Laser printers have fairly simple printing systems that generally use either one or four toner cartridges.  If it is just one, that means it is a monochrome printer and requires only black toner.  If there are four laser printer cartridges, each will hold one of the four standard colors- cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Unfortunately laser printers are very limited in what they can print on, oh and you’d better be prepared for the high price for color laser toner cartridges as it may put you into shock. Unfortunately 1/3 of laser printers are bad for your health based on several University studies – for more information see down below. As a result, more and more businesses owners have moved over to Inkjet printers.

Inkjet printers come in many flavors when it comes to # of colors and # of cartridges. Since inkjet printers are most often used for photo printing and for printing on a multitude of substrate types (i.e. plain paper, photo papers & specialty which includes labels, films, iron-on transfer, etc.), manufacturers utilize even more colors to produce a wider color gamut. Until you open up the hood, you may not know how many cartridges it has or what the exact color makeup is inside.

Ink Cartridges. Over the years, the standard inkjet printer system that required only two cartridges has expanded up to eight cartridges for some consumer inkjet printer models.  Typically the fewer the cartridges, the less precise the quality and color range. All newer inkjet printer models are capable of producing solid text and clear graphics; most support photo and wireless printing.

Two Cartridges

This is the original system used in consumer inkjet printers and is still found with low-end HP and Canon product offerings that continue to be sold today, but often spruced up a bit with web enabled features, etc.  One cartridge will hold the black ink and the other consists of yellow, magenta and cyan ink.  For inkjet printer models geared toward photos, optional cartridges were available that held other colors, typically light cyan and light magenta or gray ink.  The reason for these extra cartridges that can be installed in lieu of the primary cartridges is to create more accurate photos. Cost of ownership is low if only used for low printing volumes (i.e. 1-15 pages per week, maximum). Ink maintenance routines are extremely light on these models as compared to 4 thru 8 ink cartridge equipped printers which perform much more aggressive ‘nozzle/head cleaning’ routines – this significantly helps reduce ink costs due to maintenance. Printer power may be turned off each day without any significant impact to ink cost.

Four Cartridges

Just like color laser printers, some inkjet printers have four inkjet cartridges that hold cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink.  The benefit of this system is that each color can be replaced separately as it runs out, unlike the two-cartridge system. These cartridges are often larger as well, so they don’t need to be replaced as often.  Cost of ownership is generally low if used for frequent printing (small print jobs 3-5 times a week; ~15-25 pages minimum to see a benefit over 2 ink cartridge models). This also assumes that printer power is left ON (very important for most HP & Canon consumer inkjet printers).

Multiple cartridges (Five or Six Cartridges)

Machines that use five or six cartridges are generally designed specifically for photo printing.  Along with the four standard colors, which are often referred to simply as CMYK, either light or photo cyan and magenta cartridges may be needed.  The extra hues help to saturate the areas of a print that would require half-toning, which basically means using less Cyan or Magenta ink to create lighter colors.  The reason Yellow doesn’t come in “light” form is because our eyes cannot recognize flaws in the color yellow like we can cyan and magenta. However, more and more printer models now offer 5 cartridges, with the 5^th cartridge being photo black. Photo Black (BK) is used for improving the look of photographic prints, or not exactly 100% black-based plain paper documents. The photo black also helps smooth out transitions (i.e. gradients) in both photos and black and white-based documents.

Cost of ownership is generally low if used for frequent printing (small print jobs 3-5 times a week; ~25-50 pages minimum to see a benefit over 2 ink cartridge models). This also assumes that printer power is left ON (very important for most HP & Canon consumer inkjet printers).

NOTE: For comparison purposes, a typical 4×6″ color photo uses roughly 3 times more ink than a standard plain paper page (@22% ISO 24712 color density).

Eight (or more) Cartridges

The only people likely to really NEED an inkjet printer that uses eight or more cartridges are professional photographers or designers.  These machines are slightly more expensive, as is the maintenance for them.  The Canon i9900, for instance, has eight cartridges: CMYK, Photo cyan, Photo magenta, Red and Green.  The two new colors printers like this introduce, red and green, expand the color gamut immensely, creating flawless images that are extremely true-to-life, but the cost of replacing so many cartridges is often prohibitive for the average person.

Inkjet printers are known for the quality of photos and images they deliver, and the different levels of quality that can be achieved are partially based on the colors available in the cartridge system.  The basic two or four-cartridge systems should be sufficient for most people, but photographers or photo enthusiasts may want to consider the larger cartridge systems with more colors. Those who are considering the upgrade should first factor in the extra ink costs, however, to determine if it is really worth it. Cost of ownership is considered medium if used for average photo print jobs (i.e. 5-10 photos A3/A4 size prints/week…..for higher volume runs it is recommended to send out to a commercial print service). See below. It is suggested to leave printer power ON to help reduce ink maintenance and servicing routines which consume ink during each power cycle.

Cost of Printing Considerations

Have you ever calculated the total cost of printing for your business, home business and/or for personal use? Did you buy the cheapest printer in the store? Should you get inkjet or laser?

Here’s a scary statistic. If you work a 50 hour week, between half an hour and 90 minutes of the time you spend earning money goes on covering the cost of business-related printing materials. That’s between 1% and 3% of your revenue according to research conducted by large printer manufacturers.

One of the first questions you’ll need to answer when buying a new printer is laser vs inkjet.

In the past, the answer was easy. Lasers for black and white and inkjets for color. When color laser printers hit the market they were very expensive but they’re now affordable (i.e. start at $280 USD). And so the gap between the two technologies has narrowed, however be prepared….the high price for color laser toner cartridges can be very hard to swallow and will surely put a dent into your wallet. More and more businesses owners have moved over to Inkjet printers as a result (i.e. HP Officejet, Officejet Pro & Epson Workforce series printer models).

However, while the up-front cost can be an immediately painful wound to your bank balance it’s the slow bleed that most small business don’t monitor or manage that really causes the pain. How do you consider this when buying your new printer?

1. Measure how much you print per month

You can do this by either counting the reams or pages of paper manually or using some print management software.

2. Don’t just look at the printer cost, check the consumables

Grab the replacement cartridges for the printers you’re considering and pay close attention. Most will be rated for a certain number of pages. If a replacement cartridge costs $50 but can print 1,000 pages it’s better value than a $25 cartridge that’s rated for 400 pages.

3. Paper is not the big cost

Sure, be frugal and shop around for your paper, but ink consumables almost always cost more than paper. Typical consumables cost breakdown: ~15% for paper on average (i.e. 2% for plain paper vs. 20% for specialty photo papers, depending on your requirements) and ~85% for ink cartridges & maintenance.

Laser Printer Danger

Professor Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology’s International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health has details on dangerous emissions from common laser printers. Her earlier finding was that almost 1/3 of popular laser printers emitted large numbers of ultrafine particles and VOCs (volatile organic compounds which are harmful to the environment and your health).

“In the printing process, toner is melted and when it is hot, certain compounds evaporate and those vapours then nucleate or condense in the air, forming ultrafine particles,” she said.

You can try to avoid using laser printers at home by sticking to inkjet printers or safer printers on their list. Also ensure ventilation is good around laser printers and that they are turned off when not needed.

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Inkjet Ink Cartridge Refill Services – A better way to print

Many customers are taking advantage of the cost savings – up to 70% versus buying new cartridges. Your cartridges can be filled at a retail location near you – the process takes minutes. Print cartridges can deliver excellent quality long after they first run out of ink; just bring your empty ink cartridges into any of our authorized refill center locations.

Customers can achieve multiple refills on a well-maintained integrated cartridge before deciding to replace it with a new one. Most tank-based cartridges (i.e. those found in 4, 5 and 6 ink cartridge equipped printer models) can be typically refilled up to 10 times until it leaks or exhibits damage. Our network of retailers stand behind the product and performance – guaranteed.

If you are looking for a ‘Refill Friendly’ printer model, refer to our suggestion list…

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

1)    Refill your ink cartridges/tanks so they can be used over and over….save good cartridges from going into our landfills!

2)    Tank-based cartridges may be refilled up to 15 times on average since there are no significant on-board electronics which can fail (…typically ‘tanks’ can be refilled over and over until the cartridge’s plastic body becomes physically damaged).

3)    Avoid the Arial font. It uses more ink than Times New Roman and many other fonts.

4)    Print in Draft Mode (or on both sides of the paper if printer duplexing is available with your printer model).

