At a glance
- A printer can combine different ink types.
- Ink must suit the sheet’s coating.
- A photo setting alone does not prove which black channel is used.
Identify both families cartridge by cartridge
Dye ink contains dissolved colourants; pigment ink contains suspended particles. The printer name or the presence of tanks is not enough to identify the family it uses.
Some photo printers use dye inks only. Others combine a pigment black for certain uses with dye photo inks. Record cartridge references and their descriptions from the manufacturer’s documents.
Match ink to coating
The sheet coating must absorb the deposited ink. Our Semi-Gloss and Gloss are dye-only; Matte and Luster accept both types according to their specifications. This information remains specific to each product.
If a printer has a pigment black and is used with dye-only paper, check whether the manufacturer documents the channel used. Do not promise that a media mode disables that ink without evidence for that model and setting.
Interpret smudging
Smudging can result from unsuitable ink, excessive deposition or early handling. Start with the ink/coating check, then change only one setting at a time.
Waiting longer does not automatically make an incompatible coating suitable. Stop the batch if ink keeps transferring, record the paper and settings, and compare media with documented accepted ink.
Questions about this guide
Does inkjet paper accept every ink?
Not necessarily. The inkjet label must be supplemented by the coating’s stated accepted ink type.
Should I change the driver or paper if ink stays tacky?
Check ink and coating first. If the combination is permitted, then compare one setting at a time on a single sheet.
Sources
Manufacturer limits apply to the media and feed paths stated in each document. A documentary match is not a physical test of our cardstock.
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