Canon Ink Test

[George E. Cawthon]

After suggesting a test to determine if printer
ink is dye or pigmented ink, I decided I should do
my own simple test.

I printed test pages: #1 was standard print
quality, regular paper on one page (supposed to be
pigmented ink), #2 was standard print quality on
regular paper and duplex (suppose to be dye ink),
and #3 was standard print quality on high
resolution paper on one page (supposed to be dye
ink). #1 was slightly darker than #2 and #3 was
the darkest.

My tests consisted of swabbing a section of each
page with water, denatured alcohol, and WD-40 (new
section of pages for each swab). Water swab, #1
smeared very slightly, #2 smeared less, #3 smeared
a lot. I repeated the test and got even less
smearing on #1 and #2. Smearing was directly
related to the darkness of the print. About 5
minutes later I swabbed with alcohol and WD-40,
but neither had any effect on any of the pages.
Another water swab also had no effect. My guess
is that smearing with the first water swab
resulted because the ink had not dried.

Conclusion: Either the inks do not prints as
people state, or water swabs will not determine
whether the ink is pigmented or dye. Note that my
black dye is from alotofthings (Formula Labs) but
the pigmented black is the original Canon cartridge,

I decided to expand my test a bit because so many
people talk about inks not being water fast. So I
soaked and washed Test papers #1 and #2 in a
basin. Sears from the first water swab washed
out, but there was no more smearing and both paper
appear (except for all the wrinkles) the same as
they came from the printer.

 

[sam]

After suggesting a test to determine if printer ink is dye or pigmented
ink, I decided I should do my own simple test.

I printed test pages: #1 was standard print quality, regular paper on
one page (supposed to be pigmented ink), #2 was standard print quality on
regular paper and duplex (suppose to be dye ink), and #3 was standard
print quality on high resolution paper on one page (supposed to be dye
ink). #1 was slightly darker than #2 and #3 was the darkest.

My tests consisted of swabbing a section of each page with water,
denatured alcohol, and WD-40 (new section of pages for each swab). Water
swab, #1 smeared very slightly, #2 smeared less, #3 smeared a lot. I
repeated the test and got even less smearing on #1 and #2. Smearing was
directly related to the darkness of the print. About 5 minutes later I
swabbed with alcohol and WD-40, but neither had any effect on any of the
pages. Another water swab also had no effect. My guess is that smearing
with the first water swab resulted because the ink had not dried.

Conclusion: Either the inks do not prints as people state, or water swabs
will not determine whether the ink is pigmented or dye. Note that my
black dye is from alotofthings (Formula Labs) but the pigmented black is
the original Canon cartridge,

I decided to expand my test a bit because so many people talk about inks
not being water fast. So I soaked and washed Test papers #1 and #2 in a
basin. Sears from the first water swab washed out, but there was no more
smearing and both paper appear (except for all the wrinkles) the same as
they came from the printer.

My experience that a quick way to tell black dye ink
from pigment ink is to swab a bit on glossy photopaper
using a Q-tip. The dye ink go on smooth and easy.
The pigment ink will not apply evenly, there will be
noticable light and dark streaks.

 

[Taliesyn]

My experience that a quick way to tell black dye ink
from pigment ink is to swab a bit on glossy photopaper
using a Q-tip. The dye ink go on smooth and easy.
The pigment ink will not apply evenly, there will be
noticable light and dark streaks.

Yes, dye will be shiny while pigment will be dull when smeared on photo
paper - it must be the glossy type.

My easiest test is putting the container or cartridge up against a
strong light. Dye will easily show as purplish red. You really can't
see anything but black when you try this with pigment ink. Light doesn't
penetrate it nearly at all, or not at all. If it does it should be black
and not purplish red.

Another is a simple print test. Dye will run (feather) terribly after a
brief soaking in warm water - the paper, not the printer! Good pigment
ink should remain virtually intact after the soaking.

-Taliesyn

 

[George E. Cawthon]

My experience that a quick way to tell black dye ink
from pigment ink is to swab a bit on glossy photopaper
using a Q-tip. The dye ink go on smooth and easy.
The pigment ink will not apply evenly, there will be
noticable light and dark streaks.

I'll have to try that. Others have suggested
that the pigment ink looks dull(sits on the
surface?) while the dye is shiny.

