| There are two types of printer inks that users | | | | particles of colors spread throughout the paper. |
| often use in producing documents or photographs, | | | | This preservation of color is the main advantage |
| namely, dye-based or Pigment-Based Inks. Printer | | | | that pigment-based inks have against their more |
| inks, whether pigment-based or dye-based, are | | | | traditional dye-based counterparts. |
| composed of three different parts: the colorant, | | | | Pigment-based inks are also great for printing |
| the solvent or the printer ink and chemicals that | | | | pictures as the colors are more compact than the |
| enable the printer inks and paper to mix. | | | | pictures produced using dye-based inks. Also, using |
| Dye-Based Inks | | | | pigment-based printer inks produces prints that |
| Of the two, dye-based printer ink is the one that | | | | are more fade resistance making its storage |
| has been around longer. Its main difference with | | | | easier to do. |
| the newer pigment-based printer ink is that | | | | Dye Vs. Pigment |
| dye-based inks stick to papers stronger. Another | | | | Choosing between the two printer inks depends |
| advantage in using dye-based inks is its use of a | | | | largely on how the user will use the prints. There |
| water-solution that enables the colors on the | | | | are other considerations to look at before |
| prints it produces to be more dissolved and | | | | choosing what type of printer ink is going to be |
| embedded in the papers. | | | | used. These include: |
| Printers that utilize dye-based printer inks tend to | | | | - Some printers cater only to dye-based while |
| produce prints with more vibrant and mixed | | | | others only to pigment-based. |
| colors, carefully placed and embedded on the | | | | - There is also the issue of drying as |
| print-outs. Dye-based prints use heat and | | | | pigment-based inks tend to dry faster than |
| pressure to evaporate the excess water from | | | | dye-based ones. |
| the printer ink leaving the finished product with | | | | - More colors can be provided by dye-based inks |
| colors set in the papers. | | | | since its colors are freer to mix with each other |
| Dye-based printer ink may stick more to the | | | | when printing. |
| paper than pigment-based ink does but messy | | | | - There's also the issue of "metamerism" with |
| prints can also be brought about by the dye's | | | | pigment-based printer inks. Metamerism happens |
| water-solubility. Since dye completely dissolves in | | | | when pigment-based colors appear differently |
| water, dye-based prints can be as easily blotched | | | | under a different lighting condition. For example, a |
| as it can be printed. This is mainly why | | | | print-out may appear black under dim lights but |
| pigment-based inks have been developed for the | | | | dark green on brighter lights. |
| past few years. | | | | - When it comes to pricing, dye-based inks are |
| Pigment-based Inks | | | | more affordable as it has been around longer and |
| While it may be more expensive than dye-based | | | | is more main stream than pigment-based inks. |
| inks, pigment-based prints will most likely last | | | | Today, newer developments are constantly being |
| longer than dye-based ink produce. This is mainly | | | | made to further improved document and |
| so because of the ink's main characteristic which | | | | photo-printing processes. Newer kinds of printer |
| features colorants encapsulated in particle-based | | | | inks are expected to join dye-based and |
| solutions. | | | | pigment-based inks to provide more choices to |
| Pigment-based inks provide print-outs with | | | | users and more quality printing in the process. |