Whether you’re printing at home or at the office, there will come a day when your printer runs out of ink or toner (depending on which type of printer you have). But how do you find replacement cartridges? Which brands will work with your printer? What is printer toner? Do laser printers use ink? And how do you tell the difference between ink and toner?
If it’s time to get new ink or toner for your printeryou’ve come to the right place. This guide will go over how to choose the correct ink or toner for your printer.
Most Common Printer Types
The first thing you need to know before shopping for ink or toner is what type of printer you have. The type of printer will determine the ink or toner cartridge you need. Printers come in two major categories: inkjetand laser printers.
Inkjet printers use small nozzles to spray microscopic ink droplets onto paper. These printers are more common in homes or small offices, although any place that prints graphic-heavy material may use them, as well. These types of printers are great for printing high-resolution photos and images but work just as well for text documents. Inkjet printers also tend to be smaller and less expensive than laser printers.
Laser printers print using toner powder instead of ink. The lasers in these printers produce electrostatically charged spots on a drum. These spots attract the toner powder, which is then transferred to the paper and fixed in place with heat. This method allows laser printers to deliver crisp text and color prints.
Laser printers are typically larger than inkjet printers and are capable of printing at much faster speeds. This is why they’re often found in larger businesses or offices that have high print volumes. Although laser printers are often more expensive — both in terms of the printer itself and the toner powder replacement cartridges — they can end up being more economical due to the large print volume you can get out of each cartridge.
The Difference Between Ink and Toner
You might have guessed from the previous section that toner works great for high-volume printing and ink is better for lower-volume printing or situations in which photo-like print quality is called for. Whether you purchase ink or toner when your printer is in need, however, ultimately depends on whether you have a laser printer or an inkjet printer.
The ink in inkjet printers usually consists of a varnish containing linseed, soybean oil, or petroleum distillate. This is combined with pigments to get each of the basic colors. Black ink is often a combination of carbon black (a pigment similar to soot) and varnish, while colored inks may contain salts, nitrogen compounds, or dyes. Exact recipes vary by company.
Unlike ink, which comes in liquid form, toner comes as a powder. This powder is essentially finely ground plastic particles with other additives that help in the printing process — such as ground iron, chromium, or zinc, which helps maintain the charge on the particles — and pigments like yellow 180 or red 122.
How to Know If You Need Toner or Ink
Inkjet printers need ink while laser printers need toner, but how do you tell which type of printer you have? There are a few ways you can check:
On your computer, open up your printer dialogue box. Under “Properties,” you should be able to find a “Maintenance” or “Options” tab. If you find any options that say “Nozzle Check,” “Print Head Cleaning,” or “Print Head Alignment,” your printer is an inkjet printer.
You can also open up your printer and look at the cartridges it contains. If you find small, inexpensive-looking cartridges with yellow, blue, red, and black circles, your printer is an inkjet printer. If, instead, you see one single long cartridge, you have a laser printer.
Most printers will have a label on them somewhere indicating their name and model. This label may specifically state that the printer is inkjet or laser. If not, you can look the model number up online to find out.
How to Choose a Printer Ink Cartridge
If you’ve determined that you’re shopping for ink and not toner, you then need to determine the right cartridge size for your printer. Each ink cartridgetypically has a number printed on it somewhere. You can remove the cartridge to find this number.
Alternatively, you can look for the printer cartridgenumber or cartridge type in your printer’s manual. If you no longer have your printer’s manual, you might be able to find this information online by doing a search for your printer’s model number, which is often found on the printer itself. This information is important because not all printers take all ink cartridge types.
There are typically two options when purchasing replacement cartridges. You may purchase replacement cartridges from the printer manufacturer or from a company that manufactures compatible cartridges. These cartridges may be available at different price points than the manufacturer’s prices, so it’s a good idea to shop all options for your printing needs.
Once you’ve identified the type of cartridge that’s compatible with your printer, depending on the type, you may also have the option of choosing between standard or high-yield cartridges (sometimes called XL or even XXL cartridges). Standard cartridges contain a standard amount of ink, while higher-yield cartridges are designed to take up the same amount of space in your printer while supplying more ink. Not all cartridge types have these options, but many do.
Is It Worth Buying XL Ink Cartridges?
Often, the answer is yes. While XL ink cartridges cost more than standard cartridges, the fact that they contain more ink means they are designed to print more pages before needing replacements. The advantage is that the cost per printed page using XL cartridges is typically lower than the cost per printed page using standard cartridges.
Does Printer Ink Dry Out? How Long Does Printer Ink Last?
Printer ink does have a finite shelf life. Because of this, sometimes buying the XL or XXL cartridges isn’t always a great idea. Typical shelf life usually ranges between one and two years. If you don’t print frequently, it’s possible for your printer ink to expire before it’s used up. Check the printing yield and expiration date of any ink you’re considering purchasing.
How to Choose a Printer Toner Cartridge
