F.A.Q's,

Picture Expert frequently asked questions and answers.

What is a compatible inkjet cartridge?

A 'compatible' cartridge is a brand new cartridge that has been manufactured by a company other than the printer manufacturer. Compatible ink is manufactured for several types of machines including fax machines, laser printers, inkjet printers, multifunction printers, and copiers. Aside from compatible products, three other sources of consumables are also available, including OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) brand ink and toner, remanufactured ink and toner cartridges, and refilled ink and toner cartridges. Compatible ink manufacturers differentiate their product by using all new parts, whereas other ink replacements recycle used OEM parts.

When you consider buying an ink cartridge for your printer, the primary factor that you need to think about is how much you want to spend. Buying a new inkjet cartridge will depend upon how much you want to pay. You can purchase a brand new original ink cartridge, or you can buy a new compatible ink cartridge. Both types of inkjet cartridges will give you the same quality, quantity and performance you have come to expect from your printer. The difference is in the price: a brand name cartridge can cost about twice the price you would pay for a compatible ink cartridge.

Compatible ink cartridges are specially manufactured to meet OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specifications. Manufacturers usually set very high standards of quality and reliability and offer high quality printing results, often exceeding the quality specification set by the OEM.

These cartridges are manufactured with new components and are an economical alternative to expensive brand name cartridges.

You may also notice that the compatible cartridge will print as many or more pages than an original OEM cartridge. This can be attributed to some original OEM ink cartridges not being filled to capacity. In this case a compatible inkjet cartridge may give you a double advantage: it can reduce your cost per cartridge and reduce your cost per page by printing more pages.

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Why buy compatible or remanufactured cartridges?

The main reason is because it saves you money! In addition to saving customers money, there is also the environmental issue; a remanufactured cartridge has been recycled and therefore reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.

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What does OEM mean?

OEM means 'Original Equipment Manufacturer', which refers to a cartridge that has been manufactured by the same company as the printer.

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What is a recycled cartridge or toner?

A recycled inkjet or toner cartridge that has been comprehensively cleaned, conditioned and refilled for use again. It is the ecologically friendly solution; that you can depend on to perform just as well and last every bit as long as the original.

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Would using remanufactured or compatible inkjet and laser cartridges void my warranty?

Major printer manufacturers normally sell printers at or below cost. They make their profits from selling the cartridges. Formerly, after buying your new (and in some cases, expensive) printer there was no option but to buy one of their cartridges when the time came for a new cartridge. However, when using compatible or remanufactured cartridges you will be cutting into their primary source of profit.

Using a compatible or a refilled print cartridge does not affect the warranty unless failure of, or damage to the printer can be attributed solely to the cartridge. Keep in mind that the ink does not touch any part of the printer or internal parts other than the cartridge and print head. The ink is applied to the paper as the paper is fed through the printer.

Should your printer be damaged as a direct result of the cartridges (original or compatible) supplied to you by Picture Expert, we will either replace or repair your printer free of charge.

Any hardware problems with the printer are still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

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Will I get the same number of printed pages from a compatible ink cartridge as an original cartridge?

You will get at least the same number of printed pages from compatible inkjet cartridges as you will get from an OEM inkjet cartridge. Customers are reporting many, many more pages of print per cartridge over their OEM inkjet cartridges.

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Does a compatible cartridge last as long as an original?

Yes - You will get at least the same number of printed pages from compatible or remanufactured cartridges as you will get from original (OEM) cartridges.

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Lifespan of cartridges

The lifespan of any cartridge circuit is not a set period. The resistors in the electronic circuit can continue to operate correctly for many refills, but have no guarantee for when they will fail after the cartridge has been used once. The condition and durability of the cartridge mainly depends on the usage and age of the cartridge.

When you buy a remanufactured ink cartridge, you are buying a guarantee that the ink cartridge works correctly and if not, it will be replaced with an ink cartridge that does or your money back. When paying for a refill, you are purely paying for the expertise, high quality ink and labour.

The cartridge is your property and its condition and functionality is dependent on how well maintained the cartridge is and was before refilling.

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My printer is not listed on the box

Some compatible cartridges are compatible with over 30 printers. Therefore the supplier cannot list all printers on the packaging. If you have any doubt regarding the compatibility of the cartridge, please contact your cartridge supplier before trying to install the cartridge.

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My printer won't recognise the cartridge

Firstly, please check that you have the correct cartridge(s) for your printer.

Then check that the cartridges have been firmly placed into the printer. If they have not clicked into the cradle correctly they will not work.

