My Printer Says to Check That Cables Are Connected But Everything Is Connected Correctly

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Even if your printer cabling matches the diagrams in your user guide, your printer may still display error messages on your screen warning you to check your connections. Resolving a situation in which a device acts as if it’s disconnected can entail looking for clues in both obvious places, such as your cabling, and in parts of your system that don’t appear to be potential culprits. Cabling The most straightforward printer issue is caused by faulty connections. Simply plugging a data cable into your printer and your computer, hub, switch, or router does not imply that the connection is functional. Even if you performed a digital autopsy with a wire stripper and a magnifying glass, the insulation covering a perfectly normal-looking USB or Ethernet net cable can conceal physical damage or defects. Replace your cable and see if your problems disappear. If they do, throw the faulty cable in with your recycling so it doesn’t end up back in – or, more accurately, out of – service. Printer Driver Many printer problems that appear to be unrelated to software are caused by faulty printer drivers. When the software that handles the processes that make document data understandable to output hardware fails, you may see half-printed files, bogus error messages, and pages with content that appears to have exploded. Modern operating systems include built-in support for a wide range of output devices, detect new printers when they are plugged in, and offer to locate appropriate drivers for them. These conveniences are useless if your software becomes corrupted due to malware or hard drive issues, or if it requires an update to remain compatible with an upgraded operating system. Examine your system for hardware and malware issues, and then go to the printer manufacturer’s website to download new drivers. Hub If you connect a USB printer through a hub, especially one that draws its power from the USB port on your computer rather than an electrical outlet, your system and output device may not see each other properly. While some devices, such as flash memory drives and media card readers, may work flawlessly when connected via a hub, not all printers will function properly without a direct connection to a port on your system. Try directly connecting your printer to your computer. If your issues go away, go through your USB devices to find another candidate to plug into the hub or remove when you need to print. Other Considerations Even if nothing goes wrong between the computer and the printer, the process of moving bits and bytes from one to the other can leave the output device with a bad taste in its mouth. If an application crashed while you were printing from it, or if your electrical power fluctuated enough to cause your lights to dim slightly and your monitor to blink off and on, shut down your printer and computer before restarting them. Power cycling clears memory buffers, flushing away stale data and malfunction byproducts.

What is a router?

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A router is a device that connects two or more packet-switched networks or subnetworks. It serves two primary functions: managing traffic between these networks by forwarding data packets to their intended IP addresses, and allowing multiple devices to use the same Internet connection. There are several types of routers, but most routers pass data between LANs (local area networks) and WANs (wide area networks). A LAN is a group of connected devices restricted to a specific geographic area. A LAN usually requires a single router. A WAN, on the other hand, is a large network that spans a large geographic area. Large organisations and businesses with multiple locations across the country, for example, will require separate LANs for each location, which will then connect to form a WAN. Because a WAN is spread out over a large area, it frequently necessitates the use of multiple routers and switches*.. *A network switch forwards data packets between groups of devices in the same network, whereas a router forwards data between different networks.

