Toner Vs. Ink Cartridge

Ink cartridges must be changed periodically.

Toners and ink cartridges are the main consumable element of printers, both at home and in the office. They provide the substances that allow printers to mark the paper indelibly.

Laser Printers

Toner is used in laser printers. Rather than apply ink directly to the page, these printers create the outline of an image on a drum or roller using electrostatic charge. The printers cover this outline with toner, which is attracted to the negatively charged ions on the drum. The roller is then pressed onto the page, leaving behind the image left by the toner. Finally, the toner is fixed in place by the application of heat. This is why laser-printed pages are hot to the touch. An identical process is used in photocopiers.

Toners

Toner is made from carbon dust mixed with a polymer that is used by manufacturers to control more precisely the melting point of the toner. Colored toners also contain pigment; in color printing, the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black are used.

Inkjet Printers

Ink cartridges are used in inkjet printers. These printers create images by applying ink directly to the page. The ink is held in small chambers and then heated at precise intervals. The heat causes the liquid ink to expand into a bubble and then burst, propelling ink onto the page.

Ink Cartridges

Ink cartridges contain water-based ink. They also typically use a volatile additive so the heating and bursting of the ink bubbles can be controlled and predetermined.

Toner Vs Ink Cartridge

Each method has advantages. Laser printing is considerably faster than inkjet printing, but it also uses more energy, and the laser printer and toner are both more expensive than inkjet printers and ink. Generally, inkjet printers tend to be used in the home or in small offices where the speed and volume of the printing are less important than its cost. In busier environments, where speed is paramount, laser printing tends to be the norm.

References

• PC Mag: Inkjet Printer Definition
• Samsung Printer Cartridges: How do Laser Printers Work?