Product Spotlight: Ink Pads
When I started stamping way back in the 80's I admit I gave no thought to the ink I used except for the color. I'm not even sure there was that much to choose from. But these days there are lots of options and colors and formulations, which all behave differently. It can get very confusing! So today I'm going to highlight a few option and explain how they work.
Dye Inks:
Dye inks tend to be transparent and watery, so they soak into the page. They dry quickly but are water soluble so they can smear if they get wet even after they dry. They come in a vast variety of color and brands.
Dye inks at Craftiness:
Pigment Inks:
Pigment inks act more like a paint that sits on top of your work. They are opaque and much thicker than a dye ink. Because of this they take longer to dry, and might not dry completely on glossy paper. Using a heat gun to set the ink can help in those situations. Because they stay wet longer, pigment inks are a good choice to use with embossing powders.
Pigment inks at Craftiness:
Permanent inks:
Permanent inks dry permanent and waterproof. They are can be thicker like a pigment ink, or watery and transparent like a dye ink. Stamp them down and then pile on the layers!
Permant inks at Craftiness:
There are other inks too, ones meant to work for embossing, some that remove color from your work, some that are meant to work on alcohol inks. But the three types above are the ones you're most likely to use if you're stamping or embossing.
