An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, comprising: a housing having a chamber therein for holding ink; a vent through which air may enter the chamber; a capillary material in the chamber for holding ink; a conduit through which ink may flow from the chamber, the conduit having: a first part through which ink may enter the conduit, the first part of the conduit in contact with and compressing the capillary material; and a second part downstream from the first part through which ink may leave the conduit; and an outlet wick covering an outlet from the second part of the conduit; wherein the conduit further has a third, unobstructed part between the first part and the second part to form a free ink chamber, the cartridge further comprising an outlet through which ink may pass from the chamber out of the housing, the outlet formed by the conduit, the capillary material in the chamber and covering the outlet, the capillary material disposed between the vent and the outlet so that, when the capillary material is sufficiently depleted of ink, the capillary material forms an airway from the vent to the outlet; and the outlet configured to cause an abrupt break in a liquid connection in the outlet as air enters the outlet through the capillary material, characterized by further comprising an inlet wick in contact with the capillary material and covering an inlet to the first part of the conduit, the inlet wick having a bubble pressure greater than the capillary pressure of the capillary material, or a filter covering an inlet to the first part of the conduit, the filter having a bubble pressure greater than the capillary pressure of the capillary material. a housing having a chamber therein for holding ink; a vent through which air may enter the chamber; a capillary material in the chamber for holding ink; a conduit through which ink may flow from the chamber, the conduit having: a first part through which ink may enter the conduit, the first part of the conduit in contact with and compressing the capillary material; and a second part downstream from the first part through which ink may leave the conduit; and a first part through which ink may enter the conduit, the first part of the conduit in contact with and compressing the capillary material; and a second part downstream from the first part through which ink may leave the conduit; and an outlet wick covering an outlet from the second part of the conduit; wherein the conduit further has a third, unobstructed part between the first part and the second part to form a free ink chamber, the cartridge further comprising an outlet through which ink may pass from the chamber out of the housing, the outlet formed by the conduit, the capillary material in the chamber and covering the outlet, the capillary material disposed between the vent and the outlet so that, when the capillary material is sufficiently depleted of ink, the capillary material forms an airway from the vent to the outlet; and the outlet configured to cause an abrupt break in a liquid connection in the outlet as air enters the outlet through the capillary material, characterized by further comprising an inlet wick in contact with the capillary material and covering an inlet to the first part of the conduit, the inlet wick having a bubble pressure greater than the capillary pressure of the capillary material, or a filter covering an inlet to the first part of the conduit, the filter having a bubble pressure greater than the capillary pressure of the capillary material.