Printers are common in homes and businesses, but the type of ink needed for different print jobs isn’t universal. For example, inkjet printers use liquid pigment to achieve detail and vibrancy. Unlike laser printers, which use toner, inkjet printers are generally preferred for printing photographs or color graphics. The quality of the printing also depends partially on the ink level in the printer. You don’t want to run low at the wrong time.

Each brand of printer makes its own proprietary printer ink cartridges. Often, color printers take one black ink cartridge and one color ink cartridge. Printers use cyan, magenta and yellow (in combination with black) to create the full color palette. Some inkjet printers, such as many photo printers, have separate cartridges for each color.

Additionally, many printer brands now offer supertank printers. This style of printer uses refillable ink tanks. The tanks can house considerably more ink than cartridges can, perfect for high-volume printing, and they produce less waste by eliminating the need for plastic cartridges. To refill these printers, you can buy ink supplies in bottles.

Always follow your printer’s ink refill instructions to ensure your documents continue to print correctly. You also need to buy the right ink, or ink cartridge, for your precise brand and model. It is best to replace cartridges (or refill ink tanks) in a timely manner to prevent images from coming out pale or incomplete. Many printers will also start to use color ink to fill in for black ink if you run out of the latter.

If you're printing a series of high-resolution images, logos, or pictures, your printer will go through ink more quickly. You can make sure you have replacement ink by buying ink multi-packs or by signing up for an ink subscription, available through some printer brands.

To achieve the best printouts, you will also want to use high-quality paper. For printing photographs, which you can print directly from your phone as well as from a tablet or computer, you should always use photo paper. To prepare and enhance your images before printing, consider investing in photo editing software or graphic design software.