A Guide to Choose Between Printers with Single or Multi-Ink Cartridges

The much-debated choice when buying printers is here the choice of single versus multi-ink cartridges. People often confuse between these two while purchasing an inkjet printer. It is because they are unable to decide how to cope up with the two different situations, when you need ink of one colour more and when multiple colours are required. Let’s take a closer look into the two types and their suitabilities.

However, before that, it is best to have in-depth knowledge of the functioning of an inkjet printer. The info will help you make a more informed decision.

The working of inkjet printers

An inkjet printer uses ink cartridge with inks of different colours, like cyan, yellow, magenta, black, etc. A combination of these inks produces a broader range of colours that can be used for printing.

While these colours are widely used, printing machines of different types require different cartridges. Some come with multiple cartridges, with each cartridge carrying one colour, while others use one cartridge with different slots for different colours. Some printer versions that are designed for high-quality photo reproduction also use various shades of colours like magenta, cyan, etc.

The tiny jets or nozzles present in this type of printer spray ink droplets for image or text creation. Now, over to the kinds of ink cartridges available.

Printer cartridges – single ink type

A single-ink printer cartridge uses separate cartridges for inks of different colours. Hence, if you are planning to buy a single ink cartridge, you will have to purchase separate cartridges for each colour. These printers come with 4 or 6 slots for cartridges, depending upon the number of colours used.

Printer cartridges – multiple ink type

These types of cartridges have separate slots for separate colours in one single cartridge. Hence, if you buy a printer with a multi-ink cartridge, you will need to buy one cartridge that will accommodate all the four to six colours in one.

Looking for economy between the two? Read this –

With the descriptions given above, it may sound that a single-ink cartridge would be more economical than a multi-ink one. However, it’s not always the case. How economical a cartridge type proves to be, depends on the use it is put to.

Here’s a description of when you should opt for a printer with single or multiple ink cartridges.

• If you require to use one colour often, like in printing logos or for corporate branding, a printer with single-ink cartridge will be economical. It is because, in case of the cartridge running out of a single colour, you won’t have to replace all the colours.
• For your need to print many text documents, it will be best to opt for a printer with a black cartridge and one multi-ink cartridge. It will save you money when black ink is exhausted as you will have to replace only one cartridge with black ink.
• If you use all colours in a similar amount for printing, a printer with a multi-ink cartridge is the most economical solutions.

Summing up, the economy of these cartridge types entirely depends on the use they are put to. Hence, assess your needs before buying or replacing your printer.