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| Some printer manufacturers claim that their printing systems are efficient and therefore save ink, based on the type of cartridge used. But are they really? We separate fact from myth and get to the bottom of the printing efficiency question — so you can make an informed choice. |
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Myth: Individual-cartridge printing systems = more efficient ink usage
Fact: Not necessarily — efficient ink usage does not depend on the type of cartridge. |
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Some printer manufacturers claim that systems with tri-colour cartridges waste ink as the whole cartridge needs to be replaced when a particular colour runs out; whereas in individual-cartridge systems, only the ink that has run out needs be replaced.
In truth, efficient ink usage is not about the type of cartridge (individual or tri-colour), but rather about the design and performance of the printing system.
To demonstrate the point, HP commissioned independent research by SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory. The research shows that tested against comparable HP tri-colour-cartridge printers, competing-brand printers with individual ink cartridges used twice as much ink to print the same number of pages*! With their efficient design, HP printers print up to twice as many high-quality pages using the same amount of ink as competing printers with individual ink cartridges*. Clearly, printers with individual ink cartridges for each colour are not inherently more efficient than printers with tri-colour cartridges. |
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Myth: Residual ink left in tri-colour cartridges is the only source of wasted ink.
Fact: If the system is inefficient, ink used for printer maintenance can be the major source of wasted ink. |
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The reason why the above-mentioned competing-brand printers require twice as much ink to print the same number of pages as the HP printers tested is because as much as 50%* of their ink supply is consumed in keeping the print nozzles clog-free and removing disruptive air bubbles from the system, not for printing.
All inkjet printers use some ink for such purposes to maintain printing performance and reliability, but you can minimise the ink sacrificed if you choose a printing system with an efficient design. HP systems feature unique designs that avoid such inefficiencies, saving more ink for printing. These include:
- System maintenance design
HP printers have a unique inkjet service station (where servicing of the printhead occurs) with patented, precision-engineered wiper-blades that keep printhead nozzles clean. This is complemented by a leak-resistant capping system that prevents the nozzles from clogging during inactivity.
- Highly pure, non-crusting ink design
HP inks don't crust up when the printer is not in use — preventing the nozzles from clogging..
- Air management design
Air bubbles in the ink are a natural consequence of inkjet printing, but they must be cleared to ensure consistent print quality. HP tackles this problem innovatively. In tri-colour cartridges, the air is captured in a pocket of space built into each ink chamber. When the cartridge is replaced, the system is refreshed - along with a new printhead. In an HP individual-cartridge printer, the air is separated from the ink in a special chamber and released through vents, while the ink is re-circulated into the system for printing.
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Myth: Page yield specifications fully represent the page yields that a customer will actually experience.
Fact: Actual page yields will vary depending on several factors, including images printed, the customer's printing habits and efficiency of the printing system. |
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The potential number of pages that can be printed from a cartridge — its page yield — is typically measured by printing non-stop 'in one go' until the fresh cartridge is out of ink. This is the manner by which page yields are typically measured and stated by manufacturers and in product reviews. Without breaks in printing, the printer does not conduct the system maintenance it would need to conduct under typical day-to-day operation. This means 'continuous page yields' do not account for ink used for printer maintenance.
In real life however, most people use their printers intermittently rather than continuously. Such 'start-and-stop' printing patterns naturally incur periodic printer maintenance. An efficient system uses minimal ink for this maintenance, leaving more ink for printing. This lessens the impact on page yield and thus printing cost. In the SpencerLab research, HP printers tested showed the smallest percentage change in page yields between continuous printing and start-and-stop, or intermittent, printing — a result of efficient design. Competing brand yields dropped significantly.*
So if you care about page yield and its impact on printing cost, look beyond the claims and consider the role of your printer's efficiency.
Click here to read more |
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| *Based on printers and usage profiles tested in independent testing, Inkjet Printing Efficiency: Yield and the Customer Experience, SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory, July 2005, commissioned by HP. |
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| Did you know that... |
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1. |
Ink is not just used for printing? |
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How often you print and your printer's efficiency affect page yield? |
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3. |
The ink-saving designs of HP printing systems make them more efficient than other brands? |
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Read on for details |
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