Step 4. Resealing.

After cartridges are filled with ink, certain ones must be resealed. Clever techniques are used here so you can't tell that is was refilled. I can show you but then I'd have to..... well you get picture.

Step 5. Testing.

This stage requires several tests and refillers will not always take them in same order so I'll just tell you ones I know about. Print tests are done by either using a regular inkjet printer designed to use that cartridge. A test pattern of some sort will gauge quality of printout. Other refillers use a fancy machine that prints out a test strip that checks to make sure all nozzles are firing properly.

Some remanufactures use equipment that test for altitude pressure. If pressure in a cartridge gets too high during shipment cartridge will leak.

Step 6. Packaging.

The cartridges are physically inspected once more. The print heads are professionally taped using a machine that applies tape to heads with exact pressure necessary. This is not guess work. Print head sealing tape applied wrong way may damage cartridge.

The cartridges are then sealed in bags, some remanufactures vacuum seal bags, others do not. Actually I have not seen any difference in performance using either method.

Lastly they are put in pretty boxes and stored in an upright position with print heads pointing down. This is important because if cartridges are laid on their sides it's possible that they can loose their prime. This is why so many inkjet cartridges with print heads don't work when they are shipped through mail.

Cyan and magenta are actually old printing terms for blue and red but there had to be some way to differentiate them between additive and subtractive spectrum. So I guess we're stuck with cyan and magenta for now.

So this guy goes to store and says to clerk, "I want to buy a red ink cartridge for my printer". The clerk politely responds, "Sorry we only sell magenta." "Bless you", guy says, "do you need a hankie? Now about that red cartridge". The clerk, nonplussed, repeats, "Sorry we only sell magenta". "You should do something about that head cold", guy says. By now clerk is fuming. "Look, do you want to by magenta or what?" The guy says, "No thanks, but I think I'll get out of here before I catch your cold".