topic SELPHY CP1500 - ink always runs out before the paper does. in Mobile & Compact Printers

SELPHY CP1500 - ink always runs out before the paper does.

Aurri — Tue, 06 May 2025 12:09:38 GMT

I have had my Selphy CP1550 printer for a few years now and everytime I buy the box with the 108 sheets of paper with 3 ink cartridges. Each cartridge is suppose to print off 36 prints. So that equals 108 prints. Can someone explain to my WHY I always run out of ink and end up with 28 sheets of paper?

Re: Selphy CP1500 ink always runs out before the paper does......

normadel — Tue, 06 May 2025 03:02:43 GMT

How many prints, or pages, a printer is "supposed" to give with an ink, toner or sublimation dye cartridge is based on "average" usage. It is not an absolute certainty of what a printer will do in YOUR use. As is said in the fine print of many consumables..."Your usage may vary".

Can you buy ink cartridges without the paper?

Re: Selphy CP1500 ink always runs out before the paper does......

cipri_tom — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:17:03 GMT

I don’t think these printers work the same as traditional ink jet printers . It seems to me these cartridges have a foil that is overlaid onto each page . And there is a foil for each colour , hence why it prints colour by colour . So having ink run out before the pages means there is fewer foils than pages

Re: Selphy CP1500 ink always runs out before the paper does......

normadel — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:33:36 GMT

It's a sublimation dye transfer process. Not like inkjet at all.

Sounds like Aurri needs to ask Canon Support about how the foil-to-paper ratio works.

Re: SELPHY CP1500 - ink always runs out before the paper does.

Minja — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:34:13 GMT

I know why. The reason is because each time the printer is turned off and on the ink tape is wound forward as part of the initialisation procedure. It probably wastes a full cmy sequence each time. Solutions:

leave it on standby

insert ink only after its turned on