Cooking with Crafts

You know, after so much talk about stamping - stamping techniques and sample artwork - it occurred to me that it might be beneficial to have a lesson on inks. "What's the difference between dye and pigment ink pads?" "Why would I use one over the other?" "Can I use dye-based inks on surfaces other than paper?" These are questions I hear often, so lets delve into the world of ink pads and see if we can't get a few of those questions answered.

To make things easier, faster, and more accurate, I will be quoting the following descriptions directly from "The Rubber Stamper's Bible" by Francoise Read:

Dye-Based Inks
These inks are water-based, mainly non-permanent and usually come with a felt pad. They are available in a variety of colors, including multicolored or "rainbow" pads. Dye-based inks are translucent, dry quickly and can be stamped on most types of paper. However, images do appear brighter and crisper when stamped on white glossy paper.

Pigment Inks
These inks are thick, creamy and opaque, and usually come with a foam pad. They are available in a multitude of sizes and colors. Some colors are available in metallic, pearlescent and chalk finishes. Traditionally, most pigment inks are slow drying, but some have been developed to be faster drying, so it is important to check the label and ask for advice. The drying time will also depend on the weight and texture of the card you use.

Embossing Inks
These inks are usually clear or slightly tinted and most come with a foam pad. They are designed to dry slowly and to be used with opaque colored and metallic embossing powders. If you like embossing, these inkpads are a useful addition. Embossing pens are also available that you can use to color in and emboss a stamped image. Some of these, known as dual embossing pens, have a different tip on either end, such as a brush, bullet, or small and large chisel.

Resist Inks
These inks are formulated to resist or repel water-based dye inks on glossy paper. The VersaMarkTM inkpad can be used to create a watermark or tone-on-tone effect in your stamping. It will also act as a "glue" for chalks and paint powders.

Fabric/Craft Inks
Although some fabric inks are manufactured primarily for use on fabric, types such as FabricoTM and Crafter'sTM are multipurpose craft inks that can also be used on wood, leather, shrink plastic, and unglazed ceramics. When stamping on fabric, heat setting is required and fabrics should be pre-washed to remove sizing.

Permanent/Solvent Inks
Permanent inks are available in both water- and solvent-based forms and can be used on most types of card as well as other surfaces such as wood, acetate, shrink plastic, glass, metal foil, leather and acrylic. Most are ideal for non-porous and semi-porous surfaces. You may need a special stamp cleaner to remove solvent inks from your stamps, and these inks should always be used in a well-ventilated area.

Well, there you have it. I have also posted a scan of the ink comparison chart that is also published in "The Rubber Stamper's Bible". This chart lists many of the industry's leading brands, their ink types, drying times, surfaces best used on, etc. You can access it by clicking HERE.

I hope this has been informative and has answered any questions you may have had regarding ink pads! Happy Stamping!