How Printer Ink Composition Differs By Brand And What Makes Each Type Unique

2010-05-06

Similar to the fact that there are a wide variety of printers available, there are also a large number of different printer inks currently being used in offices and homes worldwide. There is presently no standard for ink as the manufacturers usually create their own versions. This means that aspects such as printer ink composition will differ depending on which company you purchase your cartridges from. You will be forced to use one particular type of ink within a printer because the differing compositions and properties mean that you cannot mix and match them. This is simply to keep you purchasing products from the one company. Once you decide on a certain model of printer, you will be required to buy a particular ink from then on. Deciding on which ink will suit you best before you purchase a printer and will ensure that you do not get locked in to the wrong type.

You can purchase two main types of printer ink cartridge these days, dye- and pigment-based. Dye based inks can create bright, detailed printouts. They can also be stored for a long time. This leads to their one main drawback; they are slow at penetrating paper and require a few seconds before drying. On the other hand, pigment-based inks dry quickly, are resistant to fading and are waterproof. They are also less prone to blurring. For these reasons, most printer companies choose to use pigment-based inks. Just have a look at the Vivera inks from HP or the Durabrite inks from Epson. Both are pigment-based, yet both have different printer ink compositions. One main drawback of these types of ink is that the quick drying time on paper also extends to when the ink is in the cartridge itself. Therefore, these cartridges cannot sit long without being used.

Because there are so many varieties of different printer ink, it is difficult to list all of their properties here. For simplicity, let us look at Vivera and Durabrite ink as mentioned above. HP has developed their Vivera ink for superior photo printing. This ink can create long-lasting, vivid printouts perfect for digital holiday snaps or colorful advertising material. Compare this to Epson's Durabrite which has been developed for high-volume needs. The ink has been formulated to resist being damaged by external agents and each printer ink cartridge produced has a very high capacity. These are simply two ends of the spectrum and each company will have its own version of ink with its own unique properties and benefits. Make sure that you ask about the advantages and disadvantages of any particular printer and ink before you make a purchase as you will be stuck with them.