Author Topic: A Vista printer utility that saves ink like InkSaver? (Read 21807 times)

rancohn · « **on:** April 13, 2009, 11:35 AM »

Hello

I used to use Inksaver (http://www.inksaver.com/) on my XP machine, which allowed you to convert all text into a shade of grey. This level of grey was user-adjustable and so allowed you to print out really faint text, using much less ink. Unfortunately there is no Vista version.

Does anyone know of an ink saving utility that operates in the same way - allowing you to convert to a faint grey? At present I use the magnificent Fineprint but there is no similar feature and I need to print a lot of stuff at home. Ink ain't cheap.

Anyone?

edbro · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2009, 12:34 PM »

Simply install your print driver a second time to create a separate profile to that printer. Then, change the default settings on that profile to print in draft, b&w. You can choose this profile the same as choosing any other printer in Fineprint.

I used to worry about such things but then I bought a cheap laser printer. Much more economical. I can get 2,600 full pages from a $35 toner cartridge.

rancohn · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:33 PM »

Thanks, but even draft b&w uses way too much black ink.

This is where inksaver came in very handy - you could further restrict the amount of ink used so it would be very faint but still legible. Back in the XP days I got far more life out of a single cart that with my Vista set-up.

Yeah, I considered a laser but I go through over a ream a month and feared for the cost of toner and replacement drums (and colour is important to me).

mouser · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2009, 08:47 PM »

Yeah, I considered a laser but I go through over a ream a month and feared for the cost of toner and replacement drums (and colour is important to me).

well if you need color that's one thing, but someone correct me if i'm wrong -- laser toner is going to be MUCH cheeper than inkjet ink isn't it?

cranioscopical · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:38 PM »

laser toner is going to be MUCH cheeper than inkjet ink isn't it?
-mouser (April 13, 2009, 08:47 PM)

If you mean black, laser toner won't be such a financial birden

Target · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:59 PM »

eggsactly

MerleOne · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2009, 02:33 AM »

Still, for those who have a nicely working inkjet printer, inksaver is really effective. Not only it reduces the quantity of ink used, but I find it improves the quality, when using low grade paper : less ink = less smear (if that's the right word). So I would definitely like to have a vista version, long time promised by the publisher (the developer has probably left the company...). I also found no real equivalent.

I never tried installing it on Vista, because of what the publisher says :
"Any PC running Windows® 2000, XP Home or XP Professional (if are using Windows Me or Windows 98 click here). Note: InkSaver does not currently support Windows Vista; we are in the planning stages for an updated version of InkSaver to support this new OS."

rancohn · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:31 AM »

That "planning stage" has been for over 3 years now. I have kept checking every few months.

Is this is a utility that could be suggested here? A Vista version of inksaver? I can but hope... Fineprint is superb but has this one lacking feature.

Darwin · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:00 AM »

laser toner is going to be MUCH cheeper than inkjet ink isn't it?
-mouser (April 13, 2009, 08:47 PM)
If you mean black, laser toner won't be such a financial birden

-cranioscopical (April 13, 2009, 10:38 PM)

eggsactly
-Target (April 13, 2009, 10:59 PM)

Seriously, though, to address the OP's original question, I'm not aware of an InkSaver-type app for Vista.

Incidentally, what version of Vista are your running? I'm surprised InkSaver won't install/run. Have you tried installing with administrator privileges?

4wd · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2009, 06:16 AM »

How about ecoPrint2 ?

A Vista printer utility that saves ink like InkSaver?

$39.99 for the Ink and Toner Saver or $59.99 for the Pro version which adds a few more bells and whistles but it does say Vista 32bit compatible.

Can always try it and see if it's worth the money.

Seriously, though, to address the OP's original question, I'm not aware of an InkSaver-type app for Vista.
-Darwin (April 15, 2009, 08:00 AM)

I thought you'd learnt¹ by now Darwin: Google.

* Result number 6 *

EDIT: And way, way down the results was a link to a printer that was for sale, (

....what's he on about?), which had a reference to this: 4X Ultrasaver

A Vista printer utility that saves ink like InkSaver?

1. A not so obvious reference to this previous post.

MerleOne · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2009, 10:10 AM »

It seems this ecoPrint also works with laser printers, which is nice.

rancohn · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2009, 06:51 AM »

Thanks 4wd - I knew of ecoprint but when I trialled it last time it took forever to spool any print (minutes)

Having tried it again - wonder if it is a new version 2 - it looks like ecoprint2 works much faster and also does multiple pages now. Looking very promising.

