Archival Ink Just Exactly What Is It ?

 

Archival Ink is a pigment based ink. Pigment based ink as mentioned in a previous page (see What Is The Difference Between Pigmented And Dye Based Ink) has particles suspended in a solution.

Until the last 3 years the disadvantage to pigment based ink was that the particles used in such ink were relatively large and the vibrancy of the print output was somewhat lacking. Recent advancements in technology (since around late 2001) has led to the use of smaller particles and these "smaller particles" are coated with chemical polymers that enhance the color and brightness of the print output.

The particles are also made of material that is resistant to UV (UltraViolet)
exposure.  In other words, Archival Ink does not deteriorate (fade) or exhibit a "color shift" as quickly with exposure to light sources. I will have another page about my thoughts about the usage of Archival Ink in this section.

The use of these new materials and technology does not come at a cheap price.
The cost of Archival Ink is generally between 5 and 6 times the price of conventional pigmented ink.  Whether or not one can justify this increased cost to print is determined by how the ink is going to be used and the paper that the ink is going to be used on. Read my page "Should I Use Archival Ink"

More resources For Information About Archival Ink

For standard generic inkjet cartridges, bulk ink (pigmented and dye based)
Visit Forinkjets.com

View Amazon Results For Archival Ink