Wi-Fi

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Definition Wi-Fi is a wireless technology used to connect computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices to the internet. Wi-Fi is the radio signal sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which translates the signal into data you can see and use. The device transmits a radio signal back to the router, which connects to the internet by wire or cable. What is a Wi-Fi network? A Wi-Fi network is simply an internet connection shared by a wireless router with multiple devices in a home or business. The router is directly connected to your modem and acts as a hub, broadcasting the internet signal to all of your Wi-Fi enabled devices. This allows you to remain connected to the internet as long as you are within your network’s coverage area. What does Wi-Fi stand for? A marketing firm coined the term because the wireless industry was looking for a user-friendly name to refer to some not-so-user-friendly technology known as IEEE 802.11, and it stuck. Wi-Fi is frequently referred to as WiFi, wifi, wi-fi, or wi fi, and the organisation that paid for the marketing firm is sometimes referred to as the Wireless Fidelity Alliance Inc. How does Wi-Fi work? Wi-Fi transmits data from your wireless router to Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as your TV, smartphone, tablet, and computer using radio waves. Your devices and personal information may become vulnerable to hackers, cyber-attacks, and other threats because they communicate over airwaves. This is especially true when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network in public places such as a coffee shop or an airport. When possible, connect to a password-protected wireless network or a personal hotspot. Types of Wi-Fi connections Your options for connecting wirelessly at home are growing as mobile networks expand into the home internet realm. As with internet service, there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of wireless connection, such as speed and strength of signal. We’ve outlined a few of them here. Wireline/router Most homes use a wireless router to access the internet these days. The pros include convenience of setup, mobility within range of the Wi-Fi access point (router) and the ability to connect multiple devices. The cons: limited bandwidth and reduced speed as more devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, as well as potential interference from other electromagnetic devices in the home. Mobile hotspot or jetpack Mobile and dedicated hotspots are becoming a more popular way of connecting safely on the go. Two common hotspot devices are your smartphone and a jetpack. Most any smartphone or tablet today can be used as a temporary hotspot and is a great option if you occasionally need it. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require buying extra devices, but it can zap your battery life and data pretty fast. On the other hand, a jetpack acts as a dedicated mobile hotspot that picks up a signal from cell towers in your area just like your smartphone. More devices can connect to it and it offers a greater range of Wi-Fi. And because it’s a separate device, your smartphone battery power doesn’t get touched. The downfall is having to buy the jetpack and a separate plan. LTE Home Internet If you live in a rural area with few internet options, 4G LTE Home Internet is an option to consider. It provides high-speed internet access via cell phone towers and mobile networks, with average download speeds of around 25 Mbps. The benefits of LTE over satellite include faster speeds and greater dependability, depending on your carrier. 5G Home Internet 5G Home Internet (Fixed Wireless Access) is now in more places around the country.* Even with multiple devices connected, it’s reliable and fast enough to power your whole home. Fixed wireless access has a simple plug and play setup, which means there are no messy wires and no need to wait for a technician to come to your home for setup. How to get Wi-Fi at home As mentioned, there are several ways to get wireless service at your home and most depend on geographical location and availability. (See what Wi-Fi home internet is available in your area.) The majority of urban and suburban areas offer most of these services, with 5G Home Internet right around the corner. Rural areas will most likely offer satellite and 4G LTE Home Internet. If you have a wired internet service, you’ll be able to set up your own Wi-Fi network at home. By connecting a router to your modem, you can share your internet connection with all your Wi-Fi enabled devices within range. If your home has two levels, concrete walls or random dead zones, adding a Wi-Fi extender that relays the wireless signal to these areas can make a big difference. Keep in mind that as the number of your mobile devices grows, so does the demand for bandwidth. To keep your devices running at top speeds, you may need to upgrade your internet speed plan. Verizon offers several internet services ranging from DSL and fiber to 5G Home Internet, depending on your location. For better reliability and Verizon’s fastest download speeds, check if Fios Internet or 5G Home Internet are available at your address.

How to Set Up a Printer on an iPad

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The iPad has a multitude of features which make it applicable for business use, including wireless printing via AirPrint. Printing directly from your iPad is definitely convenient, but the downside is that you must have an AirPrint compatible printer to use the feature. As of 2012 more than 200 printers are compatible with AirPrint, from the brands Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Hewlett Packard, Lexmark and Samsung. AirPrint also requires iOS 4.2 or higher and a Wi-Fi connection. 1.Connect your printer to your Wi-Fi network. 2.Connect your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network as your printer. 3.Tap any AirPrint compatible app. Native AirPrint compatible apps include Mail, Safari, Photos, Notes and Maps; many third-part apps and paid Apple apps are also compatible with AirPrint. 4.Tap the envelope icon. 5.Tap “Print.” 6.Tap “Select Printer.” If your printer appears on the list, you have correctly configured it for AirPrint.