In any case, I have proven to my satisfaction that
swabbing with water, alcohol, or oil is useless in
distinguishing whether the ink is dye or pigment.

 

[George E. Cawthon]

Yes, dye will be shiny while pigment will be dull when smeared on photo
paper - it must be the glossy type.

My easiest test is putting the container or cartridge up against a
strong light. Dye will easily show as purplish red. You really can't
see anything but black when you try this with pigment ink. Light doesn't
penetrate it nearly at all, or not at all. If it does it should be black
and not purplish red.

Another is a simple print test. Dye will run (feather) terribly after a
brief soaking in warm water - the paper, not the printer! Good pigment
ink should remain virtually intact after the soaking.

-Taliesyn

Ok, I just ran my own test. I can not see through
either bottle of black, but the test swabs on
glossy photo paper do show the pigmented is duller
and the dye is shinier.

I also note that my test paper #3 (high quality
paper) the water swabs were definitely reddish and
smeared more than the other tests. Just now,
about18 hours after printing #3, I tried the soak
test. Yes, the printing runs (still very
readable) and the water has a slight reddish tinge.

I am now convinced that duplexing, at least on my
machine, uses pigmented ink not dye ink. Still it
is strange that duplexing results in a slightly
lighter print than not duplexing. This very
obvious when using a smaller type and using draft
mode.

 

[Taliesyn]

Ok, I just ran my own test. I can not see through either bottle of
black,

I suppose the size of your bottle is quite large, interfering with light
passage. It's easiest in the cartridge, right at the corners where the
quantity of ink is the thinnest, allowing light to pass through. You can
also try pouring a bit in some very thin/narrow container for a better
visual.

but the test swabs on glossy photo paper do show the pigmented is
duller and the dye is shinier.

Yes, that looks like a positive ID for you.

I also note that my test paper #3 (high quality paper) the water swabs
were definitely reddish and smeared more than the other tests. Just
now, about18 hours after printing #3, I tried the soak test. Yes, the
printing runs (still very readable) and the water has a slight reddish
tinge.

I am now convinced that duplexing, at least on my machine, uses
pigmented ink not dye ink. Still it is strange that duplexing results
in a slightly lighter print than not duplexing. This very obvious when
using a smaller type and using draft mode.

Duplexing uses dye and possibly some pigment. If you have a strong
magnifying glass/magnifier - even microscope, you will see red, blue,
and probably yellow dots of your color dye inks. Haven't bothered
finding out what the actual black dots are composed of. Doesn't really
matter. The important thing is, it uses some color ink. I refuse to use
it because it takes twice as long as just flipping the pages by hand.
That, plus it prints a lighter black instead of true pigment black.

-Taliesyn

 

[George E. Cawthon]

I suppose the size of your bottle is quite large, interfering with light
passage. It's easiest in the cartridge, right at the corners where the
quantity of ink is the thinnest, allowing light to pass through. You can
also try pouring a bit in some very thin/narrow container for a better
visual.


Yes, that looks like a positive ID for you.


Duplexing uses dye and possibly some pigment. If you have a strong
magnifying glass/magnifier - even microscope, you will see red, blue,
and probably yellow dots of your color dye inks. Haven't bothered
finding out what the actual black dots are composed of. Doesn't really
matter. The important thing is, it uses some color ink. I refuse to use
it because it takes twice as long as just flipping the pages by hand.
That, plus it prints a lighter black instead of true pigment black.

-Taliesyn

Frankly, I'm still confused. I just carefully
looked at my washed #1 and #2 papers. There are
no color dots on either paper, but it is possible
that the color washed out of #2 but there is no
smearing so I don't think that is likely. I
didn't notice before, but the duplex (#2) type is
a pattern while single page (#1) is solid. Draft
single page is also a pattern (no color), but is
not the same pattern as #2. Duplex (#2) appears
to have a more open dot pattern while draft one
page appears to have a denser dot pattern. Guess
I'll do more extensive testing. I once printed
something with small type in draft and possibly
also duplex and it was so light I decided to never
use draft. Since my draft, one page is quite
good, it may be the pattern also varies with font
size.

Too bad, Canon couldn't just present a chart of
what each option (paper, print quality, duplexing)
do to ink application. HP doesn't include
detailed information for my HP 970. The big
surprise with HP 970 is that draft mode is several
times faster than selecting standard, but the type
quality and density is almost the same.