                    jmooreJ EddieJenningsE 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • jmooreJ
                                      jmoore @wrx7m
                                      last edited by

                                      @wrx7m that's an admirable goal, wish I could do that

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • Emad RE
                                        Emad R @BRRABill
                                        last edited by

                                        @brrabill

                                        No username/password on BW, but pops up on colored.

                                        This can be done in Cannon IR 3320 and give the pass to Line Managers

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • EddieJenningsE
                                          EddieJennings @wrx7m
                                          last edited by

                                          @wrx7m said in Managing Color Printing:

                                          I have made it one of my missions to get rid of as many printers as possible.

                                          Prior to my current gig, I had only a minor disdain for printers. We're in a Citrix environment. Printing is a nightmare.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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