Computer Printer Ink | Computer Printer Ink - Printers And Quality

Every printer has a special approach to put ink onto paper. Inkjet, Solid Ink and Dye-sublimation printers use different forms of computer printer ink to produce high quality prints.

Inkjet printers are the most common printer for home and small office use. These printers utilize ink cartridges filled with a liquid ink that is deposited directly onto the printing medium. These printers have disposable ink cartridges which contain reservoirs of computer printer ink.

Inkjet cartridges may be discarded, reused or recycled and may or may not contain a disposable print head within the cartridge. Printer manufacturers produce their own ink cartridges and discourage refilling the cartridges, using a third party refilling service or purchasing remanufactured ink. Third party ink manufacturers develop their own ink that is not chemically identical to that of the original manufacturer.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) warn that the use of a third party ink can cause print disruption or printer failure due to ink clogs, print head overuse or a mis-filled cartridge. Blind comparison studies have tended to show very little distinction between the OEM’s ink and a refilled cartridge using third party ink.

Computer printer ink used in Inkjet cartridges is composed of proprietary ratios of water-soluble pigment, water-soluble solvents and aqueous solvents. Ink jet cartridges are generally divided into one for black and one for color; the color cartridge will contain three separate small reservoirs for blue, cyan and magenta. Specialty cartridges are often available for photo printing that provide enhanced brilliance for color photos or higher quality monochromatic photos.

Solid ink printers do not have disposable ink cartridges but instead use blocks of black, cyan, blue and magenta wax that has been chemically formulated to melt only under very high temperatures and adhere to paper permanently. The ink sticks are melted and funneled to the print heads where the molten ink is deposited onto a rotating drum. The ink from the drum is then pressed onto the paper.

Dye-sublimation printers thermally transfer dye onto various media including plastic, canvas or paper. The computer printer ink is affixed to a ribbon and is heated before being printed onto the chosen material. These printers generally adhere the print one color at a time instead of simultaneously as with other technologies.

Dye-sublimation printers produce brilliant color and excellent quality pictures, however they are not optimized for superior text. This form of printing had previously been used by commercial printing facilities but is now also available for consumer use in dedicated photo printers.