5)    Minimize the use of color ink by printing text in grayscale or use the ‘Black Only’ print mode in your printer driver options (NOTE: printing documents which contain both text and graphics in greyscale mode will actually consume more CMYK ink vs just printing in the ‘Normal’ mode for most printer models).

6)    If your have an individual ink tank printer (i.e. 4, 5 and 6 ink cartridge printer models), it is suggested by HP & Canon to leave the printer powered on at all times (most will go into sleep mode within an hour), this will avoid the much heavier printhead ink priming and maintenance routines which are typically initiated when the printer is powered on and off.

“Inkjets left on consume very little power when not in use, so your ink savings should considerably outweigh the energy cost” – Consumer Reports August 2013 & 2018

7)    Refilled ink cartridges typically provide consumers with 10-20% more ink, on average, vs. brand new ink cartridges from the manufacturer.  The additional ink will help offset ink consumption losses due to unavoidable automatic printer ink maintenance found in many of the newer HP, Canon, Epson & Brother inkjet printer models

8)    Print your internet-based page content using 3rd party applications and save on ink and paper consumption costs! (reduces page content for an optimized printing experience; works with most web sites and supports most devices/internet browsers).  To locate an app for your operating system/browser please visit:  https://alternativeto.net/software/cleanprint/

9)    Use professional retailer ink cartridge refilling services:

10)  Choose to Reuse and join the ‘Refillutionist’ evolution! You’ll save money on ink costs and you’ll support the environment by reducing landfill waste and help reduce toxic emissions from manufacturing processes.

11)    7 Easy Ways to Be a Little Greener on a Budget: https://www.thecafescholar.com/greener-on-a-budget/

Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France and Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

If your HP printer is displaying the error message ‘protected cartridge‘ or ‘the indicated cartridge can only be used in the printer that initially used it and must be replaced’ then the ink cartridge has been permanently disabled for use in all printers, except for the original printer that it was first installed into.*

HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, & 65 Ink Cartridges: Ensure the ‘Cartridge Protection’ feature is turned OFF or DISABLED on your HP printer.  To disable this setting on your printer you can either restore the printer to factory default settings or if your printer is connected to the internet then you can disable this feature directly.

3-Steps Required to Disable: 

1. Remove the HP Instant Ink Ready Setup or Instant Ink Program cartridge(s) from the printer and do NOT reinstall ever.
2. Perform a factory reset on the printer
3. Obtain and install 2 ‘clean’ cartridges – these can be HP refilled cartridges or brand new HP ORIGINAL store-bought cartridges.

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The cartridge protection feature impacts the following HP cartridge series*: HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 301, 302, 303, 304, 902, 903, 906XL, 907XL, 934/935, 950/951, 952/956XL, 953/957XL, 954/958XL & 970/971.

*HP 903/907/953/957s in Europe; HP 904/908/954/958s in Mexico.

What is HP cartridge protection?

After a customer enables the printer’s HP Cartridge Protection feature and then a cartridge has been installed in a printer it is marked as ‘protected’ (i.e. code is written to the cartridge’s embedded acumen chip or smart chip), so it can only be installed back into that same printer.

For HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 301, 302, 303 & 304 ink cartridges this means it cannot be refilled or recycled to use in another printer, essentially forcing it into landfill. Therefore, we strongly suggest to not enable this feature on your printer as it will prevent you from using 3rd party ink supplies in the future.

How do you get rid of the ‘HP protected cartridge’ error?

The only way to remove this error is to replace the chip on your cartridge, which is not feasible for select HP IPH (integrated cartridge) ink supplies. You’ll need to request a replacement from the store you purchased the ink from or where you refilled your ink cartridge. Unfortunately, HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 300 thru 304 series ink cartridges will need to be replaced with a brand new ink cartridge since the ‘smart chip’ is entirely embedded into base of the cartridge’s nozzle plate (within acumen chip, fully encapsulated inside bottom of ink cartridge).  On the other hand, HP 950/951/952/953 chips for example (pictured at right) will be replaced by ink cartridge refill lab personnel when ink cartridges are refilled, thereby eliminating & preventing the error condition from ever occurring.

You can protect yourself going forward and help avoid future ‘protected cartridge’ errors from appearing. The protected setting is applied by your printer when the genuine cartridge is installed, so after purchasing and installing a new printer be sure to disable this ‘feature’ and keep any genuine inks you use away from landfill…

A. Easiest method to DISABLE ‘Cartridge Protection’ feature (or if your printer is not connected to the internet)

The easiest method to disable cartridge protection is to restore the printer to it’s Factory Default Settings; this can be achieved via the printer’s control panel display buttons.

1) On the printer’s control panel display select Setup.

2) From the Setup menu select Tools.

3) From Tools menu scroll down to select Restore Factory Defaults.

4) Once selected the Restore Factory Defaults window will prompt a warning.
Click Yes to proceed with Restore Factory Defaults.

5) After clicking Yes the printer will proceed to restore factory defaults and restart automatically.

6) The ‘Protected Cartridge’ feature is now disabled.

NOTE: If you currently have a ‘protected’ ink cartridge installed it will need to be disposed of and replaced with a new cartridge. Moving forward any new HP 63 ink cartridge installed into your printer will not be protected and may be refilled and reused, or may be recycled and remanufactured for future customer use later.

B. Advanced method to DISABLE ‘Cartridge Protection’ feature (i.e. if your printer is internet connected)

To disable the Protected Cartridge feature on internet connected printers, obtain the IP address from the printer’s control panel:

1) At your printer’s display, select the network icon or button to view the IP settings and record the 9 or 10 digit number shown (i.e. 192.168.1.15 for example).

2) Open a web browser such as Chrome or Firefox….in the search bar at top of page type in the 9 digit address with decimals.

3) Since this is a locally connected printer, you may ignore Non-Secure HTTP or Not Private Connection warning messages by selecting ‘advanced’ at bottom of page…

4) The embedded web server page should open.

5) Select ‘Tools’, ‘Cartridge Setting’….here you can check the Cartridge Protection state. If ON, go ahead and select ‘OFF’.

6) After a few seconds you may close the internet browser; all changes will be automatically saved.

NOTE: If the full printer driver is installed you can disable the cartridge protection feature via the HP Printer Assistant (this is accessible via the Start Menu, Devices & Printers). Choose ‘Disable HP Cartridge Protection’ within the ‘Maintain Your Printer’ window.

*You may also observe the error message ‘Used Cartridge’ or ‘Counterfeit ink cartridge detected’ combined with the error message above. HP continues their anti-competitive mission against refilled/remanufactured ink cartridges with the ‘cartridge protection’ system on original/genuine ink cartridges; ‘locked-out’ ink cartridges unfortunately cannot be recycled or reused and will need to either be returned to HP or go to a landfill. Allowing products to be recycled and used over and over just makes complete sustainability sense.

Additional Cautions: 

An installed ‘Protected Cartridge’ can turn on the cartridge protection feature even after it has been disabled on the printer; three scenarios can occur:

• An HP Instant Ink subscription program cartridge can also inadvertently turn on the cartridge protection feature, so if a regular (i.e. HP 63, 63XL) non-protected ink cartridge is installed into the printer it will have ‘Cartridge Protection’ written to it (NOTE: if two cartridges are installed then both will then be set to ‘Cartridge Protection’).
• If at least one cartridge is a ‘Protected Cartridge‘ enabled cartridge, anytime during the printer’s maintenance process, or even sleep mode, can infect the cartridge that is not protected.
• Cartridges that sit over night are automatically married to the printer’s setting.  If a ‘Protected Cartridge‘ is installed in the printer with the feature disabled, anytime the printer is turned off and then powered back on, the feature can be enabled since it reads the cartridges during the initialization process.

It is therefore suggested to always ensure the installed cartridges (the pair) are non-protected cartridges and ensure that ‘Cartridge Protection’ is disabled at the printer. Refer to A. and B. above to disable cartridge protection.

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TECH FLASH

For refilled HP 934/935, HP 950/951 or HP 970/971 ink cartridge series printer models which display printer/cartridge error messages which prevent printing such as “cartridge missing or damaged”, “cartridge problem”, “cartridge depleted”, etc., there is a new printer firmware update available for your printer model which will enable refilled ink cartridges to function normally (Sept. 2017).  Click on the link below to see if your printer model is impacted; this will explain the issue & offer a printer firmware download to fix the issue and allow you to continue using refilled ink cartridges: click here

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

To find the nearest ink refill center near you…

You may cancel enrollment in the HP Instant Ink Program at any time, except you will be retroactively billed for each free month of service you initially received, so you’ve been warned!  As the print habits of the majority of the average population varies from month to month, HP’s program is not always the best fit for most folks. There are some caveats and restrictions within their program; please read the following information carefully (NOTE: extract from HP’s support page):

• HP Instant Ink cartridges do not work after the end of your current billing period, and you are required to return them to HP. To continue printing after your billing cycle ends, make sure you have standard replacement ink cartridges ready to use in your printer.

