Pixma ink strangeness

[Alex O.]

Hello,

My Canon iP4000 does not seem to use the BCI-6Bk at all, even when I
print color pictures.

The BCI-3eBk, as well as the BCI-6Y/M/C cartridges are now empty (or
almost empty) while the BCI-6Bk looks as full as it was when I put it
in.

What gives?

 

[Gary Tait]

Hello,

My Canon iP4000 does not seem to use the BCI-6Bk at all, even when I
print color pictures.

The BCI-3eBk, as well as the BCI-6Y/M/C cartridges are now empty (or
almost empty) while the BCI-6Bk looks as full as it was when I put it
in.

What gives?

What are you printing? The Pigment black (BCI-3eBk) is used for text on
plain paper.

 

[zakezuke]

My Canon iP4000 does not seem to use the

BCI-6Bk at all, even when I print color pictures.

What gives?

From my understanding, this might not be reality as it's hard to

establish what the software does exactly, the bci-6 black is used only
if the intensity of the black is 80% or higher, otherwise it'll use a
composite grey from cyan magenta and yellow. This behavior is normal
and has been observed by other canon users. Also keep in mind that the
little bci-6 black would be an equal amount from cyan, magenta, and
yellow to make the black. So the little black you do actually use is
actually a huge savings of volume. Whether or not this lack of use is
negated by cleaning cycles depends on the user and what they are
printing. Dark Gothic churches at night for example are a case where
you trully benifit from that little black.

 

[Taliesyn]

Hello,

My Canon iP4000 does not seem to use the BCI-6Bk at all, even when I
print color pictures.

The BCI-3eBk, as well as the BCI-6Y/M/C cartridges are now empty (or
almost empty) while the BCI-6Bk looks as full as it was when I put it
in.

What gives?

Nothing. It's quite normal, it's not used that often. I refill my tanks
and the BCI-6 black empties at a much slower rate. Often it's still over
two thirds full when the other colors are already running out. If you
use genuine Canon inks, be thankful; it's money in your pocket. If you
refill, well, it's once less tank to fill

-Taliesyn

 

[Knightcrawler]

This is why it's wise to buy IP3000 bulk ink since it doesn't include the
photo black. Otherwise you will have 4 ounces of photo black that will last
you for 20 years.


........

 

[Alex O.]

Hello,

My Canon iP4000 does not seem to use the BCI-6Bk at all, even when I
print color pictures.

The BCI-3eBk, as well as the BCI-6Y/M/C cartridges are now empty (or
almost empty) while the BCI-6Bk looks as full as it was when I put it
in.

What gives?

Thank you for your comments.

I actually found out elsewhere that the printer will use only the
BCI-3e (pigment) black on "plain paper". When I set the paper type to
"photo paper", it happily used the BCI-6 (dye) black.

 

[Taliesyn]

Thank you for your comments.

I actually found out elsewhere that the printer will use only the
BCI-3e (pigment) black on "plain paper". When I set the paper type to
"photo paper", it happily used the BCI-6 (dye) black.

Well it looks "black" but I believe it's actually a mix of the 3 primary
colors. And the black BCI-6 isn't one of them. If you have a rather high
power magnifier, a strong light, you can usually see stray color dots
(red and blues, the yellow is too hard to pick up. When I do high
quality work at the photo paper setting I check with a magnifier to see
if the 3 colors have properly "focussed".

-Taliesyn

 

[Davy]

Funny my blacks seem to outlast the other colurs in the ip5000, sur
seems like the yellow that empties first, that's normal I guess wit
just three colours to make a rainbow and not just with Cano
printers

As previously mentioned, it really does depend on the photo content

Dav

 

[Burt]

Funny my blacks seem to outlast the other colurs in the ip5000, sure
seems like the yellow that empties first, that's normal I guess with
just three colours to make a rainbow and not just with Canon
printers.

As previously mentioned, it really does depend on the photo content.

Davy

With my six color printer (i960) the two low dye load inks, photo cyan and
photo magenta, are used at double the rate as other colors except for yellow
which is the next most frequent cart to require refilling. Makes sense as
the low dye load inks are used to give more subtle color gradations in their
respective color areas, and the yellow is the most used color for blending
with magenta and cyan to make shades from the blue to green spectrum and
from the red to orange spectrum. Since I use the printer exclusively for
color photos black is the least used color.