If you are still experiencing problems please try our cleaning advice:

• Place some old newspaper down to capture any spillage of ink. Remove the cartridge from your printer - switch your printer off.
• Using a piece of damp kitchen roll, gently wipe the copper plate on the cartridge to give it a thorough clean.
• Allow the chip to dry.
• Once the chip is completely dry, re-install the cartridge into your printer and switch the printer back on.
• We would recommend that you run the print head cleaning program on your printer to clean the heads and push the ink through. For best results you should run the programme 3-4 times.

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The cartridges are correct for the make and model of printer and are recognised by the printer but are not printing?

Please make sure the protective plastic cover has been taken off the print head (some cartridges have a protective label that needs to be removed).

We would recommend that you run the print head cleaning programme on your printer to clean the heads and push the ink through. For best results you should run the programme 3-4 times.

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My colour cartridge does not print one of the colours, is missing a colour, or prints very faint. How do I get it to work properly?

Sometimes, during transportation, the cartridge may have been laying on one side, causing the colours to mix or the print head to dry out. This can happen with both OEM and remanufactured inks. The first thing to do is to try printing 3-4 pages, using all the colours. This may allow for the missing colours to “kick in”. If this does not work, then try the following:

• Place some old newspaper down to capture any spillage of ink. Remove the cartridge from your printer - switch your printer off.
• Using a piece of damp kitchen roll, gently wipe the copper plate on the cartridge to give it a thorough clean.
• Allow the chip to dry.
• Once the chip is completely dry, re-install the cartridge into your printer and switch the printer back on.
• We would recommend that you run the print head cleaning program on your printer to clean the heads and push the ink through. For best results you should run the programme 3-4 times.

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Is the cartridge you sent me correct? It looks different?

Compatible cartridges sometimes look slightly different to the originals (OEM). This is to protect the property rights owned by the original manufacturer. All of our cartridges have been thoroughly tested and the cartridge you have received will work in your printer. Some of our compatible cartridges are compatible with over 30 printers, and therefore we cannot list all printers on the packaging.

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Incorrect ink level readings

Some printers are sensitive to the cartridges that they use. Software on the printer can produce the message you see regarding low or zero ink levels if the machine detects a cartridge that is not a manufacturer’s original cartridge.

The cartridge should last as long if not longer than the original and we do guarantee this. If you are happy to persevere with the cartridge and find it runs out in an unreasonable amount of time then your supplier will happily replace the item for you free of charge.

However, there could possibly be a problem with the communication between the cartridge and your printer - this is usually caused by dirt, such as dust or even a fingerprint, on the copper contact plate on the cartridge.

Please follow these cleaning instructions to resolve the problem:

• Place some old newspaper down to capture any spillage of ink. Remove the cartridge from your printer - switch your printer off.
• Using a piece of damp kitchen roll, gently wipe the copper plate on the cartridge to give it a thorough clean.
• Allow the chip to dry.
• Once the chip is completely dry, reinstall the cartridge into your printer and switch the printer back on.
• We would recommend that you run the print head cleaning programme on your printer to clean the heads and push the ink through. For best results you should run the programme 3-4 times.

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Cleaning advice for toners

We can offer some advice which should resolve any problems you are experiencing with your laser printer and toners.

Maintenance procedures for a laser printer should be performed on a monthly basis. These procedures can also be used to correct printing problems such as streaking, gaps in printing and toner smears on printouts.

NOTE: This article provides a general overview of how to clean a printer and recommendations for cleaning materials. For best results, please refer to your printer’s documentation for detailed printer maintenance instructions.

Printer Maintenance

1. Unplug printer.
2. For safety reasons, it is best to let the printer sit for about an hour to cool down before starting the cleaning procedure.
3. Remove paper trays.
4. Open printer and remove toner cartridge.
5. Place the toner cartridge onto a piece of disposable paper or newspaper. Be careful not to tip or shake the toner cartridge as this may lead to toner leakage.
6. Clean the interior of the printer with a dry lint free cloth. Many models of laser printers provide a brush inside the printer that can be used to gently remove toner from hard to reach areas. If no brush is provided, a clean and dry paintbrush can be used.
7. If the printer has corona wires, gently wipe the wires with cottons swabs, dipped in isopropyl alcohol (this can be purchased at your local stationers) - it is important that you take care as a broken wire can be expensive to fix! Clean the rollers with a slightly damp cloth to remove dirt build up.

Laser Printer Cleaning Sheets can be purchased and are recommended for the maintenance of your laser printer. Use these sheets to quickly clean the inside of a laser printer; the sheets are designed to remove excess toner and dirt.

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