{"id":1185,"date":"2021-08-19T03:42:18","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T03:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inkstation.com.au\/blog\/?p=1185"},"modified":"2024-04-26T13:55:54","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T03:55:54","slug":"printer-ink-101-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inkstation.com.au\/blog\/printer-ink-101-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Printer Ink 101: Everything You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

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While many of us use printers in our everyday life, printer ink remains a bit of a mysterious thing. As such, there are many different questions and queries that you might have surrounding the subject.<\/p>\n

Have you ever wondered what printer ink is made of? How is ink made? Or where does ink come from? Maybe you want to know what CMYK stands for, or what to do with empty ink cartridges once you\u2019re done with them. We answer these questions and more in today\u2019s blog, in our guide of everything you need to know about printer ink.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Where does ink come from?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Humans have used ink \u2013 in some form or another \u2013 for thousands upon thousands of years. In fact, the earliest use of ink can be traced back to China in 256 BC. Printer ink is simply a modern evolution of the iterations of ink that have been used throughout the ages. Printer ink is made by a whole range of manufacturers throughout the world.<\/p>\n

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When was inkjet printing first invented?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Inkjet printing first came about during the 1950s, however it wasn\u2019t until the 1980s that this form of printing became available to the general public. Since the eighties, inkjet printers have come a long way, with many innovations in place making them the machines we know today.<\/p>\n

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What is printer ink made out of?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Printing ink is made from a combination of different elements. This generally includes dispersants that help with the ink\u2019s flow, resins for binding, pigment for colour, humectants for ink longevity, defoamer for foam control, chelating agents, drying agents, and a varnish base. Printer ink may also include pH modifiers, wetting agents, bacteriostats, and biocides. The products that are in printer ink will change depending upon a number of factors, including who manufactures the ink.<\/p>\n

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How is printer ink made?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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The printer ink is made by combining all of the above ingredients together. This combination can differ depending on the manufacturer and the type of ink that is being made.<\/p>\n

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What should you do with your empty ink cartridge?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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When your ink cartridge inevitably runs out after many pages are printed, what should you do with it? Where possible, it can be a good idea to recycle ink cartridges once you are finished with them. You should find that the manufacturer of your cartridge has a program for recycling them, or you might be able to take the empty cartridge into your local supermarket and deposit it in a designated cartridge recycling bin.<\/p>\n

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What are some ink-saving tips?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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There are a few different ways you can\u00a0conserve ink<\/a>\u00a0and make your cartridge go that little bit further. Investing in an ink-efficient printer can be one way to make your cartridges go further, and can be a worthwhile investment, particularly for those printing regularly. During those times that you don\u2019t need a high-quality print, changing printer settings to print pages as a draft can also save ink. Another ink-saving method is to choose fonts that are ink-efficient such as Garamond or Ecofont.<\/p>\n

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What is CMYK?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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You may have heard the acronym CMYK used in regards to printing. This acronym stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. These inks are used in printing in a range of different combinations to create each of the colours needed in a print. Monochrome printers will have the black ink cartridge, whereas monochrome and colour printers will likely have both a black cartridge and cyan, magenta, and black ink cartridges.<\/p>\n

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How do I know how much ink my printer has left?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Generally, you will get a notification when your printer ink hits below a certain point (often 20 percent). At any point, you can also check your printer levels to see how much ink is left. This is generally done by opening up the utilities section of the printing settings on your computer. For more information on how to check printing levels for a range of different printers, view our blog post on\u00a0How to Check Printer Ink Levels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the difference between toner and ink?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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The basic difference between toner and ink is that toner is used for laser machines, while ink is used for inkjet machines. Toner is a fine powdered ink that is electronically charged by a laser beam passing over the drums it is contained in. This powder then transfers to the paper, creating the prints. Inkjet printers use liquid ink droplets that are sprayed through a nozzle onto the printer paper. Wondering whether a laser or inkjet printer is better suited for your needs? Read our article discussing the pros and cons \u2013\u00a0Inkjet vs Laser: Which Printer Should You Choose?<\/a><\/p>\n

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Where can I buy printer ink online?<\/b><\/h2>\n

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There are many places online that sell printer ink, but it\u2019s important to ensure you purchase your ink from a reputable source such as\u00a0Ink Station<\/a>. We have a wide range of ink cartridges available to suit a myriad of different machine makes and models.<\/p>\n

There are many different facts to learn about when it comes to printing ink. We hope this article has taught you something interesting about the topic. From what separates it from toner to how to save ink and what to do with your empty cartridges, knowing a little more about printer ink can be beneficial for those who have an\u00a0inkjet machine<\/a>\u00a0or regularly print pages.<\/p>\n

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  While many of us use printers in our everyday life, printer ink remains a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-about-printers","category-hints-and-tips"],"yoast_head":"\nPrinter Ink 101: Everything You Need To Know - InkStation Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever wondered what printer ink is made of? How is ink made? Or where does ink come from? 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