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What is Solid Ink?

Solid ink is a proven color printing technology only offered by Xerox. A solid ink printer or multifunction printer uses solid sticks (or blocks) of no-mess, non-toxic ink instead of toner or inkjet cartridges. Solid ink is easy to use, produces incredible color print quality, is cost-effective, and is very good for the environment.
watch video about solid ink
The History
  • Introduced in 1991, the first solid ink printer won awards from PC Magazine, MacUser, and MacWorld
  • Numerous awards and reviews have been received by solid ink printers and multifunction printers
    see solid ink awards and reviews
  • Xerox is committed to solid ink technology for one simple reason: it delivers color printing benefits like no other

The Ink

  • Non-toxic ink is resin-based, similar to a crayon, so the sticks are safe to handle by anyone
  • No-mess ink won’t stain your clothes or your skin
  • Capacities of ink sticks can be up to 1,000 or 2,300 pages depending on the device
  • Load up to 5 sticks at a time (depending on device) of each color in a solid ink device for long, uninterrupted printing
  • Stringent manufacturing of the ink ensures colors will be consistent – 100% of all ink is inspected, not a statistical sampling, which is commonly used

Solid Ink Loading

The Mechanics
  • Simple design consists of only three major assemblies: the print head (transfers ink to print drum), the print drum (transfers image to paper), and the controller (the brain that tells everything what to do)

    see how solid ink works
  • Short paper path means solid ink printers are fast and reliable
  • Ink is instantly fused onto the paper using heat and pressure, which is why solid ink produces such great image quality on any kind of media. Toner and inkjet ink soak into the paper, so the image is dependent upon the type of paper used
  • Constant evolution of solid ink technology has resulted in solid ink printers and multifunction printers that are reliable, fast, and economical
Solid Ink Compared to Laser and Inkjet
  • More consistent print quality page after page and on any media
    InfoTrends color printer technology comparison (PDF)
  • Easier to use with no cartridges to load and unload, and no mess
  • Less waste with no cartridges to dispose of, and far less packaging
  • No paper curling or wrinkling that often plagues inkjet and color laser printers
  • Fewer parts so there’s less that can go wrong
  • Faster than inkjet technology
  • No special paper needed, unlike some inkjet printers
  • A wider range of colors are printed by solid ink than most color laser devices