If you do not have the postage-paid envelope provided by HP, go to Recycling HP Instant Ink Cartridges to order an envelope.

• There is no pro-rated reimbursement for the remainder of your billing period.
• Your service continues until the end of your current billing period.
• If there are any charges for additional printing, your credit card is charged. Depending on when you cancel, the charge might appear the following month.

NOTE: Your HP Instant Ink service cannot be suspended or placed on hold. If you are gone for a month or less, your account rolls over up to your monthly plan pages limit for one month. If you must be away for an extended period of time and do not want to be charged for the HP Instant Ink service during that time, you need to cancel the service and then re-enroll when desired. If you cancel your account and re-enroll, all free promotional months and rollover pages are forfeit, even if you re-enroll.

Sign in to your HP Instant Ink account to cancel your HP Instant Ink service.

1. Go to com/signin (the HP Connected website) to sign in to your HP Instant Ink account, if you are not signed in already.

Your HP Instant Ink account page opens.

2. On your HP Instant Ink account page, click My Plan, and then click Edit.

3. On the HP Instant Ink Plan window, click Cancel Enrollment.

4. Click Cancel Service to confirm your cancellation request. You should receive an email confirmation of the cancellation.

NOTE 1: As an option you may also cancel enrollment via the HP Printer Assistant feature on your computer (i.e. select ‘Start’ – ‘Devices and Printers’ from Windows), go to ‘Account Settings’ and select ‘Cancel my HP Instant Ink Subscription’. Enter e-mail and password when prompted.

NOTE 2: If neither of the above solutions work you can try restoring the printer to its Factory Default settings under the printers ‘Tools’ menu. This will usually force a program interruption of the HP subscription service (…varies by model).

5. You may now use regular HP ink cartridges in your printer (either standard or high-capacity) cartridges or refilled ink cartridges. NOTE: HP Instant Ink cartridges will be deactivated for use at the end of the current/active billing period and must be returned to HP.

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

To find the nearest ink refill center near you…

Retail Inkjet Solutions (RIS), Inc. has exceeded 35 million ink cartridge refills! (updated October 2018).

The worldwide market for inkjet cartridges is approximately $27 billion, with consumers buying an average of 5.6 cartridges every year. Because of that, we’re pleased to share that we have refilled more than 35 million cartridges and saved consumers over $375 million. Customers are finding that the cost of refilling inkjet cartridges is a fraction of the cost of new cartridges.

Thank you to our refill partners!

Retail Inkjet Solutions (RIS) – InkCenter Equipment Provider 

Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc. (RIS) is the industry leader in Retail On-Site Inkjet Cartridge Refilling.  Our RIS patented InkCenter™ machine is deployed in more than 500 retail locations in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe.  We provide customers with unmatched quality while delivering savings of up to 70% when compared to a new cartridge purchase.  Our InkCenter™ machines integrate seamlessly into retail environments, delivering a great customer experience.  Founded in 2004 by former HP engineers motivated to create a better solution for customers, RIS is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.  For more information, visit www.Go2RIS.com.

To find an ink cartridge refill store near you, click here.

RIS headquarters are located in the U.S., but we have field service agents internationally. If you are a retailer interested in adding an ink refilling service to your store, call or contact sales@Go2RIS.com 

Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc. (RIS)
1916 Palomar Oaks Way Ste. 100
Carlsbad, CA 92008-5509, USA

T: 858.753.0233
F: 858.876.1561

www.Go2RIS.com

* Handling Cartridges

Handle cartridges with care. Try not to touch the metal plate on bottom of ink cartridge with your bare hands. Be especially careful when installing or removing a cartridge from your printer. Be patient with the cartridge, the electrical contacts or chip surfaces are sensitive and forcing the cartridge can cause permanent damage to an internal PRINTHEAD.

* Cleaning

If you don’t use your printer often, the cartridge needs to be cleaned to keep it in good working order. Periodically run the print head cleaning program to keep the nozzle working. Instructions should be included in the operations manual.

* Keeping Cartridges in Refillable Conditions

These two tips will help you increase your cartridge’s refillable life:

– Store your cartridges with the print head down to keep it moist and in proper working condition. Keep filled color cartridges upright. If it is left on its side can cause the colors to mix.

— After removing the cartridge from the printer, refill or bring in your cartridge as soon as possible. The less exposure to air will help prevent the ink from drying and damaging the cartridge. Attached storage clip or cap if available.

* Cartridge Tips

You should use your refilled HP/Canon integrated ink cartridge within three (3) months to ensure the cartridge will work properly. All tank-based ink cartridges, like those found in all 4, 5 & 6 ink-cartridge printer models, may be stored and used up to one (1) year later.

– Run test pages every week or every other week to keep the cartridge from drying out.

* Cartridge Storage

-If you are not going to use a refilled HP or Canon integrated ink cartridge right away, attach storage cap or clip (or wrap it in a moist paper towel and put it in an air tight plastic bag) to prevent the nozzles from drying out.

— For all tank-based cartridges ensure the storage cap is attached to cartridge; cartridge should be upright and stored in a cool place.

* Best Time to Refill

The best time to refill your cartridge is before it is completely out of ink. Look out for signs that the ink is running low, such as light prints or white streaking. When your printer gives you the second ‘low ink’ warning, this is a prefect time to refill your cartridge or bring them into any of our retail locations.

-Do not allow the cartridge become completely empty before you refill it because it can cause the nozzles to burn out (applicable to all 2-cartridge based printer models). If poor print quality is observed (streaking, partial printing) then the nozzles may be dry and cartridge cleaning may be required.

* Cartridge Errors

If you observe an ink cartridge error please refer to the TROUBLESHOOTING page tab above…select your cartridge type (i.e. HP) and choose the appropriate ink SKU (i.e. HP 950-951, etc.) for problem type/resolution. Refer to our Troubleshooting Table for a run down of the most common issues & resolutions.

* Poor Print Quality

If poor print quality is observed (streaking, partial printing or blank pages) then the integrated nozzles (HP/Canon 2-cartridge printer models only) may be dry and manual cartridge cleaning may be required. We suggest you first run the print head cleaning program (via your printer’s maintenance menu) to help clear dried ink nozzles – refer to your printer operations manual.

For select tank-based ink cartridges (i.e. HP 564, 920, 934, 935) you may need to wait upwards of 36-48 hours for the refilled ink to become fully absorbed into the cartridge’s internal foam. Activate the print head cleaning program 2 or 3 times to help re-establish ink flow between cartridges and internal PRINTHEAD. If the problem persists following the wait period and multiple print head cleanings, then return refilled ink cartridges to your refill lab to ensure an adequate amount of ink is inside. In extreme cases, a PRINTHEAD flush may be required.

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

Don’t know your cartridge number? 

To find the nearest ink refill center near you…

What to expect when refilling cartridges…click here

If you’re new to Android, printing probably seems easy to you: click a menu, tap a command.  Previously, Android printing was a rather clunky process; the good news is it’s easier than ever to print from your Android device(s).

Printing today is much simpler since it is integrated into the operating system and along with most of your apps. Really, that’s the only limitation you need to consider: the app has to support printing. For example, you won’t be printing any Facebook posts from the mobile app, because it doesn’t support that feature. Primarily you will only find it in places that make sense: Gmail, Google Docs, photos, and so on.

So, while printing on Android has gotten significantly easier over the past few years, there are still some limitations.

How to Add and Manage Printers

Cloud Print is now part of the OS. In the past, this app is where you’d go to find and manage printers, but since it’s no longer a standalone product, all that stuff is now nestled within the Settings menu.

To check your printer situation, first pull down the notification shade and hit the cog/gear icon. On some devices, like anything running stock Android, you may need to pull it twice. This will get you into the Settings menu.

Unfortunately every manufacturer seems to hide the setting you may be looking for in a different place. So, for the sake of simplicity and universal acceptance, we’re going to do this the easy way: tap the magnifying glass icon (or the word “Search” on Samsung handsets), then search for “Printing.”

Regardless of where the setting is on your phone, the option should pop-up. Tap ‘it’ and be thankful for the search tool. It just saved you some hassle.

Now that you’re there, some options may or may not be available. For example, Cloud Print should be there regardless of which type of device you have. But there are also some specifics, like “Samsung Print Service Plugin” which will be available on Samsung devices, as well as other devices if you’ve had a Samsung device before. It’s interesting.

Regardless of how many options are listed here, the result is still the same: this is where you manage your printing options. More often than not, you’re going to just use Cloud Print for most everything, because it’s the most prolific on Android.

If you’d like to manage your printers, tap on “Cloud Print,” then the three-button overflow menu in the top right (on Samsung devices, it may read “MORE”).

This is where you can choose to add a printer to your Cloud—just select “Add printer.” The app will automatically start searching for printers on your local network. If it’s already a part of cloud print, then it won’t show up here, which will help you avoid duplicates.

NOTE: Cloud Print only works with printers that are connected to your network directly over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. If you’re sharing a printer connected to a Windows computer, for example, it won’t work–but we have some other options for you at the end of this post.

If you’re not looking to add a printer, though, just tap “Settings” instead of “Add printer.”

In the Settings menu, you can change things like printer visibility for specific accounts—for example, if you have a work email and printers on your device, but don’t want those printers to display in your list, simple jump into that account and change the visibility. You can also choose to show only printers that you’ve used recently.

This is is where you’ll manage print jobs and printers:

How to Print in Supported Applications

Okay, so now that you know how to add and manage printers, let’s talk about actually printing something from your phone. Like I said earlier, only some apps support printing. Pretty much any office-based applications, like Word, Docs, Excel, Spreadsheets, Gmail, etc. will work for you, but Google’s Photos app also supports printing.

The thing is, it’s kind of hidden in certain apps. For example, it’s pretty front-and-center in Photos—just tap the three-button overflow menu, then “Print.” So simple.

In Sheets or Docs, however, it’s not as simple. In those apps, you have to first tap the three-button menu, then select “Share & Export.” From there, “Print” will be an option.

From there, the Cloud Print app will open, with your default printer pre-selected. You can change things like the number of copies to   print, paper size and orientation, and color. To modify those settings, just tap the little arrow at the bottom of the print header.

If you have multiple printers installed, you can select from the list by tapping the printer name at the top of the header. A list of everything installed or available to the print service will show up here, including all available printers.

Once you’ve locked in all your options, tap the little print button. It should automatically send the document to your printer, and you’re good to go. That’s pretty much that!

How to “Print” to PDF

Sometimes you may not need an actual paper copy of something, but you want a universally accepted document that will just work wherever you need it. For that kind of thing, PDFs are great. And printing to PDF is stupid-easy on Android.

Select the print option outlined in the above section, then tap the drop-down menu with all of your available printer options. There should be at least a couple of options for saving the file as a PDF: “Save as PDF,” which saves the file locally to the Android device, and “Save to Google Drive” which will save the PDF to your Google Drive.

Once you’ve selected the appropriate option here, just tap the print button.

If you choose to save the file locally, a “Save as”-esque dialog will appear. Just save the file wherever you’d like.

If you choose to save the PDF to Drive, the print window will just close and appear to do nothing. That’s not the case, however, as the document should be available in your Drive’s root folder. It’s silly that no save options are available, but alas, that’s how it is.

Print to Specific Brands of Printer

Many popular printer brands will also offer a companion app for their hardware, allowing you to access more advanced functionality.

The best thing to do in this case is just jump into the Play Store and search for your specific brand of printer. Unfortunately, everything from this point forward is going to be very brand-specific, so some independent research may be necessary on your part, especially if you’re trying to do something specific.

For what it’s worth, I’ve found very little value in most manufacturers’ apps, as they often just offer redundant features that can already be done directly from Cloud Print. That said, some of the apps will let you do things like scan and fax directly from the phone, so it’s at least worth exploring. Godspeed.

Print Directly to USB, Bluetooth, or Networked Printer

So let’s say you have an old networked printer that is shared on a Windows network. Alternately, you may have a printer you want to physically connect to your Android phone or tablet via a USB OTG cable. Or, you may have a wireless printer that connects over Bluetooth.

RELATED ARTICLE

How to Set Up a Shared Network Printer in Windows 7, 8, or 10

All of these types of printers—USB, Bluetooth, and Windows network—are unsupported by Android. Google recommends setting up Cloud Print on a PC connected to such a printer. Android doesn’t include any support at all for these types of printers.

If you want to print to such a printer directly, you will have to use a third-party app. Unfortunately, there aren’t any available high-quality apps that do this for free. PrinterShare is a well-reviewed app that can print to Windows network share printers, Bluetooth printers, and even USB printers via a USB OTG cable. Unfortunately, if you want to use these advanced features you’ll have to pay about $10 for PrinterShare premium. Luckily, you can print test documents with the free app to test if your printer configuration is supported. This isn’t the ideal solution—Android’s built-in options are—but if you really need this feature, you’ll have to pay for the privilege. It’s a hard-knock life.

Printing on Android has come a long way, and the odds of having exactly what you need at your fingertips are pretty good at this point. Cloud Print’s integrated options are generally pretty reliable, but there are also options out there should you need to print from an unsupported printer, like a Windows shared or Bluetooth printer.

Source: HowtoGeek

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

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Based on SAPPI neuroscience research, reading on paper has been proven to be better for overall content retention, education comprehension & promotion of brand quality.

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below: 

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

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Everyone wants to get the best value for money while still getting great quality and ensuring printer reliability. In the world of inkjet printer cartridges the higher prices typically cause to people to search around for the best deal. But this can have negative effects for both you (the consumer) and the supplier. The supplier is losing out on money and the consumer is risking printer performance and long term printer reliability.

As such, buying or reusing genuine ink products will always be the best solution, whether they are purchasing genuine OEMs from the brand themselves, refilling genuine cartridges or  purchasing remanufactured ink products

So, what’s the big deal with using counterfeit cartridges and why look out for them?

What Are They?

Counterfeit cartridges are made to look incredibly similar to OEM cartridges, fooling you into thinking you are getting a great value product and getting the same quality as a genuine cartridge. These manufacturers are illegally copying the design, parts and even the patents of the original manufacturer – clear violations of manufacturer’s intellectual property (IP) rights. In the industry these types of products are commonly referred to as ‘infringing compatibles’. US Customs and Border Protection officers, via official GEO (general exclusion orders) issued by US district courts, routinely stop these shipments at port of entry or within Amazon warehouses where they are commonly transferred and/or stored. The frequency of these illegal product raids currently occurs two to three times a month.

You may find it hard to tell the difference as some counterfeit cartridges can be made to look incredibly similar to the real deal. The other downside is that these cartridges are illegal to sell and produce, which no one wants to get involved with ideally.

How To Spot A Counterfeit?

We’ve just pointed out that it can be incredibly hard to tell the difference between counterfeit cartridges and genuine cartridges. It is possible to tell the difference by taking a good hard look at these cartridges.

Manufacturers will typically display their trademark logo on the top/side label. They may also use a variety of other methods to illustrate it is a genuine ink supply. For example, a security label that will change color from clear to cyan when tilted (i.e. Samsung). The embossed character should also change color when viewed from different angles.

Be on the lookout for counterfeit products

HP has a handy QR code on their security seals that can be scanned to prove whether the item is valid or not. There are also quick ways to manually inspect the safety label to ensure that you have purchased a genuine product or a counterfeit. Other manufacturers have a security label that contains a unique serial number and barcode along with a background that will change depending on how you view it.

A big clue to figuring out if a cartridge is counterfeit is where you are buying it. If it is from a third party website and is at a remarkably lower price than you might expect, then chances are it’s not a genuine cartridge, and in many cases particularly with Amazon cartridges there’s a VERY HIGH chance it’s an infringing compatible (or clone) cartridge. Of course there is a chance that it is real and just happens to be severely discounted, but it may be safer to err on the side of caution and only purchase from a reputable source that specializes in remanufactured original ink cartridges.

Why Should You Care?

You may be wondering why on earth you should care if your cartridge is genuine or not, after all you got it cheaply right? Well that may be the only positive experience you will have with a counterfeit cartridge. Due to the cartridge not being genuine, it also means that it is not filled with genuine ink or an ink which is compatible with the printer’s built-in printhead. Some overseas printer ink contains trace levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which will damage the built-in printhead over time.

In addition, you are far more likely to have very poor printouts that include streaks, splotches over your work, substandard colors and much more. This is obviously unacceptable for most people as it will result in you inadvertently spending more money just trying to fix the problem.

