![]() ![]() Some dyes may include another ingredient called a mordant which allows the dye to create a permanent chemical bond with the paper. It's worth noting that some pigmented colour formulations have a staining effect this is due to the pigments used having dye properties (meaning that they partially dissolve in the vehicle liquid).īeing a solution, dyes will readily soak-in and attempt to chemically bond to the substrate, becoming one with the substrate. Because pigment particles tend to accumulate on the surface of the paper (as opposed to soaking-in) pigment provides more opaque coverage than a dye. Pigment Opacity/Transparency: Most pigment based inks and paints are somewhat opaque in nature. With pigmented ink, it's the binder (or vehicle) that is responsible for making the pigment stick to the substrate. The pigment particles become physically trapped in the fibers, which is not the same as being chemically bonded to the paper. Pigment particles can sometimes get trapped in the texture of the substrate, creating something like a staining effect (in much the same way that dirt will get ground into the knees of your jeans). When a pigmented ink is applied to a substrate (meaning your paper, canvas, board, or whatever) the ink will will lay on top, forming a film on the surface of the substrate. Question 3: How does it work? Pigmented Ink This means that many dye colours are not stable under direct exposure to light (especially sunlight) and will fade, sometimes quite rapidly! While this is also true for some pigmented colours, it's the exception rather than the rule. ![]() The primary issue with dye is that many colours are not considered to be lightfast. Many modern dyes are synthetic and offer brighter, deeper and longer lasting colours. Our ancestors made dyes from many natural materials such as bark, nutshells, berries, roots and even insects. Relative to dye particles, pigment particles are much, much larger.Īdding powdered dye to water to make a dye solutionĭyes, are coloured chemicals that are either a liquid themselves or in the form of powder that is easily dissolved in a liquid (be aware that not every dye is water-soluble). Pigment powder is then mixed with a specific vehicle (or carrier) to create paint or ink (oil for oil paints, acrylic polymer emulsion for acrylic paints, gum arabic for watercolours, etc.). Pigments are generally composed of solid matter (rocks, minerals, metals, charcoal, etc ) that have been ground to a powdery talc-like texture. (And you thought you’d never need to use high school chemistry again!) Question 2a: What is a Pigment?ĭry pigments are used to create all artist quality paints. The sugar (solute) is dissolved in the water (solvent) to form a solution. If you place an airtight lid on the mixture (to avoid evaporation) and let the cup of sugar-water sit on the shelf (even indefinitely) you will never, ever see a layer of sugar particles settle on the bottom of the container. Now imagine Kool-Aid If you mix a spoon full of Kool-Aid into a cup of water, the Kool-Aid sugar crystals will completely dissolve into the water. If the puddle is left undisturbed, in time the particles will settle out of the water and collect in a layer on the bottom. ![]() Imagine a mud puddle There is silt and dirt and organic matter suspended in the water. The easiest way to explain the basic difference between pigmented inks and dye based inks is take you back to high school chemistry class: Solutions vs. Gum Arabic: adds sheen, increases film flexibility, and makes the ink re-wettable even after drying.Acrylic emulsion: makes ink waterproof when dry. ![]()
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