The print quality of outlines and notes might not matter much – but think about your important documents and images. What screams unprofessional more than a giant blotch or blurry words on a legal contract printout? Printing is as much of an art as it is a science. Below are some of the simplest ways to improve the quality of your prints.

• Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Thermal printers are capable of running anywhere between 2 inches per second (IPS) all the way up to 16 IPS. When a printer is on a higher is setting, you’re able to print documents at a faster rate – but at the expense of quality. That’s because the faster a printer runs, the faster the printhead dot rows have to turn on and off. The residual heat then leads to smudging and blotches. Consider a slower IPS for documents with barcodes, small font, and other intricate details.

• Regularly Clean Your Printer

Regularly cleaning your printer can go a long way. If you haven’t cleaned or used your printer in a long time, dried ink and debris may clog your printer. This can lead to unevenness in the final print. Luckily, cleaning your printer is straightforward. First, make sure that the printer is fully turned off. Then, use a gentle lint-free cloth or cotton swabs to remove particles from the cartridge and crandle. Of course, be gentle so you don’t break any equipment in the cleaning process.

• Choose the Correct Drivers for Your Printer

If you don’t have the correct drivers for your printer, poor quality is to be expected. That’s because there are specific drivers dedicated to just printers and their functions. With the right drivers, you’ll be able to avoid some of the most common printing errors. This means no more blurry pictures or smudged documents in the future. Most of the time, it only takes a few clicks to reinstall or update your printer drivers.