Dye ink is our Classic Stampin' Pad
Pigment ink is our Craft Stampin' Pad
Q: What is the difference between pigment ink and dye ink?
A: There are several differences. Dye ink absorbs into
the paper; pigment ink sits on top of the paper and does not absorb.
Pigment ink tends to be thicker than dye ink and is often preferred for
scrapbooking because pigment inks are more resistant to fading than
most dye inks. (However, some dye inks are specifically formulated for
use in scrapbooks.) The Stampin' Memories section of the Product Guide
contains a more detailed explanation of this and other archival topics.
Q: What about drying time and pigment ink?
A:
Pigment ink, by nature, dries more slowly than dye inks. You can
heat-set the pigment inks to speed drying time or set them aside to
dry. After heat-setting, pigment inks will resist all but the most
deliberate efforts to smear them (such as wetting your finger and
rubbing the ink). If you live in a humid area, you will want to
heat-set the inks, because air-drying time increases as humidity
increases. Heat-setting and air-drying produce the same color results.
When heat-setting, be careful of heating too long, which may cause a
scorched look.
Q: Can I use pigment ink for embossing?
A: Because of the longer drying time noted above, you
have time to apply your embossing powder without rushing; therefore,
the Craft pads are an excellent choice for embossing.
Q: Can I use pigment ink on slick surfaces like tile, porcelain, and terra cotta?
A: Pigment ink will not dry on slick surfaces, even
when heat-set. However, if you seal the ink with clear embossing
powder, you get a delightful glossy finish. Our recommendation is that
this technique be used for decorative purposes only, because the image
can be scratched off with your fingernail or metal, but it doesn't rub
off with just a gentle rub from your fingertip. So you could use this
technique for a decorative tile to hang on a wall, but you wouldn't
want to decorate the tiles on your kitchen floor this way.
Q: What about wood?
A: Pigment ink works well on smooth raw wood and on
wood already painted with a water-based paint, as long as it is
heat-set. After heat-setting, you may choose to spray it with a
fixative to add an extra layer of protection.
Q: Can I stamp walls with pigment ink?
A: Results with pigment ink on walls vary depending on
texture, finish, and previous paint on the walls. Test on a small
portion of unseen wall. If the image is dry after heat-setting, it may
be used on the remainder of the wall. Acrylic paints are the best
choice for stamping on walls.
Q: Does pigment ink work on fabric?
A: Yes, you can use it for stamping on fabrics.
However, colors are less vibrant on fabric than on paper. Also, even
after heat-setting, fabric inks fade slightly. This is true not only of
our Craft pads but other fabric pads available in the retail market as
well. For a more vibrant image, try stamping the same image twice (one
on top of the other) using the Stamp-a-ma-jig®. Here are some important
tips to remember when stamping on fabric:
- Prewash the fabric.
- Tightly woven and smooth-finished fabrics work best.
- Test a small area of fabric first.
- Heat-set immediately after stamping.
- Wash as normal or hand wash, but air or line dry.
- For best results, re-ink pad frequently.