List of Printers That Work With the iPhone

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With smartphones and tablets becoming more commonplace and affordable, many businesses are opting to switch to products such as iPads and iPhones for their day-to-day computing needs. One concern about utilizing iPhones and tablets in the workplace has been their printing capabilities — or lack thereof. Not to be outdone by competitors, Apple has created a list of printers capable of printing from iPhones and iPads using Apple’s AirPrint technology. AirPrint Requirements Before trying to print to a printer using AirPrint, each of your devices must be upgraded to the most recent version of iOS. You will also need an AirPrint-enabled printer that is connected to your company’s wireless router. Additionally, your iPhone must be connected to the same wireless network as your printer, as opposed to your cellular provider’s mobile Wi-Fi service. Where to Buy AirPrint-enabled Printers Apple’s Online Store and the company’s retail locations offer a variety of AirPrint-enabled printers for sale. Like many retail outlets, Apple does not stock every available printer on the market, so you may be able to find a better deal by looking at other major retailers or by ordering directly from the manufacturer. List of Brother Printers Brother has several printers that are compatible with the iPhone’s AirPrint technology. These printers include models: DCP-J525N, DCP-J525W, DCP-J725DW, DCP-J725N, DCP-J925DW, DCP-J925N, DCP-8110DN, DCP-8150DN, DCP-8155DN, HL-5450DN, HL-5470DW, HL-6180DW, MFC-J280W, MFC-J425W, MFC-J430W, MFC-J432W, MFC-J435W, MFC-J4510DW, MFC-J5910DW, MFC-J625DW, MFC-J825DW, MFC-J825N, MFC-J835DW, MFC-J955DN, MFC-J955DWN, MFC-8510DN, MFC-8515DN, MFC-8520DN, MFC-8910DN and MFC-8950DW. List of Canon Printers Not to be outdone, Canon has several dozen models of AirPrint-enabled printers available that will print from your iPhone. These models include: Canon MG3210, MG3220, MG3255, MG3260, MG3270, MG4210, MG4220, MG4240 Canon MG4250, MG4260, MG5310, MG5320, MG5330, MG5340, MG5350, MG5370, MG5380, MG6210, MG6220, MG6230, MG6240, MG6250, MG6270, MG6280, MG8220, MG8230, MG8240, MG8250, MG8270, MG8280, MX431, MX432, MX434, MX435, MX436, MX437,MX438, MX511, MX512, MX513, MX514, MX515, MX516, MX517, MX518, MX711, MX712, MX714, MX715, MX892, MX893, MX894, MX895, MX897 and the Canon MX898. List of Epson Printers Epson too has several dozen choices in printers for anyone interested in printing from their iPhones or iPads. These printers include the Epson Artisan 730, Artisan 837, EP-775A, EP-775AW, EP-804A, EP-804AR, EP-804AW, EP-805A, EP-805AR, EP-805AW, EP-904A, EP-904F, EP-905A, EP-905F, ME Office 940FW, PX-1600F, PX-1700F, PX-504A, PX-535F, PX-605F, PX-675F, PX-B700, PX-B750F, PX-435A, Stylus NX430, Stylus NX530, Stylus NX635, Stylus Office BX535WD, Stylus Office BX630FW, Stylus Office BX635FWD, Stylus Office BX935FWD, Stylus Photo PX730WD, Stylus Photo PX830FWD, Stylus SX440W, Stylus SX445W, Stylus SX535WD, Stylus TX435W, Stylus Photo TX730WD, WorkForce 545, WorkForce 645, WorkForce 7510, WorkForce 7520, WorkForce 845, Workforce WF-7011, Workforce WF-7511, Workforce WF-7515, Workforce WF-7521, Workforce WF-7525, WP-4010, WP-4011, WP-4015, WP-4020, WP-4022, WP-4023, WP-4025, WP-4090, WP-4091, WP-4092, WP-4095, WP-4511, WP-4515, WP-4520, WP-4521, WP-4525, WP-4530, WP-4531, WP-4532, WP-4533, WP-4535, WP-4540, WP-4545, WP-4590, WP-4592, WP-4595, XP-200, XP-205, XP-207, XP-302, XP-303, XP-305, XP-306, XP-400, XP-402, XP-405 and finally the Epson XP-406. List of HP Printers While not as extensive a list as Epson and Canon, Hewlett-Packard’s printers are often bundled with scanning and faxing functions, making them heavy-hitting multitaskers in any office. Hewlett-Packard’s AirPrint-enabled printers include the: HP Deskjet 3050A J611, HP Deskjet 3054A J611, HP Deskjet 3070A, HP Envy 100 e-All-In-One D410, HP Envy 110 e-All-In-One D411a, HP Envy 114 e-All-In-One D411a, HP LaserJet P1102w Printer, HP LaserJet P1606dn Printer, HP LaserJet Pro 100 color MFP M175nw, HP LaserJet Pro 300 Color MFP M375nw, HP LaserJet Pro 400 Color M451nw-M451dn-M451dw, HP LaserJet Pro 400 Color MFP M475dn-M475dw, HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fn Color MFP, HP LaserJet Pro CM1415fnw Color MFP, HP LaserJet Pro CP1025nw Color Printer, HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw Color Printer, HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP, HP LaserJet Pro M1213nf MFP, HP LaserJet Pro M1214nf MFP, HP LaserJet Pro M1216nf MFP, HP LaserJet Pro M1217nfw MFP, HP LaserJet Pro M1536dnf MFP, HP Officejet 4620 e-All-In-One, HP Officejet 6100 e-Printer H611a, HP Officejet 6500A e-All-In-One E710a, HP Officejet 6500A Plus e-All-In-One E710n, HP Officejet 6600 e-All-In-One H711a, HP Officejet 6700 e-All-In-One H711n, HP Officejet 7500A Wide Format e-All-In-One E910a, HP Officejet Pro 8100 e-Printer N811a, HP Officejet Pro 8500A e-All-In-One A910a, HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus e-All-In-One A910g, HP Officejet Pro 8500A Premium e-All-In-One A910g, HP Officejet Pro 8600A e-All-in-One Printer N911a, HP Officejet Pro 8600A Plus e-All-in-One N911g, HP Officejet Pro 8600A Premium e-All-in-One N911g, HP Photosmart 5510 e-AiO B111a, HP Photosmart 5514 e-AiO B111h, HP Photosmart 6510 e-AiO B211a, HP Photosmart 7510 e-AiO C311a, HP Photosmart e-All-in-One D110a, HP Photosmart eStation C510, HP Photosmart Plus e-All-In-One B210a, HP Photosmart Premium e-All-In-One C310, HP Photosmart Premium Fax e-All-In-One C410a, HP Photosmart Wireless e-All-In-One B110—Europe and Asia-Pacific and HP TopShot LaserJet Pro M275. List of Lexmark Printers The Lexmark family of printers offers several options to choose from, ranging in price and functionality. The following Lexmark printers are equipped with AirPrint technology: Lexmark C734, C736, C746, C748, C792, C925, C950, E460, E462, OfficeEdge Pro4000, OfficeEdge Pro4000c, OfficeEdge Pro5500, OfficeEdge Pro5500t, Pro715, Pro915, S315, S415, S515, T650, T652, T654, W850, X460, X463, X464, X466, X548, X652, X654, X656, X658, X734, X736, X738, X748, X792, X860, X862, X864, X925, X950, X952 and the X954. List of Dell, Lenovo and Samsung printers As of the date of publication, Dell has four printers capable of printing from your iPhone — the Dell B1260dn, B1265dnf, V525w and V725w. Lenovo’s three AirPrint-enabled printers include the Lenovo LJ3700DN, LJ3800DN and LJ3800DW. Finally, a total of six printers by Samsung are capable of printing from your iPhone — the ML-1865W, ML-1865WK, ML-1866W, SCX-3205W, SCX-3205WK and SCX-3206W printers.

