Ink pad usage!

When I first started stamping, I didn't know what ink pads to use on what medium so, I have put together a list of what inks do!

DYE INKS
These are general purpose inks and can be used on most kinds of card & paper. Because the colours are thin bodied, I find the lighter shades tend to produce subtle pastel effects and dark shades are quite vibrant.
Dyes work by soaking and staining the paper fibres quickly so are not appropriate to use with embossing. On glossy/coated paper/card, they tend not to dry and will smudge easily also, they do not work well with polymer stamps as the bead up and produce a fuzzy effect.

WATER-BASED DYE INKS
These tend to fade over time more so in sunlight, and they are not waterproof, so will run if wet. Water-based ink stamped images are best coloured with chalks, crayons & coloured pencils. Avoid using on high absorbent paper/card such as mulberry as it will bleed.
Easy to clean off your stamps with water or wet wipe.

WATERPROOF DYE INKS
These are permanent inks and will not run with water. Best for stamping an image and can be coloured using markers or water coloured paints/pencils. They can be used on most mediums but they are not suitable for stamping on shrink plastic. Because of the waterproof qualities, your stamps can sometimes be cleaned with soap & water, though some may need a solvent based cleaner.

DISTRESSING INKS
One of the popular brands is Tim Holtz. These are water based dye inks and are in a class of their own. They are brilliant for blending with water and because they stay wet longer, makes them become very alterable. One of the things I like to do with these inks is, daub different colour on card then spritz with water to see the colour mingle and spread! These inks are best used on photos.

ALCOHOL INKS
Alcohol inks are permanent, dye based inks. The most popular brand is Ranger Adirondack, which comes in a full strength dropper bottle. These can be used full strength or diluted with alcohol blending solution. You can also add mica powder to them to create a pearlescent shimmer effect. I use these inks on a felt stamper to create backgrounds and rarely use for stamping as they dry very rapidly and over time can dry out your stamp causing them to crack. These inks are suitable for use on almost any surface including, plastic, glass, metal, foil etc. If you do use them for stamping images, be sure to clean your stamp with a commercial stamp cleaner and conditioner.

PIGMENT INKS
These inks do not contain dye. They are a solid pigment suspended in a glycerin base. They do not sink in or stain card/paper like dye based inks, but dries on top of the surface and take a little longer to dry making them ideal for embossing. They will not dry on glossy paper unless you use a heat gun. Once heat set, you can water colour the image without smearing.
Because of the thickness of these inks, I clean my stamps with warm water and an old toothbrush to get into the tiny crevices.

FAST-DRYING PIGMENT INKS
Some pigment inks have a resin base and can be heat set for permanence on vellum and plastic. They tend to dry fast so are not really suitable for embossing, although Ranger Antiquities Ink is a fast dryer that can be used with embossing. Brilliance is harder to emboss with but dries perfectly on smooth surfaces, like vellum or coated card/paper
Versafine is a brilliant ink, it is oil based yet water-soluble and dries quick. It is acid-free, fade resistant and waterproof, making it perfect for stamping images and colouring in with markers or water colours without bleeding. It produces perfect results on highly detailed stamps.

SOLVENT-BASED PERMANENT INKS
These inks do not require any heat setting, once they are dry, they are permanent on almost any surface including, leather, metal, glass, acetate etc. One of the most popular is StazOn and because they dry almost instantly on porous card/paper, makes them perfect to use markers or paints with. Also great for stamping on shrink plastic!

WATERMARK AND RESIST INKS
These inks are used for subtle images on card/paper and can produce some interesting backgrounds, especially on coloured card/paper.
Versamark and Pallette are slow drying which makes them ideal to use with embossing powders. I like to use these inks to produce a batik effect-stamp your image on glossy/smooth paper, then use a brayer or sponge to apply ink over it and the stamped image will resist the ink.

I hope this helps, Happy Stamping!