Confused About Ink Pads?

What is the deal with all the different ink pads?  Pigment, dye, chalk, staz-on, versa-mark, cats-eye, dazzle, brilliance...confused yet?  First let's talk about the distinction between the two major types (not brands) of ink pads on the market. 

Dye Inkpads vs. Pigment Inkpads

Dye inkpads usually have a hard felt surface. These inks actually absorb into your paper and dye the fibers of your paper.  For this reason, dye inks are not used for stamping light color inks on dark papers.  They dry very quickly and therefore are not normally used for embossing.  They can be permanent ink or non-permanent.  Only dye inks labeled as "permanent" and "fade resistant" should be used in scrapbooks.

Pigment inkpads usually have a soft foam surface. While pigment inks still need an absorbent surface to dry, it does not dye the fibers of the paper...it sits on top of the paper. This is why you can stamp a white pigment ink on top of a black paper.  Do not use pigment ink to stamp on glossy surfaces unless you emboss it.  Pigment inks dry slower which makes them great for embossing. Metallic colors take even longer to dry, so you might want to use a heat tool to help them dry faster.  Pigment inks are more fade resistant than dye inks. 

Chalk inkpads are a form of Pigment inkpads.  Yes it's true.  They are.  These beautiful matte, muted, chalky inkpads give off such sophisticated looks, with the weight of the ink works just like a pigment ink letting you stamp light colors over dark. Chalk inks do dry a little faster than regular pigment inks, however.

There are several more types of inks to discuss; such as solvent, alcohol and versa-mark...but that's a discussion for a later time.  In the meantime, enjoy the attachment below. It is the ink primer I hand out in my Beginner Scrapbooking class.



Ink Primer Document

  Ink Primer