What is the difference between dye ink and pigment ink

Constant exposition to sun rays and moisture can make dye inks lose color and blur. In contrast, pigment inks hold much better into paper and other surfaces. Because they can handle most of these exterior factors, you will find them much more durable than dye inks as well. In fact, the color on pigment inks, despite being less vibrant, tends to hold better than dye inks over time.

After 10 to 50 years, the difference is outstanding. And still, the pigment may last up to years in some cases. Dye inks start fading out after the first 10 years. And after 50 years, the ink may not be the same anymore, losing a lot of its vibrancy and looking totally different from the original version. In short, we can say that pigment inks are more durable and resistant overall. If the dye is less resilient, how can I use it?

Well, there are many things you can do with dye inks. For example, presentations, cards, business materials, portfolios, and other similar products that rely heavily on looks than in resilience.

The best use for dye inks is on photography paper. And because the paper also looks much better than regular paper, they also tend to hold the color for longer. The advantage of pigment is how well it sticks to almost any paper and any finish.

Most pigment inks, however, are used for archiving because they can hold the color much better over time. And for any external outdoor included use where the surface must stay neat for long. To put it in a few words, dye inks offer the best results for temporary jobs, and pigment inks work better for things that need to last. For example, dye inks tend to be hugely affordable.

Due to their surface tension properties, they will be also easily absorbed by the surface of the paper, and therefore make it possible to keep the gloss of the printed product. On the other hand, and despite steady efforts from the suppliers' side, the dyes are light-, humidity- and ozone sensitive, which is considered as a major disadvantage in the quest for ever higher high durability in photographic application.

The dye-based inks are cheaper and mostly used in SOHO or amateur-aimed printers. The pigment-based inks are made from pigment originating from organic synthesis, which are encapsulated with a synthetic resin and suspended in a liquid.

The corresponding molecules are much larger than for the dye-based inks. Due to their size and chemical structure, these inks show much greater lightfastness and are less prone to fade with humidity and gases especially ozone. In addition, dye-based ink can also result in other colours presenting more vibrantly. Conversely, pigmented ink is best used to blend colours. