Types of Printer Inks Explained

Every printer cartridge uses a different type of ink. Inkjet printers and laser printers vary, as liquid ink is used by one, and toner powder by the other. Knowing the advantages and inconveniences of what your printer uses for printing will help you determine which printer is best for you. Let’s take a look at the different types of printer inks available.

Toner Printers

While laser printers are widely used in offices due to its high speed and cost efficiency, it is also a popular device in many households. It is true, especially when large volumes of monochrome prints are required. You can expect it to print twice as fast to its counterparts, and for half the cost.

Laser printers use toner, which is a fine powder, composed of various particles. Laser printers tend to deliver cleaner results, mostly because no wet ink is used during the printing process. Toner cartridges are ideal for smaller font prints, and medium quality photos. Large printing may not suitable for this, as it tends to create a noticeable banding.

Toner Printers

Inkjet Printers

Due to its size and low cost, these printers tend to be an ideal solution for printing services required at home. It’s also a go-to option for printing high quality images. There are two main types, which are discussed below.

Dye-Based

This type of ink is usually made from a hue that is mixed in the liquid, either using water or glycol. Most printers use this dye-based ink, as its relatively cheaper. They also produce sharp texts, and rich and vibrant color for your images. They are however, not waterproof, and fade in a few years.

Pigment Ink

Ideal for professional printing, pigmented ink helps in creating long-lasting photo quality. It comes in a wide variety, as opposed to the standard ink sets, mostly because they can be used on a variety of papers. They are more versatile, and offer improved color depth, sharpness and tone. It is created by using various ink and paper combinations. A high-end printer will usually feature a combination of matte and glossy, to achieve best results for both mediums.

Pigment Ink

In Conclusion

By the end of the day, the ink that you decide to choose for effective results, will mostly depend on the objective behind choosing it. Once you’ve chosen the ideal printer and ink for your requirements, the key to achieving results is to get the right choice of paper. A little bit of research goes a long way, when it comes to achieving results and saving money in the long run.

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