Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application

2025-06-27 Printing Ink Time to read: 3min
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Pigment ink or pigmented ink is a broad umbrella term for any ink that consists of a suspension, where ink particles are dissolved in a base. Pigment inks form most of the different printing inks and can be adjusted to various printing methods, whether sublimation printing, screen printing, or other types. This article will focus on pigmented inks as a specific type with water as its base.

Definition: Pigmented ink

Pigmented inks are a type of pigment ink. In most cases, both terms are used synonymously and as an umbrella term for every ink type that uses small, solid particles to carry the color in a base. The base can be water, resin, latex, and others. However, pigmented ink also refers to a specific type, which uses water as a base and is thus a type of ink itself.

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Applications and limitations

Pigment inks, in contrast to dye inks, do not seep into the printer paper but stay on the surface, and do not mix well, resulting in a smaller variety of color hues. Due to high refill costs, pigmented ink is mostly used in professional environments, for example, by architects, artists, or photographers. Another place suited for application is shipping labels of big companies, as the package might be exposed to the weather during the shipment. Additionally, printing on textiles is also often done with pigmented inks, as the ink stays after washing.

The limitations of pigmented ink are pretty blunt. Due to the way the colors only stick to the surface of the medium, they cannot mix and blend well, and are prone to abrasion. Especially on fabric prints, rubbing over the image can cause it to flake off.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pigmented inks have many advantages and disadvantages to consider before deciding on using them.

Advantages

  • Scratch and water-resistant (depending on the medium printed on)
  • High-quality, vibrant printing results
  • Relatively cheap printer
  • UV-resistant with almost no fading

Disadvantages

  • May produce inconsistent colors
  • Not suited for prints used outdoors
  • Inks and refills can be expensive
  • Abrasion problem

Pigmented vs. dye inks

Pigmented inks and dye inks are very distinct in composition, even if the difference is minor on the printed product. While pigmented inks are made by suspending tiny particles in a liquid medium, dye inks have the color fully dissolved in the solution.

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FAQs

Pigmented ink is a type of printing ink where color particles are dispersed in a suspension, which is then applied to the medium.

Pigmented ink is often used in professional printing, as the ink refills can become quite expensive. Due to the highly scratch-resistant finish, it is not just used by architects and engineers, but also by graphic designers and even museums.

Pigmented ink has strong arguments for itself, such as scratch, water, and UV resistance. Furthermore, they produce vibrant prints and an especially intensive black.

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Leonie Schmid

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About the author

Leonie Schmid is studying marketing at IU Nuremberg in a dual program and is working towards a bachelor's degree. She has had a passion for writing ever since she was little, whether it is fiction or later on scientific. Her love for the English language and academic topics has led her to BachelorPrint as a dual student, seeking to provide educational content for students everywhere all around the world.

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As a leading expert in the printing and binding of academic papers, theses, and dissertations, the BachelorPrint online printing service furnishes a diverse range of bindings and configuration options. BachelorPrint’s goal is to elicit a proud smile on every single Canadian student’s face, as they hold their ideal binding in their hands.<br/>Moreover, BachelorPrint provides numerous educational articles on insightful subjects related to academic writing in their Study Guide, assisting students during the process of writing their thesis or dissertation.


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Bibliography

Schmid, L. (2025, June 27). Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application. BachelorPrint. https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/ (retrieved 2025-07-04)

In-text citation

Parenthetical
(Schmid , 2025)
Narrative
Schmid (2025)

Bibliography

Schmid, Leonie. 2025. "Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application." BachelorPrint, Retrieved July 04, 2025. https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/.

In-text citation

Parenthetical
(Schmid 2025)

Bibliography

Leonie Schmid, "Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application," BachelorPrint, June 27, 2025, https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/ (retrieved July 04, 2025).

Footnotes

Short note
Schmid, "Shortened title."

Bibliography

Schmid, Leonie: Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application, in: BachelorPrint, 2025-06-27, [online] https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/ (retrieved 2025-07-04).

Footnotes

Full note
Schmid, Leonie: Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application, in: BachelorPrint, 2025-06-27, [online] https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/ (retrieved 2025-07-04).
Direct quote
Schmid, 2025.
Indirect quote
Schmid, 2025.

Bibliography

Schmid, Leonie (2025): Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application, in: BachelorPrint, [online] https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/ (retrieved 2025-07-04).

In-text citation

Direct quote
(Schmid, 2025)
Indirect quote
(Schmid, 2025)
Narrative
Schmid (2025)

Bibliography

Schmid, Leonie. "Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application." BachelorPrint, 2025-06-27, https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/ (retrieved 2025-07-04).

In-text citation

Parenthetical
(Schmid)
Narrative
Schmid

Bibliography

Number. Schmid L. Pigmented Ink – Definition & Application [Internet]. BachelorPrint. 2025 [cited 2025-07-04]. Available from: https://www.bachelorprint.com/ca/printing-guide/printing-ink/pigmented-ink/


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