The ink toner prices can be high and contribute to a significant expense to the overall cost of printing within your home or your business. Alternative products such as remanufactured cartridges as well as refills are some of the options that have given consumers reprieve as far as high costs of printing is concerned.

The problem is that counterfeit OEMs have also contributed significantly to the decline in quality of printing. Counterfeiters have taken advantage of the high prices of the OEM to provide cheap but poor quality alternatives. The main problem is that some of these consumers are misinformed and have no idea that there are compatible cartridgesfrom independent manufactures.

Refilling and Replacing

Another trend that has compromised quality is DIY refilling. Because the manufacturers of compatible toners have made it possible for consumers to refill the cartridge, many consumers have taken it upon themselves to do the refills on their own at home.

The problem with this is that the refills need to be done properly and some level of skill and precision is required to maintain quality. Refilling can widen holes and cause bubbles to be introduced into the toner making the printout quality poor. If you are not sure how to do the refilling it is best to buy cartridges that have already been refilled or remanufactured to avoid errors and further problems.

Technologies Used

Many inkjet printers and cartridges such as the HP inkjet printersuse either thermal or piezoelectric technologies to deliver the ink to the paper and to ensure that the printout is of the highest quality.

Both of these technologies rely on quality ink to do this. They should have precise chemical properties to ensure that the process is precise and the image is sharp. The chemical used for printing should remain liquid and should not dry up quickly. Drying up over time is a problem that is common with counterfeited discount toner cartridges.

Other Factors

Other factors such as the paper you use will and can affect the quality of the printout. The level of paper absorbency can make the picture sharper. Thicker papers are often used for photos and promotional materials because they deliver the sharp crispy image suitable for such.

To get the best ink toner, ensure that you use genuine parts from reliable compatible manufacturers. You should opt for the ones that have already been refilled as opposed to refilling them yourself.