Which Ink Should You Use in a Canon PIXMA TS9521C Printer? A Complete Guide on Dye vs. Pigment Inks

Question: I have a Canon PIXMA TS9521C printer. Which ink cartridges should I buy, and is it okay to use pigment or dye ink? Can I safely switch between the two?

Answer:

Ink Cartridge Compatibility for Canon PIXMA TS9521C

Your Canon PIXMA TS9521C uses PGI-280 and CLI-281 ink cartridges:

• PGI-280 is a pigment-based black ink used for printing sharp text.

• CLI-281 includes dye-based inks for black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and photo colors.

This setup means your printer is designed to handle both pigment and dye inks simultaneously. The pigment black is mainly used for crisp document printing, while dye-based inks are ideal for vivid photos and color work.

Recommended BCH Ink Products

We offer several refill options, including hybrid kits and dye-only kits:

• Pigment + Dye Combo Pack (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/premium-600-ml-refill-ink-2x-pigment-black-1x-photo-black-photo-dye-cmy-kh600x-2pc) – includes both black pigment and dye black for complete coverage.

• Dye-Only Canon Ink Set (https://bchtechnologies.com/products/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-canon-kd600x-cc) – perfect if you choose to convert the printer to use all dye ink.

Should You Use Pigment Ink or Dye Ink?

Both types of ink will work with your printer, but each has pros and cons:

Why You Might Choose Dye Ink:

• More economical: Dye ink is typically cheaper than pigment ink.

• Easier maintenance: Clogs in dye ink systems are easier to clean.

• Improved over time: Modern dye inks have made big strides in waterproofing and fade resistance.

• Ideal for daily printing: Dye ink is more than capable unless you’re printing under UV light or soaking prints in water.

We generally recommend dye ink for most users. You can even run dye ink in pigment cartridges like PGI-280 without issues. Pigment printers perform more frequent cleanings, so dye ink in those systems may help prevent clogging.

For more in-depth insights, check out:

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

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

Is It Safe to Switch Ink Types? Can You Mix Pigment and Dye Inks?

Switching from one ink type to another is possible, but there are a few best practices to keep in mind:

• Dye-to-Dye: Completely safe. No extra precautions needed.

• Pigment-to-Dye or Dye-to-Pigment:

  • Try to use up the old ink as much as possible before switching.

  • After the switch, print several full-color pages to flush the old ink from the system.

  • Avoid long-term mixing—some pigment and dye inks use different bases, which can react and form clogs.

  • OEM inks are usually tolerant, but third-party inks vary in formulation. Consistency is key.

Even Epson’s DuraBrite and some HP Versatile inks are known to contain both pigment and dye. The issue arises when third-party inks from different vendors are mixed unpredictably.

If you're concerned, BCH offers base-only flushes to help clean the system:

• Dye Ink Base Flush (https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base-flush)

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

That said, most users report no issues during the switch if they follow the flushing recommendation.

Final Advice

To recap:

• Your Canon TS9521C can use both dye and pigment ink, but dye is usually the more user-friendly option.

• Don’t mix inks long-term—switch cleanly and flush if necessary.

• Choose BCH’s dye ink sets for safe, reliable performance across all Canon printers.

• Avoid switching between third-party brands unless you're ready to flush or risk clogging.

Addressing printer issues and compatibility questions can be tricky due to how nuanced and hands-on the work can be. That’s why we’re not able to offer remote diagnostics or support for ink or printer repair. However, we provide in-person service and diagnostics through our local repair facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, the service runs on a first-come, first-served basis and may require a wait time. Our services can target either full printer repairs or specific components, and we provide clear instructions on how to begin.

That said, our prices may not be the lowest. So we always suggest starting with self-research. You can begin by visiting our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to the “About” tab to locate videos by keyword. We’ve published tutorials for almost every scenario over the past nine years, and the search bar remains the best way to navigate.

Thanks again for reaching out! We truly appreciate your trust in BCH Technologies and are always here to support your printing journey. Happy printing!