<p>Inks are largely divided into two categories: dye-based and pigment-based.<br />
Additionally, there is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_ink" rel="noreferrer">invisible ink</a>, which usually consists of a variety of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_ink#Invisible_ink_types" rel="noreferrer">other ingredients</a> that need to undergo a chemical reaction in order to become visible.</p>
<p>Dye is a soluble colourant, which means a dye-based ink is a solution, whereas pigments are colourants that consist of small particles, making pigment-based inks chemical suspensions (see also <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/2300/">here</a>).</p>
<p>Why the difference is important, is because both have different characteristics.<br />
Without going into the chemical differences too much, the benefits of <strong>dye-based inks</strong> include:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Beautiful color quality</li>
<li>Easy to spread and paint with</li>
<li>Affordable and easy to find</li>
<li>Adheres to almost any surface</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>And the disadvantages are:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>A tendency to fade out fast</li>
<li>A lack of resistance to external factors</li>
<li>More prone to bleeding</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>For <strong>pigment-based inks</strong>, the benefits are:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Resistant to most exterior factors</li>
<li>Can last for decades in paper</li>
<li>Doesn't fade out over time</li>
<li>Dry and adhere fast to surfaces</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>And the disadvantages:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Color can be a bit dull</li>
<li>Pretty expensive &amp; difficult to find</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><sup>Lists mostly copied verbatim from <a href="https://www.printtopeer.com/dye-vs-pigment-ink/" rel="noreferrer">here</a></sup></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-27T14:26:25.037Z
2020-07-27T14:26:25.037Z
Joachim
<p><a href="https://www.amazon.in/NOZOMI-Kokuyo-Camlin-Bottle-BLACK/dp/B07ZHG95D8/ref=sr_1_32?_encoding=UTF8&amp;c=ts&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=Bottled%20Ink&amp;qid=1595856356&amp;sr=8-32&amp;ts_id=3591274031" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Camlin ink</a></p>
<p>Are inks based on something else also? Why have they specified that their ink is dye based? What does dye based mean anyway?</p>
<p>What other bases for ink are there?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-03T20:52:36.743Z
[Related](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/2300/whats-the-difference-between-a-pigment-and-a-dye).
Joachim
<ink>
What is a dye based ink?
Aquarius_Girl
# What is a dye based ink?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-27)

[Camlin ink](https://www.amazon.in/NOZOMI-Kokuyo-Camlin-Bottle-BLACK/dp/B07ZHG95D8/ref=sr_1_32?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Bottled%20Ink&qid=1595856356&sr=8-32&ts_id=3591274031)

Are inks based on something else also? Why have they specified that their ink is dye based? What does dye based mean anyway?

What other bases for ink are there?

**Tags:** ink

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [Related](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/2300/whats-the-difference-between-a-pigment-and-a-dye).  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-07-27. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Inks are largely divided into two categories: dye-based and pigment-based.  
Additionally, there is [invisible ink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_ink), which usually consists of a variety of [other ingredients](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_ink#Invisible_ink_types) that need to undergo a chemical reaction in order to become visible.

Dye is a soluble colourant, which means a dye-based ink is a solution, whereas pigments are colourants that consist of small particles, making pigment-based inks chemical suspensions (see also [here](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/2300/)).

Why the difference is important, is because both have different characteristics.  
Without going into the chemical differences too much, the benefits of **dye-based inks** include:

> * Beautiful color quality
> * Easy to spread and paint with
> * Affordable and easy to find
> * Adheres to almost any surface

And the disadvantages are:

> * A tendency to fade out fast
> * A lack of resistance to external factors
> * More prone to bleeding

For **pigment-based inks**, the benefits are:

> * Resistant to most exterior factors
> * Can last for decades in paper
> * Doesn't fade out over time
> * Dry and adhere fast to surfaces

And the disadvantages:

> * Color can be a bit dull
> * Pretty expensive & difficult to find

Lists mostly copied verbatim from [here](https://www.printtopeer.com/dye-vs-pigment-ink/)


---

