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
