How to Refill Both Black Ink Cartridges Safely (Pigment vs Dye Ink Explained)

Question:
I watched your video about saving money on ink cartridges—thank you, it was very helpful. I have a quick question: if I want to refill both black cartridges from the top to get the most out of them, how should I do it, and which refill kit should I use? Also, I see there are different types of black ink—how do I know whether to use pigment or dye ink? I’m worried about making the wrong choice.

Answer:

Let’s break your question into two parts: refilling both black cartridges and choosing between pigment vs dye ink.

1. Understanding Your Two Black Cartridges

Most printers that use two black cartridges are designed like this:

• Large black cartridge → Pigment ink (used for text printing)

• Smaller black cartridge → Dye ink (used for photo printing and blending)

These are intentionally different because they serve different purposes. When refilling:

• You must refill each cartridge with the correct type of ink (or intentionally choose a different type with full awareness—more on that below).

• Refilling from the top is typically done by:

  1. Removing the label on top of the cartridge

  2. Locating or creating a refill hole

  3. Slowly injecting ink using a syringe

  4. Sealing the hole afterward (with tape or a plug)

Make sure not to overfill, as that can cause leakage or pressure issues.

2. Should You Use Pigment or Dye Ink?

Here’s the good news: you’re unlikely to make a “wrong” choice that immediately damages your printer. However, there are important differences in behavior.

Key Differences:

• Pigment Ink

  • More water-resistant and UV-resistant

  • Better for sharp text

  • More prone to clogging (and clogs are often permanent)

• Dye Ink

  • Cheaper and easier to maintain

  • Produces vibrant colors and smoother gradients

  • Much easier to unclog if issues arise

3. Our Recommendation

In most everyday situations, we recommend using dye ink for both cartridges because:

1. It’s more affordable

2. It’s easier to maintain and unclog

3. It performs very well for general printing

Modern dye inks have improved significantly—concerns about smudging or poor durability are largely outdated for normal use. Unless you are printing materials that will be exposed to heavy water or sunlight (like outdoor signage), dye ink is usually the better choice.

Here are some reliable refill ink options:

• Epson users: https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-epson-kd600x-ce/

• HP users: https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-hp-kd600x-ch/

• Canon users: https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/

4. Can You Switch or Mix Ink Types?

This is where you need to be a bit careful.

• Mixing dye and pigment ink long-term is not recommended

• They use different chemical bases, and mixing can cause:

  • Ink instability

  • Particle clumping

  • Potential clogs

However, small amounts of mixing (under ~20%) are generally safe during transitions.

Best Practice When Switching:

• Use up as much of the old ink as possible

• Print several pages after refilling to flush the system

• Avoid frequent switching between brands or types

If you want to be extra cautious, you can use a flushing base:

• Dye base: https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-bas...

• Pigment base: https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink...

5. Important Insight About Printer Behavior

Printers are programmed differently depending on ink type:

• Pigment printers perform more frequent cleaning cycles

• If you use dye ink in a pigment system, the extra cleaning actually helps prevent clogs

• If you use pigment ink in a dye-based system, you may need to manually clean more often

6. If You Want to Dive Deeper

We have detailed resources explaining ink chemistry and performance:

• Compare pigment vs dye: https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919

• Why dye ink often looks better: https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489

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 do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer. Our services cover both full printer repairs and individual component fixes, with clear guidance throughout the process. That said, we understand our rates may not be the most budget-friendly, so we strongly encourage self-help through online resources. You can start by exploring YouTube or visiting our channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to the “About” tab to find videos on specific topics. With hundreds of videos created over the past nine years, this is the fastest way to locate relevant content—and YouTube may also suggest helpful videos from other creators.

Thanks again for your thoughtful question and for supporting our work. We truly appreciate it, and we’re always here to help guide you in the right direction!