Mascom International stocks the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle at KSh 2,150, a 70ml refill of dye-based magenta ink for Canon's PIXMA G-series tank printers. Every bottle we sell is brand new and sealed. Canon rates GI-490 colour ink at up to 7,000 pages, and its specification pages list the bottle for the PIXMA G1411, G3411, G4410 and G4411. For photos, Canon quotes up to 2,000 postcard-size colour prints from a full colour set. Find the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle at our Kimathi Street shop in Nairobi CBD, or order it for delivery.
Built for photo studios, event planners, church media teams, printing kiosks and parents across Kenya, the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle supplies the colour behind reds, pinks and warm skin tones. Magenta mixes with yellow to make red and orange, and with cyan to make purple. When it runs low, faces print grey or greenish and red logos turn brown, which wastes paper and photo stock. Refilling with the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle restores natural colour on graduation photos, birthday cards and sale banners for shops in Kisumu, Nakuru and Kitengela.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops offer unbranded magenta in plain bottles, Mascom International sells the genuine Canon refill with its factory seal intact. That matters more with magenta than with most colours, because a slightly wrong red is the first thing people notice in a portrait. Buyers throughout Kenya report that magenta is often the colour that empties first during wedding and graduation season. The Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle lets you replace just that one colour. Visit us Monday through Saturday to match your printer model, or order on WhatsApp and pay when it arrives.
Common Questions About the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle
What is the price of the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle 70ml in Kenya?
Mascom International sells the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle 70ml for KSh 2,150, brand new and sealed, from its Nairobi CBD shop. The price includes our 6-month warranty on manufacturing defects and pay-on-arrival delivery to all 47 counties. Cyan and yellow GI-490 bottles are also KSh 2,150, and the 135ml black is KSh 2,350. Studios that print portraits every week often keep two magenta bottles on hand, which comes to KSh 4,300.
Is the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle good for printing photos?
Yes, the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle works well for photos on compatible PIXMA G printers, since magenta shapes skin tones, lips and the reds in clothing. Canon estimates up to 2,000 colour prints of 10x15cm from a full set of GI-490 colour bottles. Use glossy photo paper and choose the photo paper setting in the print dialog for the best result. Plain paper soaks up dye ink, so prints look duller there than on coated stock.
When should I refill with the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle?
Refill with the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle once the magenta level nears the lower line marked on the tank, rather than waiting for it to run dry. Topping up early also means a long print run will not stop halfway through a client's order. Each GI-490 printer, such as the G3411 or G4411, holds four separate tanks, so check magenta on its own. Studios printing portraits daily should glance at the tank every morning before a big job.
Does a tank printer with the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle cost less to run than a cartridge printer?
Yes, a PIXMA G printer refilled with the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle costs far less per colour page than a cartridge printer using Canon's tri-colour CL-446. One 70ml bottle is rated for up to 7,000 pages, while a small cartridge prints only a fraction of that before replacement. The cartridge printer is cheaper to buy, so it suits homes printing a few colour pages a month. Studios and kiosks printing daily recover the tank printer's cost quickly.
How do I protect magenta ink from dust in a busy Nairobi print shop?
Keep the tank caps closed and the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle capped whenever you are not refilling. Print kiosks along Moi Avenue, River Road and Industrial Area face constant dust from traffic and foot movement. Dust that settles on an open spout can enter the tank and reach the print head. Cover the printer at closing time, wipe the area before topping up, and store spare bottles in a closed drawer rather than on an open shelf.
Why does my printer still show red as brown after refilling magenta?
Brown reds after refilling usually mean the print head needs a nozzle check, not that the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle is faulty. Run the nozzle check from your PIXMA G printer's maintenance menu and look for gaps in the magenta pattern. If gaps appear, run a cleaning cycle and test again. Persistent problems after cleaning may point to the colour print head, which is a separate Canon part. Bring the printout to Mascom International and our staff will help you diagnose it.
Can I mix generic magenta with genuine Canon magenta in the same tank?
Mixing generic ink with the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle is not a good idea, because inks from different makers can differ in thickness and chemistry. The blend can shift colour and may lead to blocked nozzles that are hard to clear. If your tank already holds generic ink, let it run low, then refill with genuine Canon magenta and run a nozzle check. Keeping one ink brand in each tank makes colour results predictable from print to print.
