Frequently Asked Questions: Printing

Q: How do I use my laptop to print?

A: Follow the directions in this document. If you need any assistance, please see a Lab Assistant.
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Q: How much does it cost to print?

A: The up-to-date printing costs are located above the Lab Help Desk. For InkJet printing costs, click here. For LaserJet costs, click here.
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Q: Can I use my own paper?

A: Yes, however:

Only the 5100, and 5550 LaserJet printers can use user-supplied paper. It must be LaserJet-approved paper and checked by a Lab Assistant. You may not use your own paper on the LaserJet 8500.

For the InkJet printers, you may supply Epson-brand paper only.

We cannot take non-approved paper as jams may occur and print quality is not guaranteed.
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Q: Why do colors on my monitor and on my printout not match?

A: Monitors in the Lab are not calibrated and files that you submit may not be optimized for printing with the best results. Different printers will print differently. LaserJet printers use only four colors while InkJet printers use seven colors, so there will be a difference. In general, InkJet printers have a higher quality color reproduction. Lab lighting conditions also affect colors, and we recommend that you start printing early to get the results that you desire.
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Q: What type of paper is used in the LaserJets?

A: Regular 20-pound 104 brightness paper is used in the 5100, 5870, and 8500 LaserJets. Color LaserJet paper that is 24-pound with 96 brightness is used in the 5550.
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Q: Can I print double-sided? Does this save money?

A: Duplex printing is available on the 5100, 5870, and 5550 printers. However, cost is per-side and not per-sheet, so printing one sheet double-sided is the same cost as printing two single-sided sheets.
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Q: What do I do if I don't have enough money or Convenience Points to pay for a print job?

A: No IOU's are accepted. Enough credit must be available in your Lab account before you can print. There are no exceptions to this rule.
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Q: If I am a faculty or staff member, what needs to be done to chargeback my department for printing expenses?

A: A departmental expense recovery agreement needs to be formulated between the CFA Computer Lab and the fiscal coordinator for your department. Once that agreement is in place, tyou will be able to print unrestricted and recovery costs for the print expenses will eb billed to your department at the end of each semester.
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Q: Can I submit inkjet print job requests from my residence hall or other off-campus location?

A: Job requests cannot be submitted from residence halls or other BU locations. However, if you are off-campus and connected to the BU network via the Cisco VPN client, you will be able to submit print jobs.