Unsaid things about Inks

Basic knowledge

I posted this tutorial in 2010 I have done an updated version tonight after a question in class today. Things everyone thinks you should know and takes for granted, but forgets to tell anyone when starting. Then you are afraid to ask for the fear of seeming dumb.
So I have put together a little explanation to try and help, of course there are variations out there which will contradict, and new products constantly coming available changing the way we are creating and forming different techniques thus effecting what ink we will need. This is a simple guide to help you make the right choice with the inks you choose to use, basically what surface and technique determines what ink. Does your ink have one or more of the following in it Water based, Oil Based or Solvent Based, these characteristics are important key factors to achieving the end result you are aiming for in your project. I however have not even touched on all the other tools and mediums that can be used with your inks but they too have a basic rule, water, oil or Solvent/Alcohol. This is only a basic guide as there now are many different brands which have been developed by many different companies. Speaking from experience always be careful of what you clean your polymer and rubber stamps with always a clean cloth with no oils and solvents in it. I do not recommend using tissues or baby wipes because they can contain oil (Aloe-Vera) great for our skin but not for our stamps, there are special cleaners for special inks and stamps. Avoid using stazz-on cleaner on your polymer stamps as well as Staz-on ink.  Always make sure you clean your stamps going from memento ink to Staz-on this can cause cross contamination of inks ruining an ink pad, and always clean your stamps before stamping with a different colour ink. 

Hope this helps you happy crafting.

 

Pigment ink
Pigment ink is a slow drying ink commonly used for wet embossing, is acid free and fade resistant. Pigment ink can be used without embossing as long it is given adequate time to dry, can be improved using a heat gun to set the ink

Versafine (Tsukineko Brand) Is a quick drying natural oil-based opaque pigment ink dries very quickly on matte cardstock, providing incredibly fine detail. You are able to watercolour markers over the stamped images and it won't bleed. Recommended ink to use with your clear polymer stamps.

 

Chalk inks Versamagic (Tsukineko Brand)
Chalk inks are a water based  opaque pigment ink that dries quickly into a delicate chalky finish, giving a rich saturated opaque result. Chalk ink cannot be wet embossed. It is acid free is resistant to smearing, bleeding and fading. Works well on dark card stock for a strong result as well on glossy surfaces.

 

Dye ink
Dye ink pads are a water based quick drying, acid free ink which will absorb into the paper. Can be permanent and sometimes waterproof if indicated on label of the pad. The ink may run if it gets wet with water this is used as a technique for texture and opacity. Dye ink cannot be embossed unless you add a clear embossing ink to it. Dye ink is used for distressing with distressing blocks also combined with blender pens or aqua painters is great for colouring instead of markers.

Archival Dye Ink (Ranger Brand) Archival ink is a fade resistant, waterproof, nontoxic and acid-free, ink. Providing a long-lasting crisp image. It will not bleed when using water based markers, blenders, pigments or coloured pencils, heat setting with a heat gun is recommended to ensure permanency when stamped on glossy surfaces

Memento is a fade resistant Dye Ink that is the preferred ink to use with your Copic/Alcohol Markers. When dry your stamp image will not smear with the use of Alcohol markers when are applied over them

 

Distress Oxide® Ink

It is a water-reactive dye & pigment ink fusion that creates an oxidized effect when sprayed with water. The ink is thick and opaque dries very slowly sometimes never on a gloss service. The ink is not permanent and will continue to react whenever it comes into contact with water it is not water-resistant

 

Stazz on ink
Stazz on ink is a solvent based ink that can be stamped on most surfaces the result is a permanent waterproof stamped image. Use on outlined stamped images if using aqua painter or blender pens, cannot be embossed or distressed as the ink will dry on the stamp if not used immediately. To remove ink from the stamps a special cleaner needs to be used