D ifferent types of inks used for rubber stamping.
Project Recipe
WATER-BASED DYE INKS:
Most people who use rubber stamps us water-based dye inks as the standard ink of choice.
These inks are great for stamping techniques and can be used to watercolor by pressing the pads onto a nonporous surface then picking up the ink with a wet paint brush or Aquabrush. Water-based inks dry quickly and should not be used with embossing powders (more on that subject later.)
DISTRESS INKS
Distress Inks are water-based dye inks but are water reactive which allows for many different techniques. Distress inks generally dry slower, are water-based and blend easily. The most common distress inks are made by Ranger Industries and Tim Holtz has many techniques using distress inks. You can find his YouTube videos for technique videos using distress inks.
WATERPROOF DYE INKS
These types of ink have a different formulation allowing for watercolor techniques. Once the stamped image dries you can color over the image with watercolor techniques without smearing or bleeding the color.
Additional Ink Types:
PIGMENT INKS
Pigment inks are made with a different formula as well and generally have a glycerin base. They are thicker than dye inks and remain wet longer to allow for you to cover them with embossing powder. High heat from an Embossing tool is required to "set" them resulting in a raised effect on the surface.
HYBRID INKS:
Hybrid Inks are just that. They are a cross dye inks and pigment inks and contain properties of both.
Some hybrid inks tend to dry as quickly as dye inks while other will remain wet longer allowing for using with embossing powders. Hybrid ink properties may differ based on the manufacturer. Personally, I have had embossing success while using hybrid inks. Maybe the San Antonio humidity factors into this, but I'm not certain.
SOLVENT INKS:
Solvent-based inks are permanent. The most common type is labeled as Staz-On. Solvent inks can be used on most surfaces, including plastic, glass and metal. These are not recommended for fabric. Solvent inks are permanent and do not require heat setting to achieve permanency. Solvent inks require a different type of rubber stamp cleaner made especially for solvent inks. NOTE: When using Solvent inks on photopolymer stamps, please clean immediately and rinse thoroughly after using. Solvent inks will stain your stamps but this will not affect your stamped images.