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Step 1
Check the empty cartridge for the kind of ink it carries. Printer ink comes in one of four colors--black, cyan, magenta and yellow--which are combined to make any hue that is required. Some Canon printers use individual ink cartridges for each color, while others combine the non-black colors into a single unit holding three different inkwells.
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Step 2
Lay down some newspaper, then detach the empty cartridge from the printer and set it in the center. The newspaper will prevent stains in case you accidentally spill any ink.
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Step 3
Check the cartridge for any air vents or sponge-filled openings in the inkwell. You can use them to add more ink. If the cartridge doesn't have any opening, you can make one by drilling a hole in the top of the inkwell with a drill and a 3mm bit. (Some replacement-ink kits will have their own tools for creating your own hole, in which case you can discard the drill.)
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Step 4
Insert the needle of the replacement-ink bottle into the hole and gently squeeze it to start refilling the ink. Monitor the ink carefully as it goes into the well: Canon ink cartridges vary widely in size, from 5ml to up to 25ml or more. You want the ink to flow at a rate of about 1ml per second, and avoid topping it off if you can (it will prevent spills).
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Step 5
Remove the needle when the inkwell is filled and cover it with a cap or plug as necessary. In cases where you have drilled your own hole, you can seal it with a piece of Scotch tape. (Test it once the tape is in place to make sure the seal is secure.)
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Step 6
Replace the ink cartridge in the Canon printer and run the head-cleaning program to make sure it is functioning properly. Then print out a few copies to make sure the ink is printing normally. Be sure to run color copies if the yellow, cyan or magenta ink was replaced.
