7.3. Inkjet Printers

When shopping for an inkjet printer, always make sure you know what kind of ink cartridge(s) it requires. This is especially critical for color units. CMYK inkjet printers require ink for each color; however, the important point is whether each color is stored in a separate cartridge or not.

Some printers use one multi-chambered cartridge; unless some sort of refilling process is possible, as soon as one color ink runs out, the entire cartridge must be replaced. Other printers use a multi-chambered cartridge for cyan, magenta, and yellow, but also have a separate cartridge for black. In environments where a great deal of text is printed, this type of arrangement can be beneficial. However, the best solution is to find a printer with separate cartridges for each color; you can then easily replace any color whenever it runs out.