Ink can be a real hassle when it comes to cost and finding the right cartridge. You might be confused as to the difference between laser and inkjet printers. You could be wondering why some printers cost more, or why the ink is so expensive. There are other types of printers, but the ones focused on here are the most common: inkjet and laser. Inkjet printers are more common for home use, and laser printers for commercial use.
Xerography (from which we get the brand name Xerox) is the process by which ink is transferred to paper via heat and electrostatic charge. The paper is charged in a certain pattern which is exactly the same as the document being printed,. It is in use in laser printers and photocopiers. The substance used is called toner. Toner is like dry ink and comes in powder form. It comes in toner cartridges which contain large amounts of the substance. They are therefore long lived but are extremely expensive.
Laser printers use an adapted form of xerography which uses laser technology to create the electrostatic pattern on the page. It is currently the standard method of doing so, but there are alternatives such as LED printers which operate on the same principle, but use an LED array to create the negative impression on the paper.
Toners have other applications within printing. Photocopiers also use toner also but involve a process of scanning a document or image first using a standard optical to digital scanner which then creates an electromagnetic impression. It is at this point that the xerography process takes place. Inkjet photocopiers have been developed in lieu of standard laser models, but they are both slower and far more expensive to run.
Inkjet printers are the most common type of printer available. They can range from very cheap to on the ridiculously expensive scale of things for industrial standard printers. The way they work is to propel droplets at intervals onto the paper. This process is far simpler than laser printing, and in the short term less expensive. Inkjet printers are not good for commercial use, as they use more ink and jams are more devastating to the paper. Wet ink dries slower also, so ink can be transferred onto the back of pages, which isn’t very professional.
Another factor to consider is the brand. Brands like HP and Lexmark are the forerunners in ink marketing, and some value products may be lower quality, smear or produce a less defined print. This is a consideration you must make even before you buy a printer. Kodak professes to have the cheapest printer ink available for example, even though they are renowned as having high quality printing equipment. Each printer will have specific ink, and they each have a set longevity and cost. This is how some companies get away with making cheap printers or vice versa.
The expense of ink is something that has been the matter of some debate. One study showed that on average ink could cost up to $5000 per litre. Another said that ink costs more, millilitre for millilitre than Dom Perignon wine. A toner cartridge will cost significantly more than standard ink but will last a lot longer. Laser printers tend to be slightly lower quality than inkjet printers because they use toner rather than ink. However they are much faster in processing and printing documents; the ink dries quicker and the quality of the print job is of a high enough standard for most applications. Laser printers are more suitable for commercial use than personal use because of this.
A solution to the problem of the expense is investing in third party sources. These generic brands are usually the same or marginally lower quality than the branded product. You can find them online or at larger retail shops will sell many different types of ink, generally they stock more than one brand of the same cartridge. Another solution is refilling the cartridges, the ink bottles are quite cheap but many people report difficulty with actually refilling the cartridge. The process can also be done professionally at photography, computer, and printer shops. Toner cartridges can also be refilled, but generally speaking it is better to give them to a professional to handle as the process can involve expensive equipment. Again, the process is more expensive than with inkjet cartridges, but it is also significantly cheaper than buying a new toner cartridge.
When considering printer ink, one must consider several things: first, which printer to buy, as this directly affects the quality of the print and the type of ink needed for the printer; Second, how often you print a document that has colour or graphics. Lastly, whether or not the ink you would have to buy to accompany your printer has a generic or discount alternative that has received good reviews. We suggest getting your Printer ink at Inkguides.com.
