| A quick definition of color printing: It takes a | | | | than color. This is due to the lack of need for |
| combination of four colors - Cyan, Magenta, | | | | color printing. Although there may be a call for a |
| Yellow and Black, abbreviated CMYK - to make | | | | few color documents (those aforementioned |
| the span of colors we see in "full-color" (or | | | | spreadsheets and charts) the color consumption is |
| "four-color") prints. You will always have a | | | | low and tri-color cartridges can make sense. |
| separate K cartridge, but you have the option | | | | There are always going to be advantages and |
| today of using printers that take individual C, M | | | | disadvantages with both tri-color and single-color |
| and Y cartridges for color, or ones that take a | | | | cartridges, one of the best aspects of the |
| combined, single, tri-color cartridge. | | | | individual cartridge is the one-by-one replacement. |
| When you're choosing tri-color or single color ink | | | | This becomes even more important when there |
| cartridges, you are going to be using the | | | | is a requirement for multiple copies of the same |
| appropriate one for the printer that you have. | | | | document. You are much more likely to use more |
| Tri-color cartridges are an inkjet creature (and | | | | of one color than another doing this. This makes |
| feature), as color laser printers all have combined | | | | single cartridges a bit more economical. |
| color units rather than separate ones. Having | | | | Bottom lines Since there is always the option to |
| single-color cartridge allows you to refill one color | | | | choose one type of printer over another, you |
| at a time. For instance, if you run out of Cyan ink | | | | need to remember that the most compatible ink |
| in your printer, you can simply replace that one | | | | cartridges are the ones that are made specifically |
| cartridge. With a tri-color cartridge, you must | | | | for your printer. In other words, you are deciding |
| replace the entire unit even when just one color | | | | at the time you buy a printer what kind of |
| runs out. | | | | cartridges you will be using and replacing for the |
| Precision users If you create a wide, often | | | | life of the printer. It is always best to decide on |
| unpredictable mix of different business documents | | | | the printer with a good deal of consideration of |
| with color printing - spreadsheets, business charts, | | | | what type of printing you are really going to do |
| PowerPoint presentations - then the best printer | | | | with it. Remember that if you are the type that |
| for your needs would probably be one that takes | | | | doesn't really use a lot of color then a tri-color |
| separate cartridges. This is especially true the | | | | cartridge printer will probably be ideal for you. |
| more exacting your use becomes. That is, artists | | | | If you print out a lot of pictures, colored |
| and designers who use color more precisely, and | | | | documents, charts, Web page samples and |
| more often, will manage the process better in this | | | | spreadsheets then the best way to go is for a |
| way. Following that logic, some companies make | | | | printer that uses individual color cartridges. You |
| printers for these more exacting, more | | | | should determine the volume of printing you do as |
| "art-oriented" users that include a Light Cyan and | | | | well as the kind. It is very much an individual |
| Light Magenta for combined total of six cartridges. | | | | decision, and one that might tend to either choice |
| They would not make these printers unless there | | | | depending on when you make it. It all depends on |
| were a market for them among these kinds of | | | | the need and use of the printer that you use. This |
| precision users. | | | | will ultimately help you decide the pros and cons |
| As the inks are not used at equal rates, these | | | | of ink cartridges based on your own personal |
| kinds of users usually run out of one color before | | | | needs. |
| the other, which can be wasteful and costly in a | | | | There are always advantages and disadvantages |
| tri-color printer. They would risk throwing away | | | | to using one over the other, which is why some |
| quite a bit of unused ink among the lesser-used | | | | offices have both kinds. A final reminder: |
| colors, and since the amount of ink being used | | | | Monochrome (black ink only) laser printers are the |
| changes a great deal over time there is no way | | | | cheapest way of all to print one-color documents. |
| to accurately predict replacement needs. Tri-color | | | | You might consider having a laser printer for your |
| is not the way to go for these users. | | | | letters and one-color needs, and an inkjet for |
| Normal office users If you don't do much printing | | | | color use. Then again, it's up to you and depends |
| in color and rarely have to change your cartridges | | | | on your unique situation.John Pickering is the |
| then you might consider an inkjet printer with the | | | | owner of EezyTrade.co.uk, an online retailer of |
| one K (black) and one CMY (Cyan, Magenta, | | | | new and refilled ink cartridges for Brother, HP, |
| Yellow) cartridge arrangement, the "tri-color" | | | | Canon, Epson, Lexmark and Xerox printers. Visit |
| approach. Non-artist office workers in both small | | | | us online today for hp ink cartridges and more |
| and large companies who print out inkjet | | | | and begin saving. |
| documents all day long use K (black) ink far more | | | | |