Frequently Asked Questions

• How many pages does the PGI-5BK print?

  It is rated at up to 650 pages — the cartridge supplier's rating — Canon published no official yield table for this family. Page counts are measured on standard test pages at around 5% coverage, so your own yield moves with what you print: dense photos use far more ink than text.

• Which printers take the PGI-5BK?

  It fits Canon PIXMA iP3300, Canon PIXMA iP3500, Canon PIXMA iP4200, Canon PIXMA iP4300 and 20 more. The complete verified list is in the Compatible Printers section on this page — check your model there before ordering.

• What is the difference between the two blacks in this family?

  The pigment black is the document tank: it prints sharp, water-resistant text and is the black your letters and reports come from. Both tanks sit in the printer at the same time and each is replaced on its own schedule.

• Does this cartridge have a chip?

  Yes — a new compatible chip that reports ink levels to the printer, so the low-ink warnings keep working. It is not a refilled original shell with a reset chip.

• Can I mix this cartridge with genuine Canon cartridges?

  Yes. Each slot is read independently, so a compatible tank beside genuine Canon tanks (or the other way round) prints normally — you can switch one color at a time.

• My printer shows a message after installing — what do I do?

  Acknowledge the on-screen message, reseat the cartridge until it clicks, and restart the printer. If the message persists, wipe the gold chip contacts with a dry lint-free cloth and reinstall.

• Is this a genuine Canon PGI-5BK?

  No. It is a Clever Supplies compatible cartridge built to the PGI-5BK specification and covered by our lifetime warranty. It is not manufactured by Canon; the Canon name appears only to identify the printers it fits.

• What if the cartridge leaks, is not recognized or prints badly?

  Stop and contact us — do not keep printing on a faulty cartridge. The lifetime warranty covers recognition failures, leaks and print-quality defects: we replace the cartridge or refund you, and returns are free for the first year.

• How do I know it is the PGI-5BK that ran out, and not the other black?

  Look at what faded. Letters and reports come from the pigment tank, so text turning gray, broken or streaky while photos still print with solid blacks points at the PGI-5BK. The reverse — washed-out photos with crisp text — points at the dye black instead. Before reordering, pull the tank and read the code on its label: the two blacks sit side by side in the printer but they are different cartridges doing different jobs, and ordering from the PGI-5BK name on the label is what prevents the wrong one arriving.

• How should I store a spare PGI-5BK until I need it?

  Keep it sealed in its packaging, in a cool, dry drawer away from heat and direct sunlight, and open it only when the printer's low-ink warning tells you the installed tank is nearly done. A sealed tank waits patiently; an opened one begins aging at the outlet. Because this is the document tank, anyone who prints letters and reports every day is well served by one spare on hand — text work stops completely when the pigment black empties, even if every color tank beside it is still full.