Even worse for you, using counterfeit products can significantly reduce the life of your printer (i.e. damage to built-in printhead which is the heart of the printer). Overseas manufacturers who make counterfeit cartridges are probably unlikely to care about quality standards, so you can expect substandard quality in the design of the cartridge itself. This can cause the cartridge to not fit properly into your printer, causing leakages and electrical damage that could result in you having to buy a new printer entirely.

Be On The Lookout!

To conclude from this, it’s always worth it to pay a little extra more to get optimal print quality. You are guaranteed to get high quality prints when using genuine cartridges (either manufacturer new or remanufactured cartridges which have been refilled from a reputable source), with the added benefit of being able to return cartridges that are malfunctioning.

Below is a list of printer manufacturers and their information pages just in case you think you may have a non-genuine or counterfeit cartridge.

HP

Canon

Brother

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

—

Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France, Germany & Romania)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France &  Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

—–

For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

How many colors can your printer produce? A printer’s color palette helps determine both the quantity and quality of the final print. As printers become more advanced, the palettes are keeping pace with bright, vibrant colors.

But what is the color palette and how does it impact your prints?

Most printers have a handful of color cartridges. For example, the Epson Home Expression XP-400 has 4 ink cartridge colors: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. From those 4 colors, however, a full complement of colors can be created. Depending on how many cartridge colors your printer has (along with the technology and software that actually run the machine), it can literally produce thousands of colors.

Thus, a printer’s palette is all the colors it has to work with – sort of like an artist’s palette. However, many modern printers have a palette large enough that would grab the eyes (nope, not the ears) of Van Gogh. Very impressive stuff, indeed. By adjusting your printer’s color management (usually found in the Printer / Device settings screen), you can determine how those colors interact with each other. Typical options include Photo, Graphic, Proof, etc. The best way to determine your printer’s capability is to print a colorful photograph. Note the differences between the photo on your screen and the finished print – if there is no difference, your palette has all the necessary colors for full-color printing.

Now let’s look at color management, the process that should ensure you’re seeing the right colors through your design workflow.

1. How Can We Describe a Color?

What Is a Color Model?

So if you’re from a print background, you may already be laughing at my simplistic computer-centric red, green and blue view of the world—everyone knows colors are really made by mixing cyan, magenta, yellow and black. But both are equally valid—they’re simply different color models, methods to break down colors into their components to abstract and numerically represent a color.

I assume most designers should be familiar with RGB and CMYK color models. If you are, feel free to skip ahead to halfway through section one for the more obscure but still useful HSB and Lab color models.

What Is the RGB Color Model?

Our first example will be the RGB color model. This model, sometimes described as the additive color model, describes how colored light combines to make colors. Imagine you’re in a dark room with dimmable red, green and blue lamps, and by adjusting the brightness of each you can illuminate the room with any color you wish by mixing their light. If all the lamps are off, you get black—it’s dark! If you mix red and green equally, the room would appear yellow, and then as you turn on the blue lamp, the room will become white.

Why red, green and blue? You may remember from science lessons in school a spectrum of light, described as frequencies, ranging from reds through the colors of the rainbow into blues and purples. From a scientific point of view, light can be a mixture of any of those monochromes, light of a single frequency.

However, we have light-sensing cells called cones in the retina of our eyes to detect the amount of light in the red, green and blue areas of the spectrum. Because of this, “true” monochromatic yellow light, which lies between red and green on the spectrum, is indistinguishable from a mixture of monochromatic red and green light.

From a design point of view, since we can’t perceive the difference, it simply does not matter, and so we can abstract any color we can see as a mixture of red, green and blue.

Spectrum of monochromatic colors

Due to this fact, many devices, such as monitors, TVs, and color-changing LEDs, reproduce light with red, green and blue emitting light sources. Similarly, light-capturing devices, such as cameras or scanners, mimic the human eye with sensors of these three colors.

In the digital world, Red, Green and Blue components are often described as numbers between 0 and 255. Why 255? You can blame programmers for this—it’s due to them being stored as “8-bit” values, which can store 256 different values. You can blame them even more if you have to deal with websites andhexadecimal encoded numbers such as #FF4E3A!

The Red, Green and Blue Additive Model of color

What Is the CMYK Color Model?

So why describe colors in any other way? Well, the print world is a good example. We don’t want to describe the light emitted from our print media; we want to describe the pigment colors in the ink to put on a piece of paper to get light emitted of that color. Surely that’s just red, green and blue again? If you’ve printed or painted before, you’ll know that’s not the case.

Our primary colors in the print world are Cyan, Magenta and Yellow pigments, and by adding two of these on a white piece of paper, we get Red, Green or Blue. Adding the third, we tend to get a muddy brown, but by adding a fourth black pigment, we can mix to get most colors. This color model adds colors to get darker shades, so is sometimes referred to as the subtractive model, but more commonly as the CMYK color model. Typically you’ll see the proportion of each pigment represented digitally as a number between 0 and 100.

Subtractive mixing of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow can produce most colors, and the addition of black (right) can produce a lot more.

For a nice visual explanation of the RGB and CMYK color models, refer to video: Design in 60 Seconds: RGB and CMYK Color Modes Explained

What Is the HSB/HSV/HSL Color Model?

But there are other color models out there. If you fire up the color picker in Adobe Photoshop CC, or head across to colorizer.org, you’ll also see the HSB color model.

This model represents color as a combination of Hue, Saturation and Brightness, matching how many people tend to think of colors.

Saturation dictates how vivid the resulting color is: a 100% saturated color would be vivid and bold, 50% saturated color a more subtle pastel, and an unsaturated color would be a greyscale.

Brightness (sometimes instead called Value and hence the HSV color model instead) can be thought of as the amount of black in the color, 0% lightness being fully black, 100% being either white or a color depending on our saturation.

Finally, Hue dictates which monochrome color we’re talking about, meaning color as we’d mean it in a rainbow: red, yellow, green, purple, etc. Hue is described as a number between 0 and 360, essentially an angle around a color wheel.

Whilst it has its place, I’ve always found it unsettling that if saturation is 0%, hue can be any value and still mean the same color (a greyscale), and worse, if Brightness is 0%, neither Hue nor Saturation matter a bit, with any values all meaning black.

The related HSL color model shares a definition for Hue, but adds the concept of Lightness, having white and black at its extents, with vivid colors in the middle, and a subtly different but broadly similar saturation.

HSB and HSV color models

What Is the Lab Color Model?

The final color model offered by Photoshop’s color picker is the Lab color model, which is a bit less intuitive but more closely approximates how the human visual system works.

“But wait”, I hear you cry, “You just told us human eyes sense red, green and blue!” That is true, it’s called the Trichromatic model of vision, and whilst it does describe how the individual cones in the eye work, it doesn’t accurately describe the visual system as a whole.

It turns out that system is better described by the Opponent model of vision, which suggests the visual system is connected to detect differences between cones rather than the actual values they sense. The system looks at differences in Greenness vs. Redness, Blueness vs. Yellowness and Light vs. Dark.

Mimicking this Lab’s a & b dimension describes color-opponency, the a dimension describing red/green, and the b dimension describing blue/yellow. The third dimension, L for Lightness, is similar to HSL’s definition, but with two main differences. Whereas the other models are based on intensity of light, Lab is instead based on human perception of this intensity. The result of this is that a doubling of lightness actually appears to be a doubling; the same can’t be said for the earlier systems.

Separating the human perception of lightness from color leaves the a & b dimensions as measures of chromaticity, brightness independent of color. This is important, as some colors appear brighter or darker, despite being at the same intensity. For instance, we see a fully saturated yellow as a lot brighter than a fully saturated blue. All of these changes result in a perceptually uniform color model.

Regarding ranges, L is measured from 0 (dark) to 100 (light), a from -120 (red) to +120 (green), and b from +120 (yellow) to -120 (blue).

The Lab color model

As this can be hard to grasp from text, refer to video link: Design in 60 Seconds: How to Use Lab Color Mode

Bringing perception into things certainly helps human vision researchers, but does it help designers?

Well, it’s the perceptual uniformity that’s really a boon. For instance, the brightness independence of the chromaticity dimensions can certainly be useful. You can, for instance, tweak the curves in these dimensions to add a bit more blueness without changing the perceived brightness of an image.

Are There Other Color Models?

