All printers require ink of one type or another, there are distinct differences in types of ink, the type of container for the ink and the method of dispensing the ink from the printer onto the media. For the sake of this section, we will call any liquid, solid or powder that renders an image onto media, ink. All references to printers and printing methods are generalisations unless otherwise stated.

We will start with liquid inks. Used in home and small office printers, generally known as Inkjet printers. There are two main types of inkjet printer, one uses ink cartridges that are simply vessels for containing ink and all of the technology that transfers the ink onto the media (the printhead) is part of the printer. The other type is a vessel for containing ink with some of the technology required to transfer the ink onto the media (the printhead) as an integral part of the cartridge.


There is a chip as part of most cartridges, this chip feeds information back to the printer, such as ink level and usage.

Two main types of liquid inks are, dye based ink and pigmented ink.

Although not common in home use, some office printers use a solid ink, supplied in block form.

Laser Printers “ink” is known as Toner, as the type of printer implies, there is a laser within the printer, without getting too technical, the laser beam is used to make the print pattern on the media. The media then passes by the toner which is attracted to the media, the toner is then “fixed” on the media.

With all the above, different manufacturers use specific compounds and blends of inks, so with ink and toner it is not a one type fits all.

Manufacturers

Original Equipment Manufacturers

OEM’s are cartridges made by the manufacturer of the printer itself. The cartridge supply and price is heavily influenced by the OEM, often the recycling value is also heavily influenced by the OEM.

Remanufactured Cartridges

OEM cartridges that have been rebuilt to some extent, the quality of the rebuilding can vary enormously, from an amateur effort in a garden shed just replenishing the ink or toner level, to a highly professional stripping down, replacement of wearing or worn parts, rebuilding in clean room conditions, refilling with ink or toner closely matching that of the OEM and final testing of the finished product.

Compatible Cartridges

Made by persons other than the OEM, the cartridges may look and feel like an OEM, or they may bear no resemblance to an OEM but have some vital points that locate the cartridge in the printer in the proper position.  Like remanufactured cartridges, compatible cartridges do vary in quality from very good to less than satisfactory.