Refilling Canon Ink Bottles: Best Practices and Ink Type Selection
- By Ellen Joy
- On Mar 11, 2025
- Comment 0
Question:
Can Canon 21 ink bottles be refilled so I can top off my ink tanks? Should I wait until the ink levels reach the bottom line before refilling? What type of ink does this printer use? Do you sell ink in bulk for refilling these bottles?
Answer:
Thank you for reaching out! I apologize for the delay in responding. Printer-related concerns are always important, and I want to ensure that I provide a detailed and thoughtful response. At BCH Technologies [https://bchtechnologies.com], we appreciate your engagement, particularly with our YouTube channel, BCH Technologies YouTube Channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. Your feedback helps us improve our technical expertise and resources.
Refilling Canon 21 Ink Bottles
Yes, you can refill Canon’s original ink bottles in multiple ways:
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Use the old Canon bottle as a funnel: Cut off the bottom of the bottle and pour third-party ink into the tank using it as a guide.
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Use the original bottle as a transfer container: Pour third-party ink into the original bottle and use it to refill the tank as you normally would.
When to Refill the Ink Tanks
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Black Ink (Pigment): Since black ink is pigment-based, it's best to use as much as possible before switching to a third-party or dye ink. This ensures minimal mixing of different ink types.
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Color Inks (Dye): Since Canon’s color inks are dye-based, you can top off the tank whenever you like.
Choosing the Right Ink: Dye vs. Pigment
1. Should You Use Pigment or Dye Ink?
Most Canon printers can use either dye or pigment ink, so there’s no “wrong” choice. However, there are key differences:
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Pigment Ink: Printer heads programmed for pigment ink will clean themselves more frequently to prevent clogs.
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Dye Ink: Printers using dye ink require less frequent cleaning, which helps preserve ink.
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If you use dye ink in a pigment printer, it will clean more than necessary, reducing the risk of clogs.
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If you use pigment ink in a dye printer, manual cleanings will be needed periodically.
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For example, the Artisan 1430 is a dye printer, but many print shops successfully use pigment ink in it to print T-shirts. It’s all about maintenance!
2. What’s the Difference Between Pigment and Dye Ink?
We generally recommend dye ink for the following reasons: ✅ Dye ink is more affordable.
✅ Dye ink is easier to unclog—if a dye ink printer clogs, it can usually be fixed, whereas a pigment ink clog is often permanent.
✅ Modern dye ink works well for double-sided printing—older dye inks were prone to bleeding, but newer formulations have resolved this issue.
✅ UV resistance and water resistance are less of a concern—unless you're displaying prints in direct sunlight or submerging them in water, dye ink holds up well in everyday use.
For those interested, we have a deeper comparison article on the subject: ➡ Dye vs. Pigment Ink: A Comparison [https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919] ➡ Why Dye Ink Prints Look Better [https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489]
Ink Recommendations
We offer bulk ink that is compatible with Canon printers:
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Epson Ink: Epson 4-Color Refill Ink Set [https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-epson-kd600x-ce/]
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HP Ink: HP 4-Color Refill Ink Set [https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-hp-kd600x-ch/]
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Canon Ink: Canon 4-Color Refill Ink Set [https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/]
Switching Ink Types: Is It Safe?
If you are considering switching ink types, here’s what you need to know: ✅ Switching from dye to dye ink is always safe.
✅ Switching between pigment and dye ink is trickier—these inks have different base solutions.
Pigment Ink + Dye Ink: It’s generally advised not to mix the two over long periods. Pigment inks rely on a suspension matrix, and if the matrix is disrupted by dye ink, clogs can form. However, if you use up most of the old ink first and print several pages to flush out any residue, the risk is minimal.
Interestingly, some OEM inks, like Epson’s DuraBrite, already mix dye and pigment ink. Similarly, many HP Versatile inks use a combination of both.
If you are concerned about clogging during the switch, you can use clear base fluids to dilute and flush out the previous ink type:
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Dye Base Flush Fluid: Dye Ink Base Solution [https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base/]
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Pigment Base Flush Fluid: Pigment Ink Base Solution [https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink-base/]
Final Thoughts
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:
➡ BCH Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service].
Since we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, it might take a few weeks before we can process your repair request. Our services cover full printer repairs and component-level repairs with clear pricing. However, we acknowledge that our rates might not be the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend researching online troubleshooting resources, starting with our YouTube channel:
➡ BCH Technologies YouTube Channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies].
Try these steps, and let me know if you need further guidance. I appreciate your support, and I hope this helps with your Canon ink refilling and selection process!