How does HP's "ink backup mode" work?

[BCompDude]

Just was wondering how that works. Does it save some in a resevoir somewhere so that it can continue to print the page? Seems like a neat technology and just wanted to know how it works.

Heres a quote from the website : "? Ink-backup mode completes the print job even if one cartridge runs out."

Link for the lazy ones

 

[apoppin]

Link to the website for us lazy ones . . . please.

 

[Mark R]

It's very simple:

if it detects that the colour cartridge has run out, the printer converts any colour data into greyscale and prints using only the black cartridge.

If the black cartridge has run out, where the printer would normally print with black ink, it prints by mixing all three primary colour inks (gives a dark brownish-grey, rather than a pure deep black - plus loads more expensive).

The reason why this is a 'feature' rather than expected behaviour, is that competitors' printers often won't print at all, if one cartridge is empty. For example, Epson printers will not print at all if the colour cartridge is exhausted - not even if you select grey-scale only mode. Similarly my lexmark won't print at all if the black cartridge is exhausted - even if you are printing in 'photo' mode, where the black cartridge isn't used (black is made by mixing the colour inks).

 

[BCompDude]

Thanks for the reply. That is a good thing to have. Wouldn't make me buy an HP just because of it but its a nice touch.