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.


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