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Is it possible to use a standard color inkjet cartridge to color filament for full color 3D printing?

It seems like a natural next step to me, but I haven't seen much of anything on this. (Just a few ancient experiments on reprap wiki.)

I've learned that some inkjet printers have the heads built into the cartridge whereas others it's part of the printer. I think the former would be more appropriate.

Unfortunately I haven't seen anything on actually how to drive the cartridges. I'm guessing the mfgr's treat this as a trade secret (?) Still, there's got to be some overseas reverse-engineer... something... on this, right?

Anybody have resources/notes they'd like to share?

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I don't think it makes a lot of sense - you don't need that kind of resolution, and getting a sufficient amount of ink that way to coat the filament would be hard. If you're going to be switching colors rapidly, you'd need a long purge between colors anyway. I also doubt the type of ink is suitable for sticking to filament materials.

If you really want an automated filament coloring system, I would do it with Sharpies and actuators to move individual ones on/off of the filament as it passes through. Coloring PLA with Sharpies prior to printing is a known-working technique, and there are even models available on Thingiverse for holders to keep them in place while the filament runs through. Designing the actuators to switch individual ones on/off, and the firmware controls for them, would be the natural next step.

Here are some examples I did with manual coloring of natural translucent PLA (from left to right: uncolored, silver Sharpie, and red Sharpie):

3 printed nuts, colored as described in text

I didn't color a long enough segment of filament or properly purge for any of them, which is why the coloring is inconsistent/incomplete. But the technique definitely works.

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AS an FYI, this is becoming available commercially: https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product-level/PROFESSIONAL/color-series

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    $\begingroup$ Thanks for your answer but we are looking for comprehensive answers that provide some explanation and context. Very short answers cannot do this, so please edit your answer to explain why it is right. Additionally, we prefer answers to be self contained where possible. link only answers are frowned upon (as links tend to rot) & will be rendered useless if the linked-to content disappears. If you add more context and detail from the link, it is more likely that people will find your answer useful. $\endgroup$
    – 0scar ♦
    Commented Aug 31, 2020 at 21:47
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    $\begingroup$ I'd be skeptical of anything from this company. Speaking of inkjet they're the inkjet printer loss-leader scam of 3D printing. Printers that refuse to use filament other than their own overpriced ones, software lock-in, ... Also using illegitimate IP claims to takedown competitors' products from Amazon. $\endgroup$
    – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
    Commented Sep 1, 2020 at 1:17
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This is a thing since I think 2-3 years. There's such a printer from XYZ printing. It's not cheap but worth it. https://www.xyzprinting.com/en-US/product/da-vinci-color

The other thing thats available right now is a new print technology named Multy Jet Fusion, where drops of resin being colored and droped to a 3D Print:

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