Can we break down color in other ways? Certainly! Keeping Lab’s perceptually independent description of Lightness, what if we broke the chromaticity into Hue and Saturation like HSV? We’d have the Munsell system, although it calls saturation “Chroma” and Lightness “Value” and tends to be used for soil research, rather than design!

colorizer.org is a fantastic way to understand these systems, offering sliders for all the different dimensions of the different systems. You’ll see some more color models such as YPbPr and XYZ. These again are more specialist models, less useful to the designer, but handy for video codec developers to squeeze a bit more content into our bandwidth.

Moving away from the digital, systems such as Pantone could be described as color systems, being a standardized way to abstract colors, allowing two remote designers with the same swatch to know they’re thinking of the same Cerulean or Hot Pink!

If we move away from human eyes, looking at animal perception of color, infrared cameras or even satellite data, suddenly we have sensitivities at frequencies other than red, green and blue. We then move into the area of false color images to make unseeable colors understandable.

False color imagery NASA

2. How Can We Accurately Describe a Color?

Coming back to day-to-day design, it is when we move between these color models that why I was wrong becomes most evident. Perhaps you’ve gone through the pain of perfecting a piece of media to exactly the right shades of color you want, only to print it and find all the colors reproduced subtly differently.

If a document calls for 100% Red or 100% Cyan, what is that a proportion of? Given no other clue, it will be 100% of what a device can give, a fully bright red pixel or a full covering of Cyan ink. There are two main issues with this: the capabilities of devices differ, so fully red will appear different between monitors, and secondly, how do we move between color models whilst accurately representing colors?

To do this properly, we require Color Management. I’ll describe this fully in section 3, but first we need to understand color spaces, color models’ more precise sibling.

How Ink Is Made

What Is a Color Space?

Color spaces precisely specify a mapping from the description of a color to how it should be reproduced. These color spaces specify exactly how the components’ colors should be represented, precisely how a mixture of these primaries should appear, and at what real-world brightness any given value should shine from a screen.

The notion of a color space works for any color model. Pantone, which I mentioned earlier, is actually better described as a Color Space as it describes precise colors. There are common color spaces for RGB and CYMK, but first we’ll look at Lab to learn a few more concepts.

CIE Lab and XYZ Color Spaces

Exactly what the L, a & b dimensions of a Lab color model measure depends on which Lab color space they are referring to. The initial Lab color space came from Richard S. Hunter in 1948, but the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) gradually improved the exact definitions for the Lab values for better approximation of human perception in the CIE 1976, CIE 1994 and CIE 2000 color space definitions.Technically, the CIE dimensions should be referred to as L*, a* and b* as they are defined differently to the Hunter 1948 dimensions, but I’ve followed Photoshop’s Lab usage.

Each of these systems is based on and defined in XYZ values from the earlier CIE1931 XYZ color space. Unless you’re interested in the human visual system, the details of these are immaterial, except for the fact that X & Y are measures of chromaticity again, and we can ignore lightness to map all the colors on an XY scale of chromaticity; we term this a chromaticity diagram. In the chromaticity diagram shown below, the arching curve shape is the range of colors human vision can see (chromaticities, really, as we have no lightness). Where this diagram really comes in useful is for comparing the ranges of different color spaces.

Chromaticity Diagram showing range of Human Vision within CIE 1931 xy color space

What Is a Color Gamut?

The range of a color space is described as its gamut. You may find color space and color gamut used somewhat interchangeably, but the best way to understand the difference is to look back at the CIE 1931 Chromaticity diagram above. The colored area is the color space of human vision, and the thick line noting the extents is the color gamut of human vision.

sRGB Color Space

Color gamuts are useful when we come to describe color spaces. Let’s take a look at sRGB to demonstrate this. If you’re feeling brave, you can take a look at the sRGB color space specification. The sRGB color space can be thought of as a default color space for the RGB model. Almost all capture and display devices working in the RGB color model support sRGB as a minimum.

Take a look at the Chromaticity diagram below—the triangle shows the gamut of sRGB in comparison to Human Vision (CIE1931). As you can see, a lot of the areas inside the gamut of Human Vision are outside the gamut of the sRGB color space. Essentially, these are colors that we can see but that cannot be represented within the sRGB color space, and such colors are referred to as Out of Gamut for the sRGB color space. The fact that so much of human vision is outside the sRGB color space explains why it is a minimum, and tends to be considered a narrow gamut color space.

Chromaticity Diagram showing sRGB color space compared to Human Vision (CIE 1931)

Have you spotted the artistic licence I’ve taken with the chromaticity diagrams? If your monitor is only displaying sRGB, why aren’t all the colors in the sRGB triangle? And how can you see colors outside it?

In reality, the colors along the arching edge of the diagram are the pure monochromatic colors; the three corners of the sRGB triangle will be the best green, blue and red a monitor can reproduce. I’ve just stretched the range of colors over the range of human vision to better illustrator the range.

Adobe & ProPhoto RGB Color Spaces

What if we want a color outside the sRGB color space but still in the RGB model? We need a wider gamut RGB color space.

There are many, but we’ll look at two major ones. Firstly there’s the Adobe RGB color space, introduced in 1998, which, as you can see below, allows a better representation of greens over sRGB.

Secondly, Kodak’s ProPhoto RGB, otherwise known as ROMM RGB, offers a vast color space. In fact there are spaces inside the ProPhoto RGB color gamut that are out of gamut for CIE 1931, suggesting that deeply saturated blues and greens in this color space represent colors the human eye can’t actually see!

ICC Profiles

Okay, so which RGB color space does my camera/monitor/scanner use? Likely none of them! Whilst they may be close to a standard color space, each model of a device will have its own color space.

Due to this fact, the International Color Consortium came up with the ICC profile, a way of defining and sharing device-specific color spaces. Such a space may be available from the manufacturer, or you can generate it yourself as described in section 3.

CMYK Color Spaces

Moving away from the RGB color model, we’ll look at CMYK color spaces. This is a lot more complex due to requiring information not just about the inks, but also the paper and other details of printing. Take a look at this guide to see the range of profiles available. We’ll just take the American Web Coated SWOP color space.

The irregular hexagonal space is the gamut for SWOP, and I’ve also thrown in the triangular gamut of sRGB again so we can compare them. We’ve got some out of gamut colors for each color space in relation to the other, so the implication is we can’t trivially move between CMYK and RGB—we need Color Management.

3. What Is Color Management?

So know you (hopefully) understand color spaces, but how do you actually use them? By using a color managed workflow.

Color Management is a chain of systems to manage color through the workflow of a piece of media. It includes:

• the management of color spaces in media files
• the conversion between color spaces
• the characterization and calibration of devices to accurately display (or capture) in a color space

Characterization/Calibration of Devices

So the first step will be ensuring we are seeing color properly on our device. As we’ve already touched on, devices will have their own color space, referred to as an ICC profile. This profile may be available from the manufacturer, but to be really accurate it’s best to generate it yourself, as devices can differ due to manufacturing tolerances and environmental conditions.

Characterisation is the process of measuring a device’s capabilities. It is achieved by Colorimetry, measuring the appearance of colors as perceived by people, with a Colorimeter.

A step further is to take this characterization and tweak the device’s reproduction for a more true representation of color; this is termed Calibration. Typically, display colorimeters will come with software to calibrate a display, and then do a final characterization to generate an ICC profile.

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location or if you have any questions about your particular printer’s color palette, please choose from the links below.

————

Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

—

Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Auchan, E.LeClerc, Cora & Intermarche France

Saturn Germany 

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

* DYE or PIGMENT COLORANT

* ADDITIVES

Ink is a primary tool used to convey a message and give decoration to a substrate.  For this to occur an ink must have specific properties if it is to perform properly.  It is of no value if it will not transfer to the substrate or adhere in a proper manor.  Ink makers must cater for a wide variety of requirements and retain the ability to be flexible in what they manufacture.  The contents of any ink are dependent on the conditions under which the products are to be printed and the end use requirements of the printed piece.  At its basic definition ink is a combination of components mixed together to form a fluid capable of printing from a printing device.

DYE COLORANT

Dyes are the coloring material that color commodities of our day to day use. Hardly there is any industry where dyes are not used commercially. From plastic toys for children to that jazzy t-shirt of yours, every where there is application of dyes.

Dye colorants are easily produced and is used in approximately half of the consumer inkjet printers in the world today. Dyes can be said to be colored, ionizing and aromatic organic compounds which shows an affinity towards the substrate to which it is being applied. It is generally applied in a solution that is aqueous. Dyes may also require a mordant to better the fastness of the dye on the material on which it is applied.

