Pigment or Dye Ink: Which One Does Your Printer Use? Pro Tips and How to Maintain Your Ink
- By Kevin Day
- On Jan 05, 2025
- Comment 0
Question
I have dye ink now to refill my cartridges, but I’ve read that pigment ink is superior to black ink but more costly. What’s your opinion?
Is pigment ink more difficult to clean or more susceptible to clogging?
TripleAction cleans all three ink types on your video, so is Clear Cleaning Solution for dye and pigment only? Do I go with this one or that one since I’m not using sublimation ink?
I also own printers at two homes and move between them each year. Should I put a storage clip on one that’s been dormant for months?
And in closing, you say in your video that you also sell cartridges, but I can’t find those either. I do not have that information at this time.
What else should I have on hand to refill cartridges?
Answer
Thanks for writing in with your questions! I'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner. At BCH Technologies, we understand how urgent printer-related concerns can become, and we strive to tackle every printer question with the focused detail it warrants. You are also welcome to support our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), as we would love to get your feedback to enhance our technical skills over time.
Now, let’s take your questions one at a time:
Pigment vs Dye Ink: Which should I use in my printer?
Good news! You can’t go wrong, as most printers can handle dye and pigment ink. But there are a few caveats to keep in mind:
Dye Ink
For a smooth transition between ink types:
Printer problems are often quite tricky to troubleshoot as they require physical handling of the objects during the process. We suggest our in-person evaluation and repair service available: (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) for detailed troubleshooting. We receive many inquiries for our services, which may lead to waiting times as they offer services with full printer repairs or individual component repairs.
Check out our YouTube channel for self-help options (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). The quickest way to find tutorials for your problem is by using the search feature.
We appreciate you reaching out one more time about this! Readers like you help us maintain free access. Thank you. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.
I have dye ink now to refill my cartridges, but I’ve read that pigment ink is superior to black ink but more costly. What’s your opinion?
Is pigment ink more difficult to clean or more susceptible to clogging?
TripleAction cleans all three ink types on your video, so is Clear Cleaning Solution for dye and pigment only? Do I go with this one or that one since I’m not using sublimation ink?
I also own printers at two homes and move between them each year. Should I put a storage clip on one that’s been dormant for months?
And in closing, you say in your video that you also sell cartridges, but I can’t find those either. I do not have that information at this time.
What else should I have on hand to refill cartridges?
Answer
Thanks for writing in with your questions! I'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner. At BCH Technologies, we understand how urgent printer-related concerns can become, and we strive to tackle every printer question with the focused detail it warrants. You are also welcome to support our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), as we would love to get your feedback to enhance our technical skills over time.
Now, let’s take your questions one at a time:
Pigment vs Dye Ink: Which should I use in my printer?
Good news! You can’t go wrong, as most printers can handle dye and pigment ink. But there are a few caveats to keep in mind:
Dye Ink
- Dye ink is usually more affordable and easier to maintain. JettingIf clogs happen, they are easier to fix than color pigment.
- Could dye ink become the new standard in printing? Recent advancements have improved dye ink’s performance, making it suitable even for double-sided printing. Most of this talk about UV resistance and waterproofing is irrelevant for day-to-day use unless you’re printing outdoor material that will get rained on or exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.
- Dye ink makes much more sense for most users for these reasons.
- On the other hand, pigment ink is formulated to be more durable and less susceptible to smudging, making it better for professional-quality documents or prints. However, it can also get gunked up quickly and is more difficult to clean.
- Your printer needs to be cleaned more often with pigment ink. For instance, a dye printer like the Artisan 1430 runs on pigment ink as long as you do periodic manual cleanings.
- Epson Dye Ink Refill Set (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-epson-kd600x-ce/)
- HP Dye Ink Refill Set (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-hp-kd600x-ch/)
- Canon Dye Ink Refill Set (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/)
Can I mix pigment ink and dye ink?
Mixing these ink types isn’t recommended for long-term use because their chemical bases differ. Mixing can cause clogging over time as pigment particles conjugate. However, a temporary mix (up to 20%) will unlikely cause issues.For a smooth transition between ink types:
- Use up as much of the current ink as possible.
- Print several pages after refilling to flush out the remaining old ink.
- Dye Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base/)
- Pigment Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink-base/)
Which cleaning solution should I use?
Our Premium TripleAction Cleaning Solution (https://bchtechnologies.com/premium-cleaning-solution-for-dye-pigment-sublimation-inks/) works on dye, pigment, and sublimation inks. However, since you don’t use sublimation ink, you can also use the Clear Cleaning Solution, designed explicitly for dye and pigment inks.Should I use a storage clip for long-term inactivity?
Yes, a storage clip is highly recommended for printers that will be dormant for months. The clip helps protect the printhead and prevents ink from drying out.Where can I find HP 67 Black cartridges?
We don’t currently sell these cartridges, but you can find them through HP’s official website or trusted retailers like Amazon.What else should I have for refilling cartridges?
You’re already on the right track with ink, syringes, and a slow refilling process. Here are a few additional tools to keep on hand:- Air Removal Tools: To ensure no air bubbles remain in the cartridge.
- Cleaning Cloths: These are used to clean spills during the refilling process.
- Storage Clips: To protect cartridges when not in use.
Printer problems are often quite tricky to troubleshoot as they require physical handling of the objects during the process. We suggest our in-person evaluation and repair service available: (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) for detailed troubleshooting. We receive many inquiries for our services, which may lead to waiting times as they offer services with full printer repairs or individual component repairs.
Check out our YouTube channel for self-help options (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). The quickest way to find tutorials for your problem is by using the search feature.
We appreciate you reaching out one more time about this! Readers like you help us maintain free access. Thank you. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.