About Canon PIXMA Printer Ink
Canon’s PIXMA series of inkjet printers is well-suited for any home or office use. Some models focus on photo-only print capabilities, while other models have evolved to become better suited for general printing. Even as the series shifted towards general print use, Canon never forfeited any of the PIXMA line’s strengths as a photo printer. The features and specs of a given PIXMA model may vary from the rest of the series, but some features on recent models include borderless printing, wireless printing from your mobile device, and even a Bluetooth option.
Because these printers use inkjet technology, they will require black and color ink cartridges. The particular ink cartridge you need for your PIXMA printer will vary, depending on which model you own, but some commonly used ink cartridges include Canon PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, CL-246 and the PGi-250, and CLi-251 series cartridges. 1ink.com offers you quality and performance comparable to what you would get from original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Canon ink cartridges without charging you OEM prices. Our discounted compatible and remanufactured replacement Canon ink cartridges are guaranteed to be free from any factory defects and they’re guaranteed to print stunning photos and text documents in your compatible Canon PIXMA printer.
Starting in 2004 with the first iteration of the Canon PIXMA, the line of photo printers have evolved over the years and split off into many different subseries. With its ever-growing popularity, the versatile line of printers does not seem to be going anywhere soon. Part of the reason the Canon Pixma is so popular is that it specializes in so many niche printing categories, such as professional photo printing.
The Canon PIXMA line of printers includes all subseries such as the PIXMA G, PIXMA MG, PIXMA MX, PIXMA iP, PIXMA i, PIXMA Pro, PIXMA TS, PIXMA TR, and PIXMA MP series of printers.
What does PIXMA stand for?
Though you may hear the unofficial tagline "PIXels MAtter" (PIXMA) being thrown around on the internet is incorrect.
According to Canon themselves, they define the acronym of PIXMA as:
- PI = "pursuing the highest image quality."
- MA = "producing an image at the greatest speed."
- X = "the link between input and output."
The Canon PIXMA line of printers can be broken down into the following traits:
- PIXMA MG and PIXMA TS are primarily Photo All-in-One Printers.
- PIXMA G refers to the MegaTank line of printers, which use refillable ink tanks.
- PIXMA MX refers to Office All-In-One printers.
- PIXMA iP and PIXMA i refer to Single Function Photo printers.
- PIXMA Pro refers to the Professional grade of Canon printers.
- PIXMA TS & PIXMA TR are the newest line of printers which refer to their All-in-One Capabilities with a compact design.
These all go under the umbrella term of PIXMA printers, which can easily distinguish them between the other line of Canon printers.
What Ink Cartridges Do Canon PIXMA Printers Use?
The Canon PIXMA umbrella includes hundreds of printers within all of its sub-series. Not all PIXMA printers will use the same ink cartridges, so it is highly recommended to research which ink cartridge will work with your specific PIXMA printer model.
Some of the more popular and modern PIXMA printers use the Canon 280 ink for black and Canon 281 ink for color. Others, like the majority of the Canon PIXMA TS series, use Canon 245 ink for black and Canon 246 ink for color.
Certain ink cartridges like the aforementioned Canon CL 246 come in single tri-color cartridges, while other photo-specific PIXMA printers dedicate whole cartridges to cyan, magenta, and yellow colors.
Additionally, some Canon PIXMA printers use two different 'black' cartridges. The Canon 250 ink is made with pigment-based ink, while the Canon 251 ink is made with dye-based ink. Both give off different properties and are used for either photo or text-based printing to achieve the highest quality results and fit in the same Canon PIXMA printers.
With a vast selection of ink cartridges, it is easy to get confused when talking about Canon printer ink. Knowing which specific cartridge set fits your printer is critical. We recommend writing them down before purchasing, or you can use our Quick Ink Finder tool that is located right on our home page. Simply select your printer brand, followed by your printer model, and our online tool will direct you to the exact ink cartridges that you need for your printer.
Canon Ink Pricing for PIXMA Printers
The pricing for Canon printer ink varies drastically with every sub-series. As mentioned before, some Canon PIXMA printers will only need two cartridges (Black and Tri-Color), while others will need a full set of four to eight (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Photo Cyan, Photo Magenta, Red, and Green).
There are even some stranger niche products like the Canon 281 Photo Blue ink cartridge that remain an anomaly. This cartridge is required for some PIXMA printers like the Canon Pixma TS 8222 but must be bought separately from any of the official Canon multi-color ink cartridge bundles. Yet, this ink cartridge is essential for your Canon printer to run correctly.
Canon takes their printer ink business seriously, which means you're going to be doing a lot of juggling to see which one needs to be replaced. That's not even taking into account the standard and extra-high-yield versions of each ink cartridge.
