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Squid Inkjets Blog
Welcome to squidinkjets.com.au
Welcome to squidinkjets.com.au webblog. We specifically focus on ink cartridges and laser toners of many well known brands and how it relates to the optimization of its use. You will be interested in this blog if you are a frequent printer user as we provide OEM and compatible ink cartridges and laser toners. If you are interested in improving your knowledge on printers, ink and laser toners, this is the right blog for you. This blog will help you understand more about your printer and associated tools. You can find additional information in our learning centre, FAQs or on our sitemap. We encourage you to also find more information about printers, ink and laser toner from other website such as Wikipedia.We hope you will enjoy our blogs and visit this area regularly. We welcome you to introduce yourself to our team and the community.
 
 
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Shareware
What is shareware?

Shareware software allows you to 'Try before buy' a popular option for most home and small business users. Some shareware are free, however the author may will want your details for future promotions and authorised emails sent from their site. But most shareware has a nominal price associated, and the free trial period ends after either – a certain number of uses – a certain number of days - the shareware will have some features disabled - or a combination of any of the latter. In addition there is demo software which demonstrates some of the features of the software but demo software is not shareware offering only a structured demonstration of the software for you to follow.

Problems with shareware:

Many shareware programs contain ads, adware, spyware and other noxious software. If you are going to use shareware you need to have on your computer working and updated: antivirus software (paid versions including: Norton Antivirus, PC-Cillin, McCafee) and/or anti adware/anti spyware/ anti worm software such as Microsoft's free antispyware.
Other problems include the software not being fully windows compliant and causing bugs on your computers performance, plus the problems you can have with any software when it is time to remove it from your computer.

Is shareware equivalent to commercial software?

That is the dilemma, as are and some aren’t. That is why you have to try it before you buy! Good luck with your trials ...
 
 
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION & TIPS FOR INKJET CARTRIDGES
TIP #1: STORE YOUR INKJET CARTRIDGES UPRIGHT !
This simple step will solve fifty percent of your printing problems. During shipping, cartridges tend to get bumped or upturned. This allows the ink to move to the opposite end of the cartridge where it is retained in a sponge that is inside your cartridge. The problem now is that the ink must move all the way down to the sponge to print. So please store the cartridge upright at least a few hours before installing.

TIP #2: RUN YOUR PRINTHEAD CLEANING FUNCTION WHEN INSTALLING!
When installing a new cartridge, make sure to remove any tape that is on the cartridge (over the printhead and vent holes)। Place cartridge in your machine. You should always perform the printhead cleaning cycling on your machine 2-3 times in a row to get a good flow.

TIP #3: GETTING FULL COLOURS AND FLOW
If the above tips helped but you think you should be getting fuller colours try this। Using the Paint program or similar, draw 3 large boxes. Create one box blue, one box red and the last yellow (and one black if that is a problem colour). Print the colour boxes at the highest resolution (dpi) possible, this forces the cartridge to push the ink out at a greater volume and once a good flow is achieved, you shouldn't have another problem with that cartridge again.

TIP #4: ANOTHER GREAT TIP FOR PRIMING CARTRIDGES
Take a paper towel and fold up several times to make it thick and soft and place it on a hard surface like your kitchen counter। Remove the cartridge from the printer and place it on the paper towel with the printhead down (this is the upright position). While applying even pressure, push the cartridge down on the towel then rock the cartridge front to back. If you lift the cartridge up you should see small spots of ink on the paper towel. This motion pushes any dried particles out of the printhead so it can print properly. Perform the rocking motion several times before replacing the cartridge in the printer and reprinting. Adding hot water (from the tap) to the towel also helps.
 
 
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Pigmented Ink
The previous blogs have discussed carbon ink and iron gall ink. However, there are still various other types of ink; pigmented ink and dyes in ink. This blog will discuss specifically pigmented ink, while dyes in ink will be the topic for the next blog.

Pigmented inks have certain types of agents, which assure pigment adhesion to the surface. They also prevent mechanical abrasion removal. These agents are generally referred as resins or binding agents.

This type of ink is very beneficial when printing on paper since the pigment settles on the paper surface. This is really required as more ink on the surface makes less ink needed to create similar colour intensity. The ink’s main element is pigment, which contains different colours. Pigment size is significant for diffusing ability. Certain qualities such as saturation, hue, and brightness are inherent parts of ink. They vary depending on the type and source of the pigment.