(Oh and re-trying inksaver on my Vista PC killed every browser whenever I tried to print any page)

ldarrambide · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2009, 04:22 AM »

Hi all,

Forget about it. I can't have it running on my vista install (xp is fine) and send several messages to the so-called "support". No answer in 15 days. That s***.

It seems related to the artprint.exe module, which is a third party one.

Any help appreciated.

thanks,
Laurent.

rancohn · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2009, 10:58 AM »

Just to update - I have been using ecoPrint2 Pro for a month now and am happy with it. The processing of print jobs is much faster than I remember with version 1, and I don't remember version 1 having the ability to print multiple pages to 1 side of paper - a superb feature. FinePrint has this as well, and a considerably better UI, but FinePrint still does not use this ink saving algorithm and so has limited appeal now. While I can print many pages to one side, it still uses too much ink IMHO esp when the same output using 60% less ink with an ecoPrint2 print is legible enough.

Although ecoPrint2 has a weaker UI (and for some reason the UK version still shows savings in US dollars!) I think it is worth the £30 price.

Thanks for the comments here.

4wd · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2009, 06:51 PM »

Did you try the 4x UltraSaver I also mentioned?

Or was that not suitable?

rancohn · « **Reply #15 on:** May 26, 2009, 07:19 AM »

Yes I tried that as well and it looks like it uses the same ink saving algorithm (0%-75% saving, output looked identical on paper). However as EcoPrint2 allows you to delete pages, rotate pages and cram pages onto a single sheet, I went for EcoPrint2. Both are recommended though; I chose to pay a little more for more functionality that EcoPrint2 offers.

ldarrambide · « **Reply #16 on:** May 26, 2009, 11:36 AM »

Hi there,

FYI, i waited 15 days and 5 messages to have support....that was unable to fix the problem. So ecoprint2 pro did not worked and they refunded me. Quite frustrationg but fair enough. As i already got fineprint that allows me to unclutter my pages before printing, i finally bought the light version which works on my vista install.

HTH

Laurent

ppass · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2010, 04:27 PM »

Same question here, though not specifically for Vista or Windows 7, XP will do. Are there any freeware or Open Source alternative doing the same job as InkSaver? The site http://www.inksaver.com is down. I managed to download from an other source, but the software won't even install.

This page http://www.geckoandf...ges-and-toner-usage/
introduces AP FIll and EcoPrint2, but neither is free.

I found a free software in Japanese http://www.vector.co...riting/se476890.html
but it does not work properly on my Windows XP.

Does any one know some free software doing this? Or is it that printer company lobbies are so strong that no such free software can be found?

[Edit] I finally found a working version of inksaver: http://flmsdown.net/...r-ink-saver-v23.html

Still a freeware / open source version of this would be great.

MerleOne · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2010, 09:14 PM »

Found this in a PC Mag :
http://www.inkgard.com/?_pe_=5

Curt · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2012, 04:16 AM »

I hadn't heard about this one before: Print Saver Eco, maybe that is why it is being offered by Avanquest...
~~£30~~, now £20
http://www.avanquest...int-saver-eco-141892

Re-edited:
oh, I realize the discount isn't on, when using the normal link.
Here is a very long link that probably is connected to my email address:
http://software.avan...OG5mpqVsje_HhdAHDFKk
please tell if private informations is appearing!

Print Saver Eco: Saving the World, One Printer at a time

Print Saver Eco Ink and Toner Saver can reduce up to 75% of your ink usage and it can be used with any printer, as well as printers shared over any Local Area Network (LAN). When activated, Print Saver Eco Ink and Toner Saver resides in the system tray and functions in the background, so there is no need to make adjustments every time you print. It's easy - new ink saving settings can be activated via one click.

No Ink Reduction ..... - ..... 20% Ink Reduction

The Ink/Toner Saving Option window allows you to Customise your saving ratio. Simply drag the marker on the scale to the desired percentage indicating how much ink you'd like to save when you print. For example, moving the marker to 25% means you will print using 75% of the amount of ink you would normally

MerleOne · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2012, 04:43 AM »

Thanks !

jacquesrober · « **Reply #21 on:** July 14, 2012, 08:26 AM »

You could try the following: Preton inksaver It will also save on colored ink.