Printing in this world began using the wooden block wherein our ancestors living in 6th century AD used to carve patterns on wood with a knife or a chisel, smear color on the raised portions and stamp it down on the material. Then came the era of using individual mobile letters for printing and this was followed by the arrival of printing press. Printer cartridges, as we know them today, were introduced for the first time during the twentieth century but this version still called for improvement. It was in 1984 that printer ink cartridges came into being and revolutionized the entire process.


When printer ink cartridges were introduced, printing was achieved by using the dot matrix method but because this required a ribbon, it was a little messy. Using a ribbon meant that every time the ink finished the printer would cease to function till the ribbon within was replaced. Given the mess involved in the changing of ribbon, people were in search of a technique of ink delivery which would not just be cleaner but long-lasting too. Thanks to the unremitting efforts and persistence of various companies, the solution emerged in form of printer ink cartridges in the year 1990.


From the day that printer ink cartridges were introduced, they were immediately accepted as the main method of printing in every sphere like corporate house, schools, shops and even homes. One of the biggest plus points was quality of the print but an added advantage was that of versatility because now there was no limitation pertaining to the size, type and fabric of paper. Printer cartridges could be black or colored, meaning all the user had to do was to choose an appropriate one depending on whether he wished to print black-and-white documents or colored graphics and images.


There are certain points that need to be borne in mind while buying printer ink cartridges for personal use, the foremost being their compatibility with the printer in which they are supposed to be installed. To find out if the cartridge is compatible with the particular printer model, the first thing that needs to be checked is the identification number as also the model of printer in which it is to be used. It is a must for every printer to be equipped with two printer cartridges, one of which should be black and the other colored and it is not mandatory for these to be brand specific.


Contemporary way of functioning entails large scale printing which in turn translates into bulk requirement of printer ink cartridges. Since replacement of a used cartridge with a new one is a frequent phenomenon, the cost can snowball into a huge figure over a period of time. Thus, it is imperative to acquire education pertaining to printer cartridges so that the user is cognizant of the various available choices as also cost effective options. In this regard, the buyer is faced with three options namely original, remanufactured and compatible cartridges with each having its own set of pros and cons.


Occupying the top rung of the ladder are the original printer ink cartridges and because these are manufactured by the printer companies, they belong to the branded segment and are most expensive. Original printer cartridges that are refilled and recycled instead of being thrown away after being used are termed as being ‘remanufactured’ and in addition to being as efficient as the original these are cheaper too. Then there is the compatible cartridge which is manufactured by a third party but is designed to match well with several models of printers and is definitely economical in terms of making an investment.

It required a lot of effort and research on part of our previous generations to come up with printer ink cartridges http://www.uktonercartridges.co.uk but once introduced these soon became the mainstay of the printing industry. Today, there are various types of printer cartridges http://www.uktonercartridges.co.uk available in the market and the onus is on the user to select one that is most suitable to his needs and budget.