The first thing to realize is that refillers, or Remanufacturers only remanufacture inkjet cartridges that contain a print head. Those include Hewlett Packard and Lexmark. All others are variations of aforementioned cartridges. This is because generic or compatible cartridges for others, Canon, Epson etc., are very cheap and they could not make a profit by remanufacturing them.

Step 1. The Empties Search.

In order to remanufacture an inkjet cartridge you must first have empty one to refill. When a new printer using a new cartridge is introduced it may take several months if not years for empty cartridges to become available in quantity that warrants refiller to make investment to tool up for remanufacture. As of this date a very popular HP cartridge that was on market for over a year is still very scarce as remanufactured. A very popular Lexmark cartridge, 12A1970 cartridge is almost impossible to locate because Lexmark is buying them back, but these are articles unto themselves.

The inkjet cartridge remanufacturer carefully inspects cartridges for blemishes and for evidence that is has been previously refilled. They must be "virgin" cartridges (never refilled) or they won't get refilled. (By most scrupulous remanufactures) Next cartridges are electrically tested using sophisticated electronic equipment that tests print heads and related electronics. This will be a 100% pass/fail test. No in betweens here. Anything under 100% gets tossed.

Step 2. Cleaning.

Each cartridge is cleaned ultrasonically inside and out. All remaining ink is thoroughly flushed from cartridge and they are bathed in a cleaning solvent. Step 3. Refilling.

I'll try to clear things up a little. Monitors verses printers use different ways to produce color. A monitor is a light source while printers are light reflecting. The only common ground between a monitor and a printer is what is referred to as dithering. The definition of dithering is as follows:

A process that simulates shades of gray or color variations by differing sizes and shapes of pixel groups instead of an ordered array of halftone dots. This reduces contrast between dots of different colors or shades and yields a more flowing, natural impression.

In other words dithering uses overlapping color dots to make colors and shades. Depending on how overlapped they are and how dots are positioned results in a controlled color output of millions of different color shades and hues.