What Are the Benefits of Color Laser Printers?

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A printer is an extremely useful addition to any computer, whether at home or in the office. When it comes to purchasing a colour printer, you must choose between an inkjet model and a laser printer. While inkjet printers are excellent for printing photographs, there are numerous advantages to using a colour laser printer that make it a more cost-effective and productive option. Ink Does Not Smear Documents with smudged ink appear unprofessional. Laser toner, which is used in colour laser printers, adheres to the paper via static electricity and is then fused to the paper via heat. Unlike inkjet documents, there is no wet ink that can smear if the paper is moistened by drops of water or sweaty fingers. As a result, the printed words and images will always be readable and clear. Cost Per Page The initial cost of purchasing a laser printer has decreased significantly over the years, putting them in the same price range as many higher-end inkjet printers. The replacement toner cartridges now account for the cost difference. Toner cartridges for a colour laser printer are more expensive than ink cartridges for a colour inkjet printer, but the cost per page for a laser printer is much lower because the cartridge produces far more pages than an inkjet cartridge. The exact figures vary, but a laser cartridge typically prints over 1500 pages, whereas an inkjet cartridge typically prints a little more than 150 pages. Large Print Jobs Laser printers do have to warm up to get the fuser hot, but once it is ready a laser printer will print 50 percent faster than an inkjet. Not only are color laser printers faster, but their paper tray capacity is larger as well, so there is no need to continually refill the paper tray in the middle of a high volume print job. Since they’re built for larger print jobs, laser printers are also less likely to jam and cause a disruption in the print process. Less Maintenance When an inkjet printer requires a new cartridge, the heads must be aligned to ensure accurate print quality. The print heads must be cleaned and aligned throughout the life of the cartridge. Add to that the fact that ink can dry up in the printer’s moving parts, and you have a printer that can be difficult to maintain. This is not required for laser printers. When toner cartridges are replaced, no additional work is required for printing. Because toner is a dry powder, it does not cause the same cleaning issues that ink does.

