What are the Main Differences Between Dye and Pigment Ink

This question is very important for those who are starting out or are in doubt about the correct type of ink for the chosen job. Below you can find some basic information about the types of inks and their respective uses.

Visual Differences

Visually, it is already possible to notice the big difference between dye ink and pigmented ink. The following chart shows you the main differences between dye and pigment inks, which should be considered when choosing the appropriate type of ink for different printing tasks.

Properties

Properties	Dye Ink	Pigment Ink
Appearance	Watery appearance, resembling "gasoline"	Milky appearance; more opaque color
Price	Lower	Higher
Water Resistance	Not waterproof	Waterproof, does not smear when in contact with water
UV Resistance	Fades easily with light exposure, no UV protection	Has UV protection, more durable in outdoor environments
Color shades	Brighter color	Duller colors

Appearance

- **Dye Ink:** Watery appearance, resembling "gasoline" - **Pigment Ink:** Milky appearance; more opaque color

Price

- **Dye Ink:** Lower - **Pigment Ink:** Higher

Water Resistance

- **Dye Ink:** Not waterproof - **Pigment Ink:** Waterproof, does not smear when in contact with water

UV Resistance

- **Dye Ink:** Fades easily with light exposure, no UV protection - **Pigment Ink:** Has UV protection, more durable in outdoor environments

Color Shades

- **Dye Ink:** Brighter color - **Pigment Ink:** Duller colors

Conclusion

CHROMOINK® has pigment background for more than a decade, manufacturing dispersions and inks for Digital printing, Flexo & Gravure printing. Welcome to contact us for more information.