Canon PG-245XL Refill Ink Guide: Should You Use Dye or Pigment Ink for PG-245 and CL-246 Cartridges?

Question

I am making sponge-refillable cartridges for Canon PG-245, PG-245XL, CL-246, PG-240, and CL-241 cartridges. What type of ink should I use for the Canon PG-245XL-dye-based black ink or pigment-based black ink?

I noticed that InkTec sells both dye and pigment black inks for Canon printers. However, the PG-245 is specifically listed as compatible with the pigment ink, while it does not appear in the compatibility list for the dye black ink. Does that mean pigment ink is the correct choice for the PG-245XL?

Answer

For the Canon PG-245XL black cartridge, I would recommend using pigment-based black ink rather than dye-based black ink.

Why the PG-245XL Normally Uses Pigment Black Ink

Canon's cartridge naming provides a useful clue:

• PG-245 / PG-245XL is the black cartridge.

• CL-246 / CL-246XL is the tri-color cartridge.

The black ink used in the PG-245 family is designed primarily for printing text and is normally a pigment-based black ink. The cyan, magenta, and yellow inks in the CL-246 are normally dye-based inks.

The same general arrangement is used in many Canon two-cartridge systems. For example, the PG-240 black cartridge is intended for pigment black ink, while the CL-241 color cartridge uses dye inks.

Therefore, if you are converting or modifying a PG-245XL into a sponge-refillable cartridge, the safest choice is:

PG-245 / PG-245XL: Pigment black ink

CL-246 / CL-246XL: Dye cyan, dye magenta, and dye yellow

Similarly:

PG-240 / PG-240XL: Pigment black ink

CL-241 / CL-241XL: Dye cyan, dye magenta, and dye yellow

Why InkTec Lists the PG-245 Under Its Pigment Ink

What you noticed in InkTec's compatibility information makes sense. If the PG-245 appears in the manufacturer's compatibility list for its Canon pigment black ink but not its dye black ink, that is consistent with the original design of the cartridge.

Pigment black and dye black may both look like ordinary black liquid, but they behave quite differently inside the cartridge and on paper.

Pigment ink contains extremely small solid pigment particles suspended in the carrier fluid. When printed onto plain paper, much of the pigment remains near the surface of the paper. This is one reason pigment black generally produces sharper text and better resistance to water and fading.

Dye ink contains colorant that is dissolved into the liquid. It tends to penetrate further into the paper fibers. Dye ink is frequently used for color printing and photographs because it can produce smooth color transitions and vivid colors.

For a PG-245XL being used in its intended role as a black text cartridge, pigment ink is therefore the appropriate choice.

Can Dye Black Ink Physically Work in a PG-245XL?

This is where things become a little more complicated.

It may be possible for a PG-245XL cartridge to print after being filled with an appropriately formulated Canon-compatible dye black ink. The printer itself usually does not have a sensor that chemically determines whether the ink is pigment or dye.

However, that does not mean that dye black is the best ink to use.

Changing from pigment to dye can affect:

• Text sharpness

• Optical black density

• Feathering on plain paper

• Water resistance

• Drying characteristics

• Print longevity

• Ink flow through the sponge

• Printhead behavior

Ink formulation is also more complicated than simply choosing between "dye" and "pigment." Surface tension, viscosity, humectants, biocides, drying characteristics, and other chemical properties have to be appropriate for the cartridge and printhead.

For that reason, I would not choose a generic Canon dye black ink simply because it is easier to obtain. If the ink manufacturer specifically identifies its pigment black formulation for the PG-245/PG-245XL, that is the formulation I would use.

Be Careful When Switching an Existing Cartridge Between Dye and Pigment Ink

If a PG-245XL cartridge has previously contained another type or formulation of ink, I would also be cautious about simply adding new ink on top of the old ink.

