ink coverage
The amount of ink used by a laser-class or inkjet printer depends on the type of document printed. A vendor's estimate of ink cost is typically based on a business document with a rather low 3 to 5% coverage. If you print full pages, the estimates are not going to be accurate. As you can see from the sample pages below, the costs can vary greatly.
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| Ink Coverage Percentages |
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| Although the cost-per-page estimates for these Tektronix printers are in 1999 U.S. dollars, the comparisons are still valid. The more graphics and color, the higher the cost. The Phaser 840, a solid ink printer, was the least costly. The 740 and 780 were laser printers. Tektronix color printers were later acquired by Xerox. (Image courtesy of Tektronix, Inc.) |