topic Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ? in Desktop Inkjet Printers

Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

williampeck1958 — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 17:08:36 GMT

Pixma MX922 has two black cartridges, one's big and the other is the size of the color cartridges ? When one gets low, then I have to replace it, it doesn't "switch" to use the other one which has plenty of ink. Why is that ?

What's the point of having two black cartridges ?

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

Ramona — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:27:59 GMT

Hi williampeck1958,

The two black ink tanks serve different purposes and are used for different types of printing. The larger black ink tank is a pigment-based ink and is used for your document printing when plain paper is selected, you are doing single-sided printing, and your document contains black text.

The smaller ink tank is a dye-based ink and is used when printing photos, performing duplex (double-sided) printing, and when a paper type other than plain paper is selected (i.e., envelopes, labels, photo paper, etc.). The smaller black ink is also used when printing certain webpages and PDF files that have coding in them to use color ink, even if the grayscale or black only option is selected.

As such, when the smaller black ink tank runs out, you are not able to use the larger black ink tank in its place unless you are able to highlight the text in your doument and change it to all black text. If the larger black ink tank runs out and you still need to print, highlighting the text in your document and changing it all to another color other than black will utilize the smaller black ink tank and the other color ink tanks to make the text on the page.

Also, in the event that you run out of ink and want to prevent the low ink warnings from displaying, you can temporarily disable the ink level detection function of the printer by pressing and holding down the STOP/RESET button on the printer for at least 7 seconds, then releasing it. You will need to do this procedure for each of the ink tanks that are showing that they are low or out of ink for the low ink warning to be completely removed. Once the low/out of ink tanks are replaced with Canon genuine ink tanks, the ink level detection function of the printer will be re-enabled.

Hope this helps!

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Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

atlynch — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 17:42:27 GMT

Can you explain why duplex printing uses the smaller cartridge? Is there a way (On the Mac) to specifiy the larger cartridge?

Thanks,

Drew

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

Patrick — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 15:53:46 GMT

Hi atlynch,

The reason why Canon's printers use the dye based (smaller ink tank) black ink when printing duplex is because it dries quicker than the pigment based ink. If the pigment based ink was used, when the paper is printed on the reverse side, there would be streaks on the paper and ink would smear on the printing platen inside of the printer. Because of this, there isn't a setting in the driver that would force the printer to use the pigment ink for duplex printing.

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

LynnieB — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 19:11:18 GMT

I've kept my MX922 on duplex setting unless I have something I specifically don't want to print on both sides. From the info here I now assume that when I print single black-only pages (much of my printing), that I should have the duplex setting turned off to keep from using more ink from the small black cartridge. Is this correct, or is the printer smart enough to know there won't be a back side to a page?

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

Patrick — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 14:33:41 GMT

Hi LynnieB,

If you only print one page, the PIXMA MX922 will print accordingly.

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

pasuki — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 16:04:16 GMT

I hav my settings designated as plain paper with fast print and gray scale but I still use more from the small cartridge than the large one. what else might this be

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

fod — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 05:16:50 GMT

Yes, it answers my question. But how stupid is it to sell the combo pak of cartridges and not include the small black one to print pictures. The other cartirdges are included. Why not Black???? Makes me wish I'd bought a different brand printer, this iP8720 is no dream.

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

fleeneak — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 18:25:36 GMT

Not at all happy with the software changes made for the black ink cartridges. When I first got this printer there was NO problem with this. I love this printer and even got one for my Dad because he was always having problems with his printer and inks. Right after he got his you guys changed the software and now he has a problem again. He's old, he doesn't need to have to deal with this petty issue. I don't want to deal with this. I got the printer because it was easy and low maintenance and the ink didn't run out quickly.... why change what is not broke. His theory is that companies do stuff like this because it makes them more money..... I'm inclined to agree! Does Canon have a color printer that does NOT have to have SPECIAL ink to print things from the internet.... why would you need special ink to print from the internet and other ink to print documents. Why would you have to go to the trouble of highlighting text and changing it to all black or all some other color so that the printer will work? So rediculous. Oh I know, buy TWO printers, or just keep paying crazy high prices.....

Why can't the printer be smarter...if you select print grayscale or print black and white, why can't the printer just use the black ink, period.... only makes sense if the theory of "picky ink means more money" is true.

I wouldn't call me 'dissatisfied' I would say more 'EXTREMELY Disappointed in CANON'

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

teepee — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 22:42:51 GMT

I have a MX922 and love it. It's the best printer I ever had. I purchase my ink tanks from 123 Inkjets, where the savings are phenomenal. I have never had an ink clog or smear. Plus their tanks hold more ink, a double savings.

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

aberk66 — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 03:40:14 GMT

Unfortunately the explanation given is not working for me. I frequently run out of the black ink in the smaller cartridge even though i have never yet printed a photo. Everything I print is straight black text and despite that it uses the smaller cartridge. When that runs out, I tried the suggestion to highlight the document and select black text and even tried printing a single page at a time. Still get the out of ink warning and unable to print. It is not clear to me why it is selecting the smaller cartridge despite having a full larger cartridge ready to go. I believe this is a software problem. I tried removing the smaller cartridge. That should logically cause the printer to select the large cartridge for any black printing. Do you have any other suggestion? I don't believe that it should ever be selecting the smaller cartridge based on the type of printing I am doing.

Thanks,

Adam

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

ArthurJ — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 15:52:24 GMT

Hi aberk66,

Since the ink for photos keeps running low without printing photos, troubleshooting with our support group will be needed to narrow down the cause of your issues. Please contact our support group at 1-800-OK-CANON (1-800-652-2666)/

We look forward to hearing from you.

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

atlynch — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 17:39:58 GMT

I was once told that the smaller black cartridge was also used when printing double sided text.

Drew

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

fleeneak — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 02:52:48 GMT

I still get an error when one black cartridge runs out. When it does, the window on the printer also shows an error but there is a "button" that says 'ok'. If you tape that on the little printer screen it allows you to go ahead and print. This was not always the case and I believe it may be part of a software update. I may be wrong but I just know it works....same on my dad's printer, just used it today... 12.29.18

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

DJ-Nostalgia — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 15:57:50 GMT

I registered for this Forum before I realised it is for Canon USA customers...

Nevertheless -

I went from the BEST inkjet printer I ever had (an MP600) to the WORST (an MG5750) about a year ago! The MG5750 is a full-blown alcoholic, as far as consuming ink is concerned! Nowhere near the number of pages Canon quote for their genuine ink tanks has ever been achieved... you can watch the remaining ink 'graphic' on-screen display go down with each page printed...!

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

hallperks164 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:38:28 GMT

Then the large tank is pretty much useless, almost everything now is a PDF and you cannot make changes, what a waste. So I am forced to purchase a large and small tank only to use the small ones which run out quickly. Whomever developed this design needs a kick in the pants.

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

hallperks164 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:40:58 GMT

I agree, terrible terrible design, just another way to increase ink sales. Canon you suck!

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

hallperks164 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:42:52 GMT

But do you realize that your big blank ink tank sits idle while your small one runs out constantly?

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

hallperks164 — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 18:07:11 GMT

there does not seem to be an option to turn duplex printing off under the printing manager, why?

Re: Why are there two black ink cartridges in PIXMA MX922 ?

Patrick — Wed, 06 May 2020 17:25:02 GMT

Hi hallperks164,

What version of Windows are you using? If you are using a Mac, what version of OSX is installed?