If you are a regular printer user, you know the annoyance of buying printer ink every now and then. Whether you buy it in bulk or individually, the painting ink still costs a lot. But, have you ever thought about why printer ink costs so much?
Well, there are a lot of things that go into the making of printer ink. Apart from mixing the correct pigments, manufacturing and packaging costs are involved. Moreover, to make sure that the printer ink gives the desired result, the priming is tailored. Therefore, the manufacturing process of printer ink is what makes them different from each other.
Wanna know more about why printer ink is very expensive? Continue reading and find out more!
Why Is Printer Ink More Expensive Than A Printer?
You might have noticed that your printer ink costs you more than the printer over the years. But why is that so? Well, this is a marketing gimmick used by printer manufacturers. They keep the price of the printer low so that it would attract more customers over time. On the contrary, they know that the customers will have to buy ink again and again and this is where they make the profit.
Moreover, almost all of the top printers use customized ink. This means that they run well only when you use the company’s manufactured ink and not any other. For this reason, the customer has to buy the ink from the company only. Hence, whether a customer buys ink in bulk or individually, the company still makes a profit.
The Ink Development Process
The process for ink development is itself very detailed and complicated. Every company manufactures its own ink and patents it. This means that no other manufacturers can use their ink manufacturing technology. Here again, the companies have to pay high amounts.
Moreover, the lab work for making the perfect ink requires a lot of research. For instance, as per reports, HP spends $1 billion each year on ink research and development alone. Moreover, the printers also have to be designed in such a way that they are compatible with particular ink cartridges. This again requires a lot of research. Therefore, all in all, companies have to invest millions of dollars in developing the perfect formula for printer ink. Consequently, the price is high.
Specialization Of Ink Cartridges
Every printer requires a different ink cartridge. This applies both to the dimensions of the cartridge and the type of ink it has. Moreover, it is not possible to even place a different colored cartridge in place of another one in the printer’s slot. Even if you try to do so, the cartridge will not fit and the printer will not work. Hence, there are a lot of technicalities involved in manufacturing the printer’s cartridge.
From its shape to its material and much more, work is being done on it. Moreover, the company also adds such materials in the ink that make them resistant to drying and help them last longer if stored properly. Therefore, from printer ink to its cartridge shape and design, it is ensured that each type of ink is specialized to perfection.
Tips To Increase The Lifetime Of Ink Cartridges
Printer ink does cost an arm and a leg especially if you are a regular printer user. So, in what ways can you ensure that your printer cartridge runs that extra mile? Some of the tips are discussed below.
- A great way to save ink is to switch the printer to grayscale mode. So, switch to draft or grayscale mode for regular documents. In this mode, the printer does not deliver very high-quality documents and uses less ink too. Therefore, it is good to use this mode when not printing professional-scale documents.
- Use fonts that use less ink. When not needed, avoid using flashy and bold fonts. Switch to ink-friendly fonts like eco font for professional results and ink saving.
- Do not replace the cartridge at the low ink warning. It has been seen that at times when your printer shows a low ink warning, you can still print a lot. Therefore, when your printer shows such a signal, keep it running until you are sure that it has run out of ink.
- Take your printer for professional service, once a month at least. This will ensure that the print head is cleaned of any clogged ink and it runs smoothly.
Conclusion
Buying printer ink every now and then can be heavy on the pocket. However, when you study the cost that goes into research, manufacture, and packaging, then this cost is quite justified. However, if you use the ink in a sensible way and follow the ink-saving tips, you can save a lot on ink replacement costs over the years.