Who gets the most value from the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle, and who can wait?
Buy the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle if you own a GI-490 PIXMA G printer and print photos, event materials or colour marketing pieces. Skip it if your printer's tank still shows magenta well above the lower line, since topping up early only ties up cash. Owners of GI-41 printers should order the GI-41 magenta, also at Mascom International. Anyone printing mostly text will get more value from the black bottle than from colours.
Technical Specifications
Magenta Ink Characteristics
- Dye-based magenta — dissolves into the paper surface, giving smooth gradients on photos and colour graphics.
- 70ml bottle — the same capacity Canon uses for cyan and yellow in the GI-490 range.
- Canon designation M — the magenta code shown beside GI-490 on PIXMA G specification pages.
- Builds reds, pinks and purples — magenta mixes with yellow for red and orange, and with cyan for violet.
- Original Canon supply — formulated for PIXMA G colour heads, not a universal refill sold for any brand.
Print Yield and Photo Output
- Up to 7,000 pages — Canon's estimated colour yield, averaged across the three GI-490 colours under ISO/IEC 24712.
- Up to 2,000 photos of 10x15cm — Canon's colour photo estimate for a full colour set, measured under ISO/IEC 29103.
- About 31 cents of magenta per page — KSh 2,150 spread across Canon's 7,000-page rating.
- Photo-heavy work uses more — portraits and red-themed flyers draw magenta faster than mixed office pages.
- Yield is an estimate — Canon labels it supplemental yield, meaning pages expected from a refill after first setup.
Supported Printers
- PIXMA G1411 — print-only tank printer, listed by Canon for GI-490 ink.
- PIXMA G3411 — wireless all-in-one with print, scan and copy, also on Canon's GI-490 list.
- PIXMA G4410 and G4411 — all-in-ones that add fax and a document feeder, listed for GI-490.
- Confirm any other model — check the tank label or manual for the GI-490 code before you order.
- Not shared with GI-41 printers — Canon assigns GI-41 to a different PIXMA G generation.
Bottle Handling
- Shaped for direct refilling — Canon designed the bottle for quick, easy topping up of the magenta tank.
- Arrives factory-sealed — proof the contents have not been opened, thinned or replaced.
- Supplies the colour print head — the G4411, for instance, uses one FINE head for black and another for colour.
- Cap tightly after use — stops dust entering and keeps ink from drying at the spout.
- Store cool and upright — away from windows, generators and hot vehicle interiors.
Box Contents and Cover
- One sealed 70ml magenta ink bottle — the only item in the pack.
- No print head or tank parts — this is an ink refill only.
- Matching colours sold separately — cyan and yellow at KSh 2,150 each, and black at KSh 2,350.
- Six-month Mascom International warranty — for manufacturing defects on the bottle under normal use.
- Pay-on-arrival delivery — to every county when you order by phone or WhatsApp.
Package Contents
You receive one factory-sealed Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle containing 70ml of dye-based magenta ink for the magenta tank of a compatible PIXMA G printer. The pack does not include a printer, print head, cable or any other colour. Studios and kiosks restocking a full set can add cyan and yellow GI-490 bottles at KSh 2,150 each and black at KSh 2,350, all from Mascom International. Hold on to the receipt until you have refilled successfully.
Warranty
The Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle comes with a 6-month Mascom International warranty covering manufacturing defects under normal use, such as a cracked bottle or broken seal on arrival. Claims are handled at our Nairobi CBD service desk in Old Mutual Building; bring the bottle with its receipt so our team can process it.
Where to Buy the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle in Kenya
Stock of the Canon GI-490 Magenta Ink Bottle is held at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Our doors open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Bring a recent print or your printer's model number, and we will confirm the right bottle at the counter. This page is for magenta; GI-490 cyan, yellow and black bottles are available alongside it.
Talk to us through:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Every order ships pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Same-day delivery covers Nairobi and its environs, and studios in Machakos, Naivasha, Meru and Malindi receive their bottles the next business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. The bottle is covered by the 6-month warranty above. Expect genuine Canon ink, a correct compatibility check, transparent pricing and staff who answer when you call back.