Different aftermarket formulations are not always chemically compatible with each other. Mixing inks can sometimes produce:

• Sediment

• Thickened ink

• Reduced flow

• Sponge contamination

• Nozzle blockage

• Unstable printing

This risk is particularly important when pigment ink is involved because pigment particles must remain properly suspended.

If you are preparing a refillable sponge cartridge, starting with a clean cartridge and using one known-compatible formulation consistently is preferable to repeatedly switching ink brands or ink types.

Sponge Saturation Is Just as Important as Ink Type

When making the PG-245XL refillable, ink selection is only part of the job. The condition and saturation of the sponge are also extremely important.

The sponge should contain enough ink to maintain reliable contact with the ink outlet and printhead, but it should not be excessively flooded.

If you add too much ink, you may create excessive internal pressure or oversaturate the sponge. Symptoms can include:

• Ink dripping from the printhead

• Ink leaking from the cartridge

• Cross-contamination

• Blotches on the page

• Poor nozzle performance

On the other hand, if there is insufficient ink or the sponge contains too much trapped air, you may experience:

• Missing black lines

• Faded printing

• Intermittent printing

• Nozzle dropout

• A cartridge that appears full but does not supply ink properly

The objective is not simply to put as much ink as possible into the cartridge. The goal is to establish a stable ink supply while maintaining the correct balance of ink and air inside the sponge.

The XL Design Does Not Change the Required Ink Type

The "XL" designation can sometimes cause confusion. A PG-245XL is a higher-capacity version of the PG-245, but that does not mean it requires a different category of ink.

The same general ink chemistry applies:

PG-245 = pigment black

PG-245XL = pigment black

The primary difference is usable ink capacity rather than changing from one type of black ink to another.

What About Photo Printing?

You may notice that some Canon printers use dye-based black ink in other cartridge systems, particularly printers designed with separate photo-black and pigment-black cartridges.

That does not mean dye black should automatically be used in a PG-245XL.

Some higher-end Canon printers have both:

• A pigment black ink primarily for plain-paper text, and

• A dye photo black ink primarily for photographs.

The PG-245/CL-246 system does not operate in exactly the same way. The PG-245 is the dedicated black cartridge for this cartridge family, so a Canon-compatible pigment black designed for the PG-245 is the appropriate refill ink.

Recommended Ink Combination

For the cartridge set you mentioned, I would use the following combination:

Canon PG-245 / PG-245XL: Canon-compatible pigment black

Canon CL-246 / CL-246XL: Canon-compatible dye cyan, magenta, and yellow

Canon PG-240 / PG-240XL: Canon-compatible pigment black

Canon CL-241 / CL-241XL: Canon-compatible dye cyan, magenta, and yellow

When selecting aftermarket ink, I would give more weight to the manufacturer's specific cartridge compatibility list than to a broad description such as "Canon black ink." If InkTec specifically lists PG-245 for its pigment formulation, that is a strong indication that this is the formulation intended for that cartridge.

Addressing printer and cartridge problems can be complicated because so much of the diagnosis depends on physically inspecting the cartridge, ink system, and printer. For that reason, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, individualized repair suggestions, or remote support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our BCH Technologies printer diagnostic and repair facility [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Because demand is high, service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before a printer can be scheduled for drop-off. Our services can be used for either an entire printer or certain individual components, with instructions provided for how to proceed. We also recognize that professional repair is not always the most economical option, so we strongly encourage self-help and online research when practical. You can begin with YouTube or visit the homepage of our BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. On our channel, use the search icon near the "About" section on the right side of the menu to search for the particular cartridge, printer model, or problem you are working on. I receive dozens of questions every day asking whether we have a video covering a specific subject. After creating videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every video we've published, so using YouTube's search feature is usually the fastest approach. YouTube may also recommend useful videos from other creators that address the same issue.

Thank you again for contacting BCH Technologies and for supporting our work. We appreciate you taking the time to ask a detailed question, and I hope this explanation helps clarify why pigment black is the better choice for the PG-245XL and how it differs from the dye inks used in the CL-246 color cartridge.