Why Some Printer Models Use More Than One Color Ink Cartridge

2010-04-23

There are more printer cartridge types than there are printer models, and it can all seem confusing to many computer owners. For instance, why do some printers use a single color ink cartridge, while others use several different inks for magenta, yellow, and cyan (or even more colors)? It seems like a bad deal, as you will need to buy three colors rather than a single, easy-to-use cartridge. However, in many cases, these three-color printers are less expensive in the long run than their single-cartridge cousins.

First of all, it is important to know that all printer companies make the majority of their money through ink sales, not through printer sales. As such, they do not really have a strong incentive to keep printer ink life high--although if their printers go through a cartridge in a matter of days, they would lose a lot of business to competitors. Single color printer ink cartridges were introduced as a way to make printers simpler, and also as a sort of way to force consumers to buy new cartridges when one color runs out. Many consumers believe these printer cartridge types to be less of a hassle, but in the long run they can be quite costly unless a computer user decides to buy refill kits or use other methods to extend printer ink life.

As for printer ink quality, three-color printers often have less blotches, hard-to-read pages, and other issues than dual cartridge printers. This is because damaged color cartridges can be easily switched out, or their use can be avoided entirely. They are also usually capable of higher quality prints than many simpler printers with a single color ink cartridge. Printer ink quality can be difficult to gauge, as manufacturers use different metrics to judge quality, but overall, printer ink life tends to be better for three ink cartridge printers and they're generally easier to upkeep.

If you prefer single color cartridge printers, try using refill kits or remanufactured cartridges to keep printer ink quality high and to save a bit of money. Three color printers are often a better choice, particularly for offices, but there's nothing wrong with using a single cartridge if that's what you're used to. Change your printing habits to avoid unnecessary page prints and to avoid using color when it is not necessary. For instance, if you are printing off several pages from a web browser, use grayscale and draft settings to keep your cartridges going for as long as possible. By keeping your printing habits thrifty and looking for cheaper ink online, you can always keep your costs down, regardless of the printer cartridge types that you use.