We're going to break down the pricing of some of the more current and popular Canon printer ink cartridges to compare and contrast each other.
Printers like the Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II use eight different color ink cartridges to achieve professional-grade photo printing from a home device. These cartridges may not seem that pricey on their own, but filling up an entire set will cost you more than $150.
With each ink cartridge costing around $19.99 and only having enough ink to produce around 150 pages, you can see where the costly cartridge maintenance fees come into play. Stop overpaying for the same quality printer ink and save more of your hard-earned money.
1ink.com offers compatible Canon printer ink cartridges that cost so much less than the original, yet deliver the quality that is at par with the brand name. The same cartridges to fit your Canon PIXMA PRO 9000 cost 77% less than what you would pay in the stores. Our compatible cartridges are brand new and guaranteed to work with your Canon PIXMA printer. We provide a 1-Year Warranty and 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee all of our products.
What is the Best Canon PIXMA Printer?
While a subjective statement, there are some pretty great standouts in the Canon PIXMA series of printers that deserve mention.
The best Canon Pixma Printers that the internet has been clamoring about lately are both the Canon PIXMA MG2522 as well as the Canon PIXMA MG3620. Rightly so, both printers are absolute staples within the current printing realm. The Canon PIXMA MG2522, in particular, has seen a considerable surge in popularity over the past few years due to its economical nature.
While on the subject, there are some printers such as the Canon PIXMA TR4520, which is not only budget-friendly but also has a sleek, modern, and compact design that is sure to fit any home office. This printer also has an excellent track record for producing consistent and high-quality prints, especially for photographs. With Auto Duplexing features built right in the machine, this is the perfect entry-level printer for those looking to own a reliable yet consistent device for a moderate print load.
If you're looking for a little more bang for your buck, the Canon PIXMA TS9120 is also our pick for great moderate printing all around. It's an all-in-one inkjet printer with a six-ink cartridge design to output more realistic coloring. The Canon TS9120 is able to produce more' true-to-life' images by using its specialized pigment black and photo-blue ink cartridges that more precisely match the realistic colors of photos.
There are also some higher-end standouts like the Canon PIXMA PRO series, which is specifically designed for those who are looking to print photos and various other professional art projects. The Canon PIXMA 100 Pro is the premier-level professional photo printer to look out for. With a resolution of up to 4800 x 2400, the output from this photo printer is phenomenal. The Canon Pro 100 even works for the more unique projects, as it can also print full-color art on media cases, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.
How Do I Install or Replace Ink Cartridges in my Canon PIXMA Printer?
As stated before, not all PIXMA printers use the same Canon ink cartridges. However, they do use a similar method of replacing their ink cartridges throughout their PIXMA series. While all Canon printers may have a slightly different installation, following the steps below can be used for most PIXMA printers.
- Make sure that your Canon PIXMA printer is on.
- Open the cover of the printer to reveal the cartridge carriage.
- Apply pressure and push down on the ink cartridge to release it from its safety lock.
- Once you hear a click, you can safely remove the used ink cartridge from the slot.
- Remove the new replacement cartridge from its respective packaging, make sure to remove any plastic clips or safety tape that may be obstructing the cartridge.
- Insert the new ink cartridge at a slant until it fits snugly inside the cartridge slot.
- Apply pressure and push down on the front of the cartridge to lock it in place safely.
- Close the cover of the Canon PIXMA printer.
How to Save Money on Canon Ink Cartridges for PIXMA Printers?
We're not going to sugarcoat anything; Canon printer ink is expensive. Maintaining a professional output quality is linked to using high-grade ink cartridges. But some alternatives can give you the same quality printer ink at a fraction of the cost of the original brand.
Using compatible Canon ink cartridges is a highly cost-effective method of printing. These are cheap Canon ink cartridges that can save you a tone of money, yet deliver incredible print results that can easily match the original brand names. Compatible ink cartridges are designed from the ground up to fit inside of your Canon PIXMA printer accurately. Our compatible PIXMA ink cartridges give you the same photo-realistic resolution you would expect from an original Canon product, but at a price that is affordable for everyone. Whether you have a newer Canon PIXMA MG3620 or even an older Canon PIXMA MG2522, we have an assortment of inks that are sure to fit your specific Canon Printer.
1ink.com has been the leader in compatible cartridge innovation over the past 20 years. With an easy to navigate website and a commitment to serving our community with affordable printer ink, it's a no-brainer to choose 1ink.com for all of your printing needs. To save even more, check out our home page for exclusive discount printer ink and a custom ink coupon code.