Dye Ink Vs. Pigment Ink: What Is The Difference?

From day-to-day office printouts to professional posters, inkjet printers can produce a wide range of prints. The printers use two main types of inks: dye ink and pigment ink.

Each ink has its own pros and cons. Understanding the main features of these inks will help you pick the right one for your project.

Here is everything you need to know about different printing inks and their features:

Dye

Dye ink is your standard printing ink. Consisting of water and colorant, dye ink has been used longer than other printing inks.

Colorant is the main substance that gives the ink color. It also dissolves easily in the water-based solution.

Available in a variety of colors, dye-based ink is much more affordable than other printing products, including pigment ink. The ink produces vibrant prints and is suitable for printing photographs.

However, it’s not water-proof and fades when exposed to sunlight, heat or humid conditions.

Pigment

Pigment ink comprises small particles of colored material. Unlike dye ink, pigment ink stays firmly on a paper and cannot be removed by water.

Pigment ink is much stable than dye ink. In fact, pigment prints can last for more than 200 years on specific paper types, as per testing done by Wilhelm Imaging Research. This is because pigment ink has larger particles that are difficult to remove. On the other hand, dye ink is not waterproof.

Pigment ink offers accurate, long lasting and high quality prints. The color stability is also better than dye ink. Furthermore, pigment ink can withstand sunlight and will not fade.  Due to its water-resistance, pigment ink is an excellent product for t-shirt printing.

While both dye and pigment inks have their advantages and disadvantages, pigment ink is generally better suited for professional printing.

Using the wrong ink can cause poor printing results or damage the printer. If you’re seeking premium quality pigment ink, order InkJD’s pigment ink today.

We provide pigment ink for ESPON, Mutoh and several other printers. Our pigment ink consists of fine pigment particles that deliver a smooth printing experience. The high density pigments can withstand water and friction. Moreover, the ink has excellent gloss and reflectivity and a decreased drying time.

All our printing inks are environmentally-friendly inks and meet industry quality and safety standards, including RoHS and Reach. We’re happy to accept small and large ink orders.