Printers With Ink Types That Are Dye-Based

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While laser printers are traditionally thought to be the preferred business printer, dye-based inkjet printers are also very popular. They combine a low acquisition cost with the ability to print extremely vivid colours, allowing printed business presentations to stand out from the crowd. Simultaneously, dye-based ink technology has advanced to the point where it has rendered most of the advantages of competing pigment-based ink printing systems obsolete. How Ink Works Printer ink is made up of two types of ingredients: a colourant and the solvent in which it is dissolved or suspended. Colorants in dye-based inks completely dissolve in the water-based solvent fluid. When ink is applied to paper, the coloured water sinks into the page and evaporates, leaving the dye behind. Pigment-based inks, on the other hand, use a solid colourant suspended in a solvent and caked onto the paper as the solvent evaporates. Benefits of Dye Ink Dye-based inks offer two significant advantages. Dyes produce more vibrant colours than pigments, so a dye-based presentation slide print, for example, will be especially vibrant. In addition, the ingredients in dye-based inks are less expensive than pigments. In two important ways, dye-based ink is catching up to pigmented inks: fading resistance and smudging resistance. Modern dye-based inks can now withstand reasonable water exposure, such as being highlighted with a highlighter, and some dye-based prints can be stored for up to 300 years without fading. Dye-Based Office Printers Dye-based inkjet printers are available in virtually any configuration and price range. Dye-based inks are especially popular in the type of low-cost all-in-one printers that are ideal for small workgroups or single users. These printers frequently have fast enough print speeds and are small enough to fit in an existing work area. In some cases, printers are so inexpensive that they are less expensive than a set of replacement ink cartridges. This makes them affordable enough to put one on each desktop if desired. Using Dye-Based Inks While dye-based inks can and should be used in more demanding applications, they are almost always used for casual printing. While a laser printer is ideal for printing a sales letter on company letterhead, the inkjet next to you is ideal for generating a draught that you can review before printing your final copy. Dye-based inkjet printers are also excellent for producing quick, low-cost colour prints.

Copier Vs. Risograph

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From the outside, risographs and copiers appear identical. They even print identical single-color pages. Photocopiers and Risographs, on the other hand, function differently. Risographs use a stencil-and-ink system, whereas photocopiers, like laser printers, use electrostatically charged toner particles. Each machine is best suited to a specific job type and volume. Function In 1938, Chester Carlson invented the photocopier. In 1959, he and the Xerox company created the first commercial photocopier. This machine and its descendants attract toner in the shape of the image to be printed using a charged drum. The toner is transferred to the paper by the machine, where heat and pressure rollers permanently melt it to the surface. Risographs, also known as RISO digital duplicators, work with a master sheet that has voids that correspond to the image burned into it. The machine injects ink into the master and onto the paper. Strengths Photocopiers print pages quickly and precisely. They require no drying time or special handling after printing, and each print looks identical to the previous ones. Photocopiers are relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes, capacities, and prices. They are suitable for small jobs and single prints, and some models are colour capable. Risographs can print at even faster speeds than photocopiers and can handle large print jobs at a much lower cost per print. They are best suited for large jobs in single colours where each image must be identical. Weaknesses Although photocopiers are less expensive to set up than Risograph prints, the cost per print remains relatively constant, making them an expensive option for large print jobs. Toner cartridges are also expensive to replace. Risograph machines work well for large jobs, but they are expensive to operate for a few prints. In addition, they can only print one colour at a time. To add two colours to a print job, the operator must remove the ink drum and replace it before rerunning the job through the printer. Risographs are more difficult to obtain than photocopiers because they are manufactured by a single company. Considerations Risographs and copiers excel in two distinct printing markets. The photocopier performs best when producing copies for daily use or low-volume print jobs. It is simple to use, making it ideal for public copiers in libraries, schools, and copy shops. Risograph machines were created to fill the void left by photocopiers and high-volume offset printing. They are ideal for medium-volume book and flyer printing, particularly when only one colour is required at a time. They do require some training to use, so they are best suited for small print shops and nonpublic areas.

