It is very important that you ensure that your ink is compatible with the printer you intend it for, as well as the job required of it. Difficulties often occur, for instance if someone tries to fit a ‘thermal’ rather than a ‘piezoelectric’ cartridge into machines that use an entirely different scientific method from each other.

There are two different types of process used to transfer ink to the paper on the type of printers small business and personal users come across.

The ‘thermal’ process printers are dominated by the ‘big three’ manufacturers, namely Hewlett-Packard, Canon and Lexmark. The system involves steam and electric pulses.
Inside the ink cartridge amazing things are occurring at terrific speed in molecular detail. Ink reservoirs are heated by minute currents of electricity and the vapour and steam produced is used to push the ink down to the nozzles and onto the paper.

Meanwhile the cartridge has done another job. It has put all the unused ink back in the relevant reservoirs using the remaining steam from the bubbles inside and not used for printing nozzles, and so cleaned itself.

The second main method, which all Epson printers use, is the ‘piezoelectric crystal’ method which is very different in some ways but similar in others. It relies on electricity and crystals which are electrically charged to receive the information from the printer creating a reaction.

Using piezoelectric material just behind the nozzle, electronic signals are sent out from the printer to the crystals which expand or contract as necessary to force the ink down onto the paper at the right speed and intensity. Meanwhile the unused particles are returned to ‘base’ using electro magnetic methods, ensuring the nozzle is ready to work again immediately.

All very clever stuff, but the result of it, from a practical point of view, is that you cannot use the wrong type of cartridge in the wrong machines. A thermal bubble jet printer will not take an Epson cartridge and vica-versa.

Because Epson’s technology is different they have ensured that not only have they managed to keep the price down in many countries, but have also using the same inks and technology that the commercial and professional printers use, manage to produce often better results than their ‘steam’ rivals.

Epson’s vast selection of inks for all needs and wishes are there ready for the choice. If you are looking for specialist inks, or are an occasional, rather than a regular user
of ink cartridges, there is enormous benefit in using the manufacturer’s own inks, not least on the life of your printer, which will be considerably reduced by using non advised inks. Compatible Epson inks to ensure the right ink for your printer give you a massive choice of options, ensuring that the maximum quality is achieved in your printing.