Canon TS6520 PG-295 and CL-286 Refill Ink: Should You Use Pigment or Dye Ink?

Question

I am a little confused about which ink type I should use for my Canon printer. I was told that Canon black ink is pigment ink, but I am not sure whether the ink BCH Technologies sells is pigment or dye. I do not want to make the wrong choice when refilling my Canon TS6520 cartridges, specifically the PG-295 black cartridge and CL-286 color cartridge. I also watched your video and would like to install the sponge kit. In addition, how can I stop the banner on your home page from blocking the content I am trying to read?

Answer

For your Canon TS6520, the PG-295 cartridge is the black cartridge, and the CL-286 cartridge is the color cartridge. In many Canon cartridge systems, the black cartridge is commonly associated with pigment black ink, while the tri-color cartridge uses dye-based color ink. That is why you may have been told that "the black on a Canon is pigment ink." That statement is generally true for many Canon PG black cartridges, but it does not mean you are locked into pigment ink only.

The ink we generally recommend for refilling most home and office Canon cartridges is dye ink, especially when the goal is easier maintenance, smoother refilling, and lower clogging risk. For Canon, you can use our universal Canon refill ink set here: Standard 600 ml 4-Color Refill Ink for All Printers [https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/].

The good news is that, in most cases, you are unlikely to ruin the printer simply by choosing dye ink instead of pigment ink. A pigment-designated printer or cartridge can usually run dye ink without a problem. In fact, dye ink is often easier to work with because it is less likely to create a stubborn, permanent clog. Dye ink dissolves more easily during cleaning, while pigment ink contains tiny solid particles suspended in liquid. If pigment ink dries or separates inside the sponge, nozzle plate, or printhead area, it can be much harder to recover.

Pigment ink and dye ink behave differently. Dye ink is colorant dissolved into the liquid, almost like sugar dissolving in water. Pigment ink is made of tiny particles suspended in a carrier solution, more like very fine powder held in liquid. Because pigment particles are not truly dissolved, they need the correct chemical base to stay evenly suspended. When that balance breaks down, the particles can clump together and form clogs.

This is why we usually recommend dye ink for most refill situations. Dye ink is generally cheaper, easier to unclog, and more forgiving if the cartridge sits for a while. Pigment ink has advantages, especially for text sharpness, water resistance, and certain office document uses, but it can be less forgiving when used in refillable cartridges or sponge-modified cartridges.

For everyday printing, dye ink is usually more than good enough. Older arguments against dye ink were more serious years ago because older dye inks were more prone to smearing, fading, or bleeding on double-sided documents. Modern dye ink has improved a lot. Unless you are printing outdoor materials, waterproof labels, archival documents, or prints that will be exposed to sunlight and moisture for long periods, dye ink usually works very well for normal home and office use.

If you spill water or coffee on a dye-ink print, it may smear if it stays wet long enough. However, for ordinary day-to-day printing, that is usually not a major issue. Most people do not place their prints outdoors in direct sunlight or soak them in water. For normal documents, craft projects, schoolwork, shipping notes, and general printing, dye ink is often the most practical choice.

The biggest caution is mixing ink types. You may hear that pigment ink and dye ink should not be mixed, and that advice is mostly correct. It is not always instantly destructive, but it is not something we recommend for long-term use. Pigment ink and dye ink use different base solutions. If the bases are not compatible, the pigment particles can slowly clump together, settle, or create restrictions in the sponge and nozzle area.

If your PG-295 black cartridge still contains some original Canon pigment ink and you refill it with dye ink, the small amount of mixing inside the sponge is usually not catastrophic. Original manufacturer inks are often more tolerant than many third-party inks. However, the safest method is to use up as much of the old ink as possible before switching. After refilling, print enough pages to pull the new ink through the sponge and nozzle area so the old ink is gradually flushed out.

