Can I Use Dye Ink in My Canon TR4720 Printer Instead of Pigment Ink? Understanding Compatibility and Best Practices

Customer Question

I'm planning to order a BCH refill ink kit from Amazon for my Canon TR4720 printer. However, I noticed that your product description doesn't mention compatibility with this model or its cartridges (PG-275 and CL-276). Can you confirm if this product is appropriate? Also, should I be using pigment ink or dye ink?

Answer

Compatibility with Canon TR4720 and BCH Ink Kits

The Canon TR4720 printer uses the PG-275 (black) and CL-276 (color) cartridges. By design, the PG-275 black cartridge contains pigment-based ink, while the CL-276 tri-color cartridge uses dye-based ink.

The BCH refill ink kit you're referring to contains dye ink, not pigment ink. Despite the discrepancy in ink type, it is entirely safe—and in many cases preferable—to use dye ink in place of pigment ink, especially in desktop inkjet printers like yours.

Should You Use Pigment or Dye Ink?

Pigment vs. Dye: Printer Behavior and Cleaning

Your Canon TR4720 is compatible with both dye and pigment inks. However, the internal programming for automatic cleaning differs depending on which ink is expected:

• Pigment printers (like when using PG-275) perform more frequent self-cleaning cycles to prevent nozzle clogs.

• Dye ink printers perform fewer cleaning cycles, as dye particles are smaller and less prone to clogging.

When you use dye ink in a printer designed for pigment, it may clean more than necessary, which is a good thing—the risk of clogging is significantly reduced. On the flip side, using pigment ink in a dye-based system requires additional manual maintenance to avoid blockages.

Conclusion:
If you're unsure which ink to go with, dye ink is a safe and cost-effective choice. It’s easier to unclog, more affordable, and suitable for the vast majority of everyday print needs.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Dye Ink?

• ✅ Affordable – Dye ink generally costs less than pigment.

• ✅ Easier Maintenance – If clogs occur, they're usually fixable.

• ✅ Excellent Print Quality – Modern dye inks produce vibrant, sharp results—especially for photo and general-purpose printing.

• ❌ Slightly Less Durable Outdoors – Dye ink may not resist UV or water as well as pigment ink. But realistically, unless you’re hanging your printouts under the sun or dunking them in water, dye ink is more than sufficient.

Want to compare in detail? Check out our resources:

• Compare Pigment and Dye Inks
  (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919)

• Why Dye Ink Printouts Look Better
  (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489)

Is It Safe to Switch Ink Types or Mix Pigment and Dye?

Yes, but with precautions:

• Switching from pigment to dye: Safe and often beneficial. The printer will over-clean itself, reducing clogging risks.

• Switching from dye to pigment: Possible, but requires regular manual cleaning to compensate for the heavier ink particles.

• Mixing pigment and dye: Not recommended long term. The chemical bases differ—pigments are suspended in a matrix, which can break down when mixed, leading to clogging over time.

If switching, try to use up most of the existing ink, then flush out the residual ink by printing several full-color pages. If you're extra cautious, we offer flushing products:

• Clear Dye Ink Base
  (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base-diluent-cleaner-kd600-d/)

• Clear Pigment Ink Base
  (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink-base-cleaner-kd600-p/)

Also, once you find a brand or formula you like, try to stick with it to minimize incompatibility risks—especially between third-party ink manufacturers.

Which Ink Kit Should You Buy?

For Canon TR4720 and similar models, we recommend our standard dye ink kits, as they offer excellent compatibility and print quality:

• Standard Dye Ink for Canon
  (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/)

This kit includes everything needed for consistent, clean, and high-quality prints on most Canon printers—including your TR4720.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thanks again for reaching out to us. Your trust in BCH Technologies motivates us to keep delivering helpful and practical solutions to everyday printing concerns.