What Do the Pictures on Epson Ink Cartridges Mean?

If you have ever bought an OEM Epson cartridge, you may have noticed that there is a vivid image on the box, perhaps of a piece of fruit, an animal or a more obscure object such as a suitcase or a pen and crossword. Epson does this to make it easier for customers to find their cartridge series. In this guide, we will look further into how this system works.

What are These Images For?

These concept photos are there to make the cartridges easier to recognise. It’s easier to remember this than an abstract number. For instance, it’s probably easier to remember that you need a Pineapple cartridge for your printer than a 604.

This is even more pronounced with longer and more complex number combinations, or when the series uses different numbers for each cartridge colour. For example, it’s simpler for a customer to remember ‘Apple’ than Epson T1291-1294.

Popular Epson Series with Pictures

Many of Epson’s best-selling cartridges use this picture system. This includes:

• 16 (Pen and Crossword)
• 18 (Daisy)
• 202 (Kiwi)
• 24 (Elephant)
• 250 (Violin)
• 26 (Polar Bear)
• 27 (Alarm Clock)
• 29 (Strawberry)
• 33 (Orange)
• 503 (Chillies)
• 603 (Starfish)
• 604 (Pineapple)

For a full list of Epson picture and other cartridges, you can visit our Epson Cartridge Series list.

Do Other Manufacturers Do This?

The other big brands use their own identification systems, but these are not picture-based in the way that Epson’s are. HP’s naming tends to focus on numbers, such as 364. Canon uses PGI and CLI codes to mean ‘pigment’ and ‘dye’ (or ‘ChromaLife’). Brother uses codes such as LC and TN to refer to inkjet and toner cartridges, respectively.

Do Compatible Cartridges Include These Images?

Compatible inks made by third parties such as Internet Ink do not usually use identical images on the packaging. This is because the pictures are owned by Epson. However, it is very common for these compatibles to be referred to by the nickname, so that customers know that their cartridge can be used in place of the OEM’s version. For instance, we use names such as Pineapple to help customers find our popular 604 cartridges.

Final Thoughts

Epson’s image system is a useful way to remember which ink cartridge series you need for your printer. However, it’s important to always double check the number, and have this committed to memory as well. It’s also a good idea to check the colour, size, and printer compatibility before purchasing new cartridges.