Numerous vendors try to offer pigmented ink to combine the brightness of dye and the extreme light fastness of pigment. This type of ink can print in almost any paper except those with glossy surface. Pigmented ink is known to produce print with some mottles. It is caused by unequal absorption level of pigment and dye component. Another disadvantage of pigmented ink is it produces a big amount of metamerism, which is caused by uneven reflection and absorption of the two components.

The latest archival ink is composed from 100% pigment; therefore it is named pigment ink instead of pigmented. Unlike dye ink, pigment inks are not influenced by colour enhancement papers. Unfortunately, they are not preferable for glossy paper.
 
 
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Iron Gall Inks
Iron gall ink is also known as iron gall nut ink. The ink colour is purple-black and made from tannin of vegetables and iron salt. It was used as the standard ink for writing and drawing in Europe since the 12th century till the 20th century.

Iron gall ink was considered as the best ink, which was used for many centuries, and became important in the 1100s. Unlike carbon ink, iron gall ink is hazardous to the paper and corrosive. Any document written on this ink will become brittle and fade to brown. Johann Sebastian Bachs original scores were made of this ink. They are in a threat to destruction caused by the property of iron gall ink. Most of his works are stored in the German State Library, and a quarter of them is in the process of decay. There are several factors that cause the writing fades: the ingredient proportion of the ink, the amount of ink put down on the paper, and the paper’s composition. In addition, there are two process of degradation, which cause corrosion: cellulose iron(II)-catalysed oxidation and acid catalysed hydrolysis.

Treatment can prevent this decaying. However a damage produced by the acidic ink cannot be repaired by any treatment. Corrosion can be slowed or even stopped only for some period. Some people think that the item does not need any treatment for any consequences. Others consider that the best solution is the procedure of non-aqueous. Some other think that the last solution may preserve texts written with iron gall ink. This treatment contains calcium bircarbonate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium phytate, and distilles water at various temperatures. These treatments have many potential side effects. A mechanical damage might happen and it can make the paper grow weak. The paper colour may change and the ink may bleed. A change of the texture or the formation of the ink might happen from the aqueous treatment.

Despite of the damage it may cause to the paper, this ink formula is water resistance and permanent, which made this ink as the standard ink in Europe for more than 700 years. The use decreased when new water proof ink for more suitable writing in paper available in the 20th century. In this century, iron gall ink is produced by artists, who are interested in the old methods.
 
 
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Carbon Ink
Gum arabic and lampblack or soot, were the common substance used for creation of Carbon ink. Gum Arabic was able to keep the particles of carbon in suspension and then adhere to the paper. When it is seen in sunlight or bleached, the particles of carbon do not fade for a long period. The use of carbon ink doesn’t damage the paper. This ink gives benefits of chemical stability and will not give any threat on the paper strength. However, this type of ink is not the right choice for permanence and preservation. Carbon ink tends to smudge in a humid surrounding and can be washed off. The best technique to preserve documents from carbon ink is to have them stored in a dry surrounding.


The recent research has created carbon ink made of carbon nanotubes successfully। They suspend the carbon nanotubes by using polymer. It is the same composition to the traditional ink. Inkjet printers can use this ink as it can produce patterns, which are electrically conductive.
 
 
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Ink and Its Content
Many believe that injesting ink in small quantities is harmless, however, this is incorrect and a dangerous assumption. Ink can be very dangerous to the health of the person who swallowes it. Several types of ink, such as printer ink and pen ink can be hazardous. Although it will not lead to death, ink injestion is responsible for certain side effects, for example: severe headache and damaged nervous system. These side effects come from a chemical called p-Anisidine, which is used in the creation of ink colour and shine. It was announced by the poison control centre that any person who injests ink should contact the poison control centre or a local hospital immediately.

In this modern world, it is very rare to find a house or an office that does not have any printing machines. Consequently, purchasing ink in cartridge or getting the cartridge refilled has become a part of the daily shopping schedule, identical to purchasing a bottle of ink many years ago.

Carbon ink and iron gall ink are the two most famous black writing inks in the history. These two inks will be described in the next blogs.
 
 
 
 
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