Imagine this: you're in the middle of printing a crucial document or a set of vibrant images for a presentation, and suddenly, your eyes come across white lines that run through your prints.

It's frustrating, to say the least, especially when you're striving for high-quality results. If this is you, then it might be time to clean your drum lens.  

Over time, drum lenses in printers like the Xerox AltaLink B8100 and C8100 series can accumulate dirt, debris, and toner, leading to print quality degradation. If left unattended, this can significantly impact your printing tasks, leaving you with subpar output and potentially costly reprints.

Printer maintenance is vital, and we at Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT) know that. A printer issue can ruin your daily schedule and cause you to fall behind. 

Did you know that most business copiers and printers have a lifespan of 4 to 7 years? If your copier is older than that, it could be putting your business at risk. From security vulnerabilities to reduced efficiency and rising maintenance costs, an outdated copier can create more problems than you might realize.

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT), we’ve been in the print business for nearly 40 years. We’ve serviced and replaced countless copiers, helping businesses like yours find the balance between performance and cost. We know the signs that a copier has reached the end of its useful life, and we understand how to maximize its lifespan until you’re ready to upgrade.

Pop quiz: What does ppm mean? What’s a printer’s duty cycle? Can you tell the difference between A3 and A4 paper?

If you can answer even one of those questions, you’re already ahead of many when it comes to basic printer knowledge.

Understanding printer terms is helpful, especially when you’re on the hunt for a new machine. You could easily fill a textbook with all the printer jargon out there, and knowing terms like these will make your search smoother.

As a locally managed print vendor for nearly 40 years, we’ve encountered countless confused customers. It’s clear that a “Printing Encyclopedia" is needed!

Getting familiar with basic terms during your research will make you more knowledgeable and prepared to tackle questions about what you need

Have you ever held two printed materials—one with a sleek, shiny finish and another with a smooth, non-reflective surface—and wondered which one would work better for your project?

Choosing between matte and glossy paper can be a tough choice, especially when the stakes are high for creating professional, eye-catching prints. Each finish has its strengths and ideal uses, but making the wrong choice can mean blurry photos, hard-to-read text, or materials that just don’t look the way you imagined.

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT), we’ve been helping businesses and individuals optimize their printing processes for nearly 40 years. Whether you’re printing marketing materials, professional photographs, or everyday documents, we’ve seen how the right paper can transform your project.

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 Are you overwhelmed by the countless office printers available, unsure which one will truly cater to your team’s needs? We know how crucial it is to choose the right printer—one that enhances productivity instead of causing headaches and unexpected expenses. With so many choices out there, finding a printer that integrates smoothly into your workflow can be daunting. So, how do you decide which one to trust?

At our company, we've spent nearly 40 years guiding businesses like yours to the ideal print solutions. Our expertise in Xerox products is unmatched, and our extensive experience means we offer insights that go far beyond the technical specs. We've seen firsthand what works—and what doesn’t—in busy office settings, so you can rely on us for honest, dependable advice.