Canon PIXMA TS3722 PG-275 Refill Guide: Pigment vs Dye Ink, Printhead Safety, and Using Leftover HP Bulk Ink

Question

I've used BCH inks for years in my HP printer, but that printer finally died. I bought a Canon PIXMA TS3722 that uses the PG-275 black cartridge. Is PG-275 supposed to be pigment or dye ink? I still have a lot of leftover bulk black ink (barcode X001J17MZL) from my HP, and I believe that ink is dye. I've read Canon uses pigment black in the PG-275, so I'm worried about messing up the printhead if I refill the starter cartridge with dye ink. Does this cartridge have a pigment printhead? If it's not safe, I'll just buy the EZ-30S for color refills and figure out the black ink separately.

Answer

1) Is Canon PG-275 black pigment or dye?

In most Canon PIXMA models that use the PG (black) and CL (color) cartridge pairing, the PG black is typically pigment black, while the color cartridge is dye-based. So yes-what you read about PG-275 being pigment black is generally consistent with Canon's common cartridge strategy.

However, the key takeaway for your situation is this:

Even if the original black is pigment, using dye black is usually the safer "when in doubt" choice for refilling-especially for integrated cartridges.

2) What is barcode X001J17MZL, and can it be used?

You are correct: X001J17MZL is dye ink.

And here's the part that tends to surprise people: Many users have successfully run dye black ink in cartridges that originally came with pigment black, especially in entry-level home printers. In fact, if you previously used this ink in an HP system and it worked smoothly, you've already seen the real-world evidence that dye can work fine even when the OEM configuration suggests pigment.

So yes-you can use your leftover HP dye black ink in the Canon PG-275 refill in most cases.

3) Is PG-275 a "pigment printhead"? Will I ruin the printhead?

Your Canon TS3722 uses an integrated cartridge system. That means:

• The printhead is built into the cartridge, not permanently installed in the printer.

• When you replace the cartridge, you are essentially installing a new printhead assembly each time.

Because of that design, the manufacturer typically doesn't invest in an ultra-expensive, long-life printhead with advanced anti-clog systems (those are usually found in printers with permanent heads). Integrated heads are more "disposable by design."

This matters because:

• Dye ink is generally less prone to permanent clogging

• Dye ink is easier to flush/unclog if you ever do have a blockage

So from a practical repair standpoint, dye ink is usually the safer refill ink for integrated cartridges, even if the OEM black is pigment.

4) Should you "overthink" pigment vs dye for this model?

Not really-and your current plan is already on the right track.

A simple rule that works well for most home refill situations:

• If you're unsure, use dye ink.

• Dye in a pigment-black system is usually fine (and often clogs less because the printer may clean a bit more aggressively, expecting pigment behavior).

• The riskier direction is usually pigment in a dye-only system, because pigment particles can be harder to clear if the printer doesn't clean often enough.

So in your case: using dye black in the PG-275 is typically a reasonable decision, and you're not "ruining" some permanent, high-end printhead-because the head is part of the cartridge.

5) What should you buy from BCH for the Canon TS3722?

If you want to test the concept with a small amount of ink first, this is a good starter option:

• Dye 30 ml x 4 Refill Ink for Canon Printers (ID30-KCMY-AC) (https://www.bchtechnologies.com/refill-ink/refill-ink-for-canon/dye-30-ml-x-4-refill-ink-for-canon-printers-id30-kcmy-ac.html)

If you want to save money and go bulk, this is the better value route:

• Standard 600 ml 4-Color Refill Ink for Canon (KD600X-CC) (https://www.bchtechnologies.com/refill-ink/refill-ink-for-canon/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-canon-kd600x-cc.html)

About EZ-30S: your plan makes sense. Canon typically uses dye color, and BCH dye color refill sets are appropriate for that use. Even if a kit includes dye black, that's not a problem here-again, dye black is generally the safer refill choice for integrated cartridges.

6) What about clogs, priming, and "starter cartridge" refills?

Starter cartridges can sometimes be more finicky because they may contain less ink and can run dry sooner, which increases the chance of air getting into the sponge/nozzle area.

If this is your first time refilling or you want a safety net, a priming tool can be very helpful:

• Priming Clip Tools (https://www.bchtechnologies.com/accessories/priming-clip-tools.html)

You don't absolutely have to have a priming clip-you can also adapt a household vacuum method in many cases:

• Solved: Black and Color Print Head Clogged / Not Printing (Integrated Printhead) - Part I (https://www.bchtechnologies.com/blog/solved-black-and-color-print-head-clogged-not-printing-part-i-integrated-printhead)

7) Is it safe to switch ink types or mix pigment and dye?

Switching inks is usually fine if you do it smartly:

• Dye → dye: no issue

• Pigment → dye: usually safe (and often easier on clogging)

• Dye → pigment / pigment in a dye-printer: can work, but requires more careful maintenance

Mixing pigment and dye isn't ideal long-term because the base chemistry is different, but it's also not instantly catastrophic. A practical guideline:

• Try to use up old ink as much as possible

• Then print enough pages after switching to flush out what remains

• In many real-world cases, mixing up to ~20% during transition does not create clogging issues, especially when OEM ink is still part of the mix

If you want to "deep clean" or manage transitions more scientifically, we offer clear bases designed for this purpose:

• Universal Dye Ink Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-bas...)

• Universal Pigment Ink Base (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink...)

That said, for your Canon TS3722 and PG-275 integrated cartridge, this is usually overkill-most customers do perfectly fine simply refilling with a consistent dye ink going forward.

8) Pigment vs dye-what's the real-life difference for everyday printing?

• Pigment: better water resistance and often sharper text on plain paper, but clogs can be harder to recover if they happen.

• Dye: usually more vibrant on photos and glossy paper, typically cheaper, and much easier to unclog.

Unless you're printing outdoor signage, waterproof labels, or documents that will get soaked regularly, dye ink performs extremely well for everyday home and office printing.

If you'd like to read deeper comparisons:

• Pigment vs Dye Ink Comparison (https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919)

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

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because the problems are hands-on and often require physical testing. Because of that, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, step-by-step repair instructions, or direct support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility: Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, we work on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can schedule a drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either an entire printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. That said, we understand our rates aren't the most economical, so we strongly recommend self-help through online research. You can start on YouTube or visit our channel homepage here: BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to find videos for your exact topic. I receive dozens of messages daily asking if we have a video for a specific issue, and after creating videos over the past nine years, it's difficult to remember every single one-so YouTube search is the fastest and most accurate method. YouTube may also recommend helpful videos from other channels that can assist you.

Thanks again for reaching out and for being a long-time BCH ink customer. We truly appreciate your support, and I hope your TS3722 refill goes smoothly and gets you printing again quickly.