Printers That Use Continuous Feed Printer Paper

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Continuous-feed paper is used in two types of printing applications. The first accommodates long documents, while the second accommodates large page or image dimensions. Although roll- or fan-fed paper will not be found in laser or solid-ink printers, which image a page at a time in a single pass, these feeder-hardware types can be found in many types of line-at-a-time devices that rely on bidirectional printheads traversing a moving medium. Depending on the nature of your business, one of these devices may be better suited to your output than page-by-page hardware. Dot Matrix Before and after printing, dot matrix printers use fan-folded paper that stacks in a single-page-sized pile. These printers can work with multi-part forms, labels, microperforated sheets that resemble cut-sheet media, cash-register receipts, and other point-of-sale or point-of-shipping materials because they are fed by sprocket-driven mechanisms that resemble the hardware that advances film through a camera or projector. Because their printheads make physical contact with the paper surface, they can produce multiple copies of a single page in a single pass, making them ideal for distributing paperwork across multiple company departments. Thermal Label and barcode printers use thermal technology, which has two output options. Direct thermal printers use heat to turn the surface of special paper black where information must appear. Ribbon printers use heat to lay down an image on a colour medium that is made of wax, resin, or a combination of the two. These printers are frequently used as cash register output devices. Some printers use continuous-feed paper, which is cut to length as it prints. Others make use of labels that peel away from a continuously fed backing sheet. Inkjet Inkjet printers use roll-fed media to create large images, from desktop and wide-format printers used by individual artists and graphic-design studios to big-bed devices that output vehicle wraps and signage. Some of these devices can produce weather-resistant output for outdoor use thanks to UV ink-curing systems. The largest of these machines print on substrates such as plastics and fabrics. Plotter To create maps, equipment, and building designs, the plotting device in the cartographer’s, architect’s, or engineer’s office uses pens to draw lines, shapes, and lettering. These drafting machines are incapable of combining colours or rendering continuous-tone imagery, but they can quickly create exploded diagrams of manufacturing processes, blueprint-style floor plans and elevations, and line drawings. Some models include blades that can cut out artwork from vinyl and other sign-making materials. Dye-Sublimation Photo To print images on cut-to-length continuous media, small photo printers can use dye-sublimation hardware. Unlike ink-based printers, which use fluid dyes or pigments to generate output, dye-sublimation printers vaporise a sheet of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black onto the printing medium. In terms of image quality, their photographic output rivals film prints, but their comparatively low resolution becomes apparent when they print type. When compared to inkjet-based photo printers, dye sublimation has a shorter output life.

Is Magnetic Inkjet Paper Safe for Printers?

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Is Magnetic Inkjet Paper Safe for Printers? If you use refrigerator magnets or magnetic business cards to help with marketing, it may be more convenient and cost-effective to print these items yourself rather than purchase them. Magnetic inkjet papers can help with that, but they should be used with caution. While magnetic inkjet papers are compatible with most inkjet printers, they require special storage and handling, and they do not work with laser printers. The MediumMagnetic inkjet paper consists of a laminate that combines paper with magnetic sheeting. Although most products in this category come in letter-sized sheets pre-cut to feed through a desktop output device, some manufacturers produce roll-fed magnetic paper in widths suitable for use in a wide-format inkjet printer. You can cut the material with scissors, a razor-blade knife or a cutting plotter. Additionally, some sheet-fed media incorporate scoring to trim out a set of 10 business cards from each page. AdvantagesMagnetic inkjet paper quickly produces short-run promotional magnets that can be incorporated into a client mailing or a presentation. The sheets are compatible with most standard desktop inkjet printers manufactured after 1999, but you should double-check compatibility with your specific printer. The soft, flexible material is easy to cut with standard scissors and can hold text, graphics, and photos printed from any software, including word processors and graphics applications. DisadvantagesBecause magnets attract other magnets, you won’t be able to load multiple sheets of this special substrate into your printer at the same time. The sheets would stick together and fail to load correctly. Likewise, the thickness of these sheets mandates feeding them one at a time. They require special storage away from recordable, erasable items such as audio or data tapes, whose contents they may damage. Magnetic inkjet paper doesn’t accommodate outdoor use, moisture or light exposure. For the best chances of printing success, your output hardware needs a straight, simple paper path from the feeder to the output tray, avoiding the prospect of curling the sheets or dislodging pre-scored items such as business cards. Finally, because of their cost, save these sheets for after you’ve proofed and verified your design on plain paper. RisksMagnetic paper poses significant risks to your hardware when fed through a laser printer rather than an inkjet device. The material, like most specialty media designed for inkjet use, cannot withstand the heat of the fuser assembly, which bonds toner to paper. Magnetic paper, despite its designation as an inkjet-friendly medium, requires caution in inkjet devices as well. Some hardware controls parts of its operation with electromagnets, which can be disrupted by magnetic media. Other devices contain ferrous metals, which attract and hold the magnet.