Dyes are the largest group that can easily be manipulate to our liking. Dyes are applied to numerous substrates, for example to textiles, leather, plastic, paper etc. in liquid form. One characteristic of dye is that the dyes must get completely or at least partially soluble in which it is being put to. The rule that we apply to other chemicals is similarly applicable to dyes also.

There are several ways for classification of dyes. It should be noted that each class of dye has a very unique chemistry, structure and particular way of bonding. While some dyes can react chemically with the substrates forming strong bonds in the process, others can be held by physical forces. Some of the prominent ways of classification is given hereunder.

• Organic/Inorganic
• Natural/Synthetic
• By area and method of application
• Chemical classification- Based on the nature of their respective chromophores.

By nature of the Electronic Excitation (i.e, energy transfer colorants, absorption colorants and fluorescent colorants).

According to the dyeing methods

• Anionic (for Protein fiber)
• Direct (Cellulose)
• Disperse (Polyamide fibers)

However the most popular classification is the one that is advocated by the US International Trade Commission (classifies dyes into 12 types).

PIGMENT COLORANT

Pigments are generally colored, organic or inorganic solid powder, and usually are insoluble. They are not affected physically or chemically in the substrate in which they are incorporated. Pigments can give a full range of colors. Pigments have a variety of applications that includes plastics, ink, and coating applications.

Pigment colorants are more difficult to produce and are used in the other half of the consumer inkjet printers, along with most business inkjet printers and select large format, page-wide and wide-format inkjet printing devices.  Pigment inks provide archivability (i.e. image longevity or lightfastness) which helps prevent prints from fading prematurely due to higher levels of light exposure. It is common for most black inks to have pigment properties as this provide higher dot gain and allows customers to more easily read black printed text on paper (due to higher dot gain).  Pigment is also the major cost in an ink far exceeding all other components.

The pigments are versatile coloring agents that comes with all round features to give credence to its suitability in a variety of mediums. Some of the striking features are given here:

• Excellent light and weather fastness
• A good baking stability that makes them suitable for automotive and other industrial paints
• High tinting strength
• Good over spray fastness when applied in paints
• Gives heat stability of around 300° C in the case of Polyolefins Plastics
• Excellent solvent resistance properties
• Easily dispersible
• Consistency and uniqueness of shades

Pigments give color to a substrate by either remaining on the surface or having a tendency to fill in voids on the substrate.  An example would be a coated sheet versus an uncoated sheet where the ink will remain on the surface of the coated sheet and fill the voids of an uncoated sheet.   Colorant/Pigment is provided to the ink manufacturer in two forms, a dry powder, or in a paste form where the pigment has been wetted with another agent.   Most are synthetic materials produced from petroleum chemicals, which are inorganic, while others are organic and formed by nature in mineral or vegetable form.

ADDITIVES

A major component of ink are additives.  Additives are very specialized components that give ink special properties that dye or pigment will not do by themselves.  The addition of additives is what really specializes an ink all to its own. There are many types of additives that an ink manufacturer has at its disposal.  Many of them are used in such small percentages, on a per batch bases, that it would surprise you.  Example, typically only 2% to 3%, by weight, of drying agents are mixed into a batch of ink.

One group of additives is oils and solvents.  This group is used for flow and lubrication properties and can also influence drying characteristics – these are common in high end commercial printing devices used for outdoor applications (i.e. banners and signs printed using solvent-based inks which can withstand the elements of a fierce winter storm).  Various types of oils are linseed oil, which is obtained from the seeds of flax and tung oil, also known as china wood oil, is obtained from the seed of a nut. Mineral oils, or solvents, are petroleum-based products.  In the last couple of years there has been a practice of using less mineral oils/solvents due to EPA and Government regulations concerning V.O.C.’s (volatile organic compounds).  Many manufacturers have found substitutes to replace petroleum-based products with those that are obtained from plant matter such as tung and linseed.

We also use special waxes to impart mar-resistance, improve slip, rub and scuff properties of ink.  Most waxes are used for hard dry applications to give ink toughness and durability.  Waxes can be used in two forms, a dry form that is very small in particle size or in a wet form where the wax has already been dispersed into a varnish.

A very important component of ink is its drying mechanism.  Driers are used as a catalyst to promote oxidation.  In the presence of driers, oxidation proceeds rapidly and the ink films dry hard in shorter periods of time.  Cobalt and manganese are the two most common.  Driers come in two forms, as a liquid drier or a paste drier.

Some other special additives are antioxidants, which gives an ink a stay fresh property, or a non-skinning characteristic. Soy or vegetable compounds are used to replace petroleum products as an environmental concern. We also use agents so ink will “bite” in certain types of substrates, usually a hard surface or synthetic substrate. Ph buffers are used to give balance and control between ink and fountain solution. Combinations of these components is what gives ink all of its properties and characteristics, which is basically to turn a liquid to a solid.

 * VISUAL

* GIVEN PROCESS

* DRY

* ADHERE

* RESISTANCE

AN INK IS TO GIVE VISUAL CHARACTER

We can formulate ink, in varying degrees, with the use of the before mentioned components.

As a basic rule ink is formulated to give 5 characteristics in order to perform.  First, ink is to give visual character to a printed surface.  Visual character can be broken down into three properties:

1. Hue – indicates what color the ink is.
2. Strength – is a measure of the color’s intensity or saturation.
3. Purity – indicates how bright or dark a color is.

Types of pigments, varnishes, oils and solvents all can alter the inks hue, strength and purity.

Ink vehicle (i.e. cohesion medium) can also affect ink.  It must be capable of keeping the pigment dispersed or you may have loss of strength or a vehicle that penetrates the substrate too much will lower strength.

PRINT BY A GIVEN PROCESS

From a high-level industry vantage point the formulation of ink is greatly determined by the method of printing being used.  Various types of printing, such as inkjet, solvent, flexography, gravure, screen, UV, sheet fed or web inks all influence how the ink will be manufactured.  Each process is most significant to the formulation of the ink.

COMMERCIAL PRINTING – DRY UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

* ABSORPTION

* OXIDATION

* EVAPORATION

* RADIATION

In commercial printing applications, inks are designed to dry by various means.  The drying mechanism is dictated by the printing process being used and by the substrate being printed.  Absorption is when ink penetrates the fibers of a substrate and is absorbed into the substrate.  The degree of penetration determines the ‘dry’ ability of ink.  Oxidation is when the oxygen in the atmosphere chemically combines with the varnish system converting it from a liquid to a solid. A catalyst is used, a drier, to promote the oxidation of the drying oils.  Oxidation rapidly proceeds and ink films dry hard in shorter periods of time.  Evaporation is when a solvent is physically removed from the ink leaving it to bind to the substrate.  Heat set web is the best example of evaporation.  Radiation cure is with the use of ultraviolet, or UV, drying.  Special UV inks must be used for this type of drying.  In most cases the printing press has some form of heat to speed the drying and setting process of the inks.  Examples are IR driers, hot air knives and other forms of mechanical heat generated at or near the delivery of the press.

It is the ink manufacturers task to produce a carefully balanced formulation to ensure a high quality product…this is particularly important for high-speed printing presses, and still maintain the drying process at a satisfactory rate. There is a very thin line with the additions of driers.  Not enough drier will naturally slow down the setting process, but too much drier will have the press operator pulling rollers from his/her press.  Also when adding driers, too high of a percentage of drier will actually de-activate itself and never fully cure.

ADHERE TO A GIVEN MATERIAL

Ink is to adhere and bind the color to the substrate and keep it there.  Pigments have little or no effect concerning adhesion.  For wide-format (LF – large format) printers which leverage solvent or eco-solvent inks, the adhesive nature of ink comes from the addition of solvent-based additives, ranging from 2% to as high as 15% of total ink volume. These types of printing systems can print on uncoated materials such as low cost rolls of vinyl and the ink will ‘stick’.

For some very high-end digital printing systems, the addition of varnish is needed. Choice of varnish for specific substrates is very important.  Naturally you will need different varnishes for synthetic substrates as compared to a regular coated or uncoated substrate.  Adhesion to various substrates uncoated, coated, matte, vinyl, acetate, foil or other synthetic substrates must be taken into account when formulating ink.

HAVE SPECIAL RESISTANCE PROPERTIES

Inks must be able to resist certain types of chemical or physical attack.  First, the ink must withstand the manufacturing process used to make it, the grinding and rolling on an ink mill, the shear of an ink mixer and the heat generated in the process.  They must be able to withstand the rigors of the printing process itself.  Conditions of high shear and heat generated on press as well as the addition of fountain solutions and alcohol.