A small amount of leftover ink is usually acceptable. As a practical guideline, mixing a small percentage of old ink with new ink is usually not a major risk. The larger concern is repeatedly mixing different third-party inks or changing brands often. Every ink manufacturer uses its own base formula, and some formulas are more compatible than others. Once you find an ink that works well with your cartridge and printer, it is usually best to stay with it.

If someone wants to be extra careful when switching ink types, they can use a clear base solution to dilute and flush the old ink before refilling with the new ink. BCH offers both dye base and pigment base products. You can find the dye base here: Universal Dye Ink Base [https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-bas]. You can find the pigment base here: Universal Pigment Ink Base [https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink]. However, for many home refill situations, this extra step may be more than necessary.

For your Canon TS6520 with PG-295 and CL-286 cartridges, my practical recommendation would be to use dye ink unless you specifically need pigment black for sharper waterproof text. Dye ink will be easier to maintain, easier to unclog, and generally safer for sponge-kit refill work. If you decide to use pigment black, make sure the pigment ink is compatible with Canon cartridges and be prepared to print regularly so the nozzles do not dry out.

Regarding the sponge kit, the main goal is to make sure the sponge is seated properly, saturated correctly, and not creating air gaps. A dry or unevenly saturated sponge can cause poor ink flow, missing colors, streaking, or no-print symptoms. Do not overfill the cartridge to the point that ink floods the air vent or leaks from the nozzle area. A cartridge needs both ink and controlled airflow. If the air path is blocked, ink may not flow properly even if the cartridge is full.

After installing the sponge kit and refilling, let the cartridge sit long enough for the ink to distribute through the sponge. Then blot the nozzle area gently on a folded paper towel. You should see a clean ink mark. For the PG-295 black cartridge, you should see a black mark. For the CL-286 color cartridge, you should see cyan, magenta, and yellow marks. If one color is missing, that color chamber may not be saturated correctly, or the nozzle may still have air or dried ink.

For the home page banner blocking content, that may depend on the browser, device, screen size, or whether a pop-up or notification banner is loading incorrectly. First, try zooming out slightly in your browser, refreshing the page, or opening the page in a private/incognito window. You can also try another browser or clear the browser cache. If the banner has an "X," "close," or "continue" button, click that first. On smaller screens, some banners may cover more of the page than intended, so using a desktop browser or rotating a tablet/phone sideways may help. If it continues to block the content, you can also go directly to the product page you need instead of navigating from the home page.

For deeper reading on pigment and dye ink differences, we have an article here: Compare Pigment Ink and Dye Ink [https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919]. We also have an article discussing why dye ink printouts can look better in some situations here: Why Dye Ink Printouts Look Better [https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489].

A simple way to think about it is this: dye ink can usually be used in a pigment-style cartridge or printer, and it is often easier to maintain. Pigment ink should be used more carefully, especially in systems that were not originally designed for pigment ink or in cartridges that may sit unused for long periods. If you are switching from one ink type to another, use up as much old ink as possible first, avoid frequent brand switching, and print enough after refilling to move the new ink through the cartridge.

Addressing printer and cartridge refill issues can be a complicated process because many of the problems are hands-on and depend on the exact cartridge condition, sponge installation, ink flow, nozzle condition, and previous ink history. Because of that, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or repair support for individual printer repairs. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local diagnostic facility: BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, our service is handled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer for drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either the whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we understand that our rates may not be the most economical option for every situation. For that reason, we strongly encourage self-help through online research. A good place to begin is YouTube, including our channel homepage: BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Once you are on our channel, use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to search for the specific printer model, cartridge number, refill method, or error you are working on. We receive many requests every day asking where to find videos on specific topics, and because we have created videos for many years, it is difficult to remember every video by title. YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to find the most relevant video, and it may also suggest helpful videos from other creators.

Thank you again for watching our video and for reaching out to us. We appreciate your support and hope this helps you feel more comfortable choosing the right ink for your Canon TS6520, PG-295, and CL-286 cartridge refill project.