The most significant divide when it comes to printing mechanics and material is, of course, the difference between inkjet and laser printers. Canon inkjet printers use liquid ink that can achieve a deep and vibrant color palette. This is why Canon photo printers use mainly inkjet technology. By contrast, Canon laser printers, which employ static electricity to adhere toner (a kind of powdered ink) to each page, are designed for speed and efficiency. If you want a scanner or copier included in your printer, you can find Canon all-in-one printers in both the inkjet and laser categories.
While many Canon toner and ink cartridges serve multiple Canon printer models, each Canon printer uses only a specific ink or toner cartridge. The user manual for your printer will include the information about the right Canon printer ink cartridges or toner to buy. If you are replacing used Canon printer cartridges, you can also check the model number on the used Canon cartridges to ensure you choose the correct ink or toner replacement.
If you have a Canon MegaTank printer, however, you will buy bottled ink rather than Canon ink cartridges. MegaTank printers use four separate ink tanks—black, cyan, magenta and yellow—that are refillable so that you can print high volumes and achieve less waste!