[blackeyeblitzar]

At least on my HP printer, there is a process (I think called alignment?) to self-calibrate new cartridges. I am not sure if that is different from the type of calibration you’re talking about (maybe about colors). However, I’ve personally not found differences between using the printer’s own calibration processes and not doing anything. Nor have I found significant differences between first and third party cartridges. Some third party cartridges will print a little bit ‘fuzzier’, or maybe ‘thicker’ is the right way to put it. But not in a way that makes the printing worse, as much as different.