Once printed, ink must be able to withstand finishing processes as cutting, folding, gluing, foil stamping, die cutting, coating or any bindery work.  It also must withstand the severity of transportation.  As a finished product it must withstand the rigors of the end use. Package for a product, a book, a pocket folder, a calendar etc.  Since you are converting a liquid to a solid it must be able to bind, adhere, have rub and scuff resistance, heat resistance and elasticity to withstand all of these situations.

Ink Safety

Water-Based Dye and Pigmented Inks (including Latex) are inherently the safest of all the inks available today. For more information refer to Sign & Digital Graphics article.

Bottom line, while not all inks are ‘mountain grown’ like some coffees claim, manufacturing inks is a complicated process depending on the print purpose or type of application.

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Refilled Ink Cartridges

Refilled cartridges will typically provide every spectrum of the printer’s color rainbow & are essentially on-par with original manufacturer’s ink quality and performance. Our refilled inks are fully compatible with HP, Canon, Epson & Brother printers.  With a streamlined operator-assisted ink refill process, we provide OEM quality at bargain-basement costs. To find an ink cartridge refill store location please choose from the links below.

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Auchan, E.LeClerc, Cora & Intermarche France

Saturn Germany 

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

Does it seem like every time you’re in a hurry your printer malfunctions? Even a high-quality machine is bound to have an issue once in a while, and cheaper printers are often more susceptible to breaking down. Here’s a quick guide to fixing common printing problems—hopefully before you need prints or copies for your next project.

1. Mobile Printing

Everyone has a mobile device in their hands nowadays it seems, which can be a great bonus for companies. But the productivity gains of mobile devices come to a grinding halt when you’re unable to print from your phone or tablet. It’s crucial to find a mobile printing solution that works for your printer or home office. Depending the phone you have, it may be as simple as downloading the correct app.  Do a quick Google search, find the right app for your device, and print away (first ensure the printer has been added to the home or office WiFi network).

2. Paper Jams

The sickening crunch and tear of paper coming from your printer is never good to hear. Paper jams are easy to clear: simply open your printer, locate the jam, and remove the paper very slowly. Never jerk or tear the paper. Paper jams are easy to prevent. Keep your printer’s mechanisms clean and clear of debris, and make sure the paper you use is the correct weight and free from fold and static electricity. Also, low relative humidity can curl most plain papers over time; check the paper tray to ensure paper is flat.

3. “Low Ink” Warning

Sometimes, your printer will warn you of low ink before it’s actually empty. Use this warning as a reminder to obtain more ink (either new or refilled ink cartridges), and then wait to replace it until you’re seeing faded or sub-par printing results. This will save you money down the road.

Hopefully, these fixes will keep you on time to your next meeting. For additional printer usage and ink savings tips, click here.

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Sam’s Club USA 

Fry’s Electronics USA

Auchan, E.LeClerc, Cora & Intermarche France

Saturn Germany 

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

How to Refill Cartridges:

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For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

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Purchase Refilled Cartridges On-Line

If none of our retail ink refill centers are convenient for you and you would like to try a refilled/remanufactured ink cartridge from our on-line web site, INKPLICITY, our ink cartridges have a high reliability rating, come with a 1-year warranty and provide free shipping for all orders above $30 (available to USA residents only).  These ink cartridges also provide ink level monitoring as the rear flex cable with embedded acumen chip is replaced with a new one. BONUS – you can save an extra 15% by entering code ‘SAVE15’ into the coupon/code field during cart checkout: https://www.inkplicity.com/

Select HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 901, 932/933, 950/951 and 952 refilled/remanufactured ink cartridges (made in the USA!) are also available directly via Amazon:

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On-site Inkjet Refilling delivers a reliable, eco-friendly solution to retail environments.

Over the last century, plastic has taken over the planet. Worldwide waterways are already polluted with floating plastic islands, which are harmful to marine life. Given the multitude of problems associated with single-use plastic, communities around the world have been actively taking action.

Reduction of single-use plastic is a growing topic and more regulations are coming. In the United States, 133 citywide anti-plastic bag regulations have been passed. On Dec. 26, 2015, President Obama signed into law a ban on plastic microbeads found in all cosmetics designed to wash down the drain. Synthetic plastic microbeads are eventually consumed by fish and then passed onto humans.

Our patented InkCenter™ machines and refilling services reuse plastic cartridges without voiding warranty.

The InkCenter™ is an eco-friendly solution enabling on-site refilling of customer cartridges. Over 27 million ink cartridges have been refilled multiple times and avoided early burials in landfills, where each plastic unit takes 450+ years to decompose. Individual ink cartridges can typically be refilled 10-15 times on average.

The benefits of our InkCenter™ service include significant customer savings and high quality like-new printouts. Additionally, our refilled cartridges last as long, and often longer than originals, as verified via independent quality study. The InkCenter™ contains 27 unique ink color formulations, which are compatible across the leading printer manufacturers and supports more than 300 cartridge types.

Save money. Protect the planet.

People want to save money, convenience and given the choice – most people want to do the right thing by going green. Just like remembering to bring bags to the grocery store, or buying long-life light bulbs, or a fuel-efficient car, people can make a choice about refilling their printer ink cartridges instead of throwing them away and buying a big brand high-priced replacement. Smarter choices will reduce the environmental carbon footprint.

Save money. Save resources. Protect the planet. We’re all in this together.

Company Description

Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc. (RIS) is the industry leader in Retail On-Site Inkjet Cartridge refilling services.  The RIS patented InkCenter™ machine is deployed in more than 650 retail locations.  We provide customers with unmatched quality while delivering savings of up to 70% when compared to a new cartridge purchase.  Our InkCenter™ machines integrate seamlessly into retail environments, delivering a great customer experience.  Founded in 2004 by former HP Engineers motivated to create a better solution for customers, RIS is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.  For more information, visit www.Go2RIS.com.

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Sam’s Club USA 

Fry’s Electronics USA

Auchan, E.LeClerc, Cora & Intermarche France

Saturn Germany 

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

How to Refill Cartridges:

—–

For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

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Purchase Refilled Cartridges On-Line

If none of our retail ink refill centers are convenient for you and you would like to try a refilled/remanufactured ink cartridge from our on-line web site, INKPLICITY, our ink cartridges have a high reliability rating, come with a 1-year warranty and provide free shipping for all orders above $30 (available to USA residents only).  These ink cartridges also provide ink level monitoring as the rear flex cable with embedded acumen chip is replaced with a new one. BONUS – you can save an extra 15% by entering code ‘SAVE15’ into the coupon/code field during cart checkout: https://www.inkplicity.com/

Select HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 901, 932/933, 950/951 and 952 refilled/remanufactured ink cartridges (made in the USA!) are also available directly via Amazon:

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The 4 R’s

Environmental responsibility and sustainability is everyone’s responsibility, think “Reduce, Reuse, Refill, Recycle”. By refilling commonly used household products, like ink cartridges, you’ll help support the environment by reducing manufacturing-related CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Take the next step, think refill, not Landfill. Join the refill evolution.

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Find an Ink Cartridge Refill Store Near You (USA, Canada, France & Germany)

Premium ink refilling services are provided by major retailers in the USA, Canada, France & Germany.  To find the nearest refill store and ink pricing, refer to links below:

Sam’s Club USA 

Fry’s Electronics USA

Auchan, E.LeClerc, Cora & Intermarche France

Saturn Germany 

Worldwide Ink Refill Store Locator

Retail Inkjet Solutions (Ink Refill Equipment Provider)

How to Refill Cartridges:

—–

For questions regarding refilled cartridge usage, printer questions/problems, new cartridge support offerings or ink refill locations please Contact Us. 

Contact Us

—

Purchase Refilled Cartridges On-Line

If none of our retail ink refill centers are convenient for you and you would like to try a refilled/remanufactured ink cartridge from our on-line web site, INKPLICITY, our ink cartridges have a high reliability rating, come with a 1-year warranty and provide free shipping for all orders above $30 (available to USA residents only).  These ink cartridges also provide ink level monitoring as the rear flex cable with embedded acumen chip is replaced with a new one. BONUS – you can save an extra 15% by entering code ‘SAVE15’ into the coupon/code field during cart checkout: https://www.inkplicity.com/

Select HP 60, 61, 62, 63, 901, 932/933, 950/951 and 952 refilled/remanufactured ink cartridges (made in the USA!) are also available directly via Amazon:

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