What cartridge do I need?

[Lcarvone]

OK, I am in the middle of printing out Christmas cards happily (wife standing close by so smile on my face). The cards themselves are actually a picture of the kids with a warm fuzzy caption. The picture is done in more or less a sepia tone color scheme.

However, one or more of my cartridges are running low since half the picture turns to a more washed out purplish color when near printing completion. Almost looks like older black and whites when they are faded or have water damage.

My problem is due to Christmas/paycheck timing/etc I only have enough spare cash to buy either a black cartridge or a color cartridge......so which one? As an aside the black "feels" fuller than the color but this has proven me worng before

Any input/test/etc would be appreciated.

[tmlim]

Some printers can actually make pretty good black by mixing the colors, but I wouldn't rely on that.

Anyway, a lot of printers don't need the black cartridge to do color photos. Check to see if that's true, and if so, just buy a color one.

[thecoalman]

And on the ther hand some printers require that both cartridges be full otherwise it won't print at all.

[tmlim]

And on the ther hand some printers require that both cartridges be full otherwise it won't print at all.

aka annoying printers, but then again most printers are a pain in the neck.