Buyer’s guide
Choosing the right thermal inkjet (TIJ) ink comes down to one question first: what surface are you printing on? Everything else — dry time, durability, odor — follows from the substrate. Here’s how to decide.
| Surface | Examples | Recommended ink |
|---|---|---|
| Porous | Cardboard, kraft, uncoated paper | Water-based |
| Semi-porous | Coated cartons, some labels | Specialty / hybrid |
| Non-porous | Plastic film, foil, metal, glass | Solvent / specialty (si) |
Best for absorbent surfaces.
Best for sealed surfaces.
Once the substrate narrows your choice, fine-tune for the rest of the application: how fast the line runs (dry time has to keep up), whether codes face moisture, abrasion, or cold/freezer conditions, and any odor or food-contact constraints in your facility.
All of these come in the standard , so switching chemistry doesn’t mean switching hardware.
Send us your substrate and line details and we’ll recommend the exact cartridge and ink — or request a quote and we’ll follow up with pricing and availability.
Use water-based ink for porous surfaces like cardboard, kraft, and uncoated paper, where the ink absorbs and dries quickly. Use solvent-based ink for non-porous and semi-porous surfaces like plastic film, foil, coated cartons, metal, and glass, where the code must bond to a sealed surface. When in doubt, match the ink to the substrate first, then to your line speed and environment.
On non-porous surfaces, yes — solvent inks evaporate and set quickly where water-based inks would smear. On porous surfaces, water-based inks dry fast because the substrate absorbs them. “Faster” depends entirely on what you are printing on.
Solvent and specialty inks generally offer better resistance to smudging, moisture, and handling on sealed surfaces, which is why they are common for plastics and coated packaging. Water-based inks are very durable on absorbent stock and are lower-odor and easier to handle.
The HP 45 cartridge format is the same; the ink inside differs. You select a water-based, solvent, or specialty (si) cartridge for your surface. Tell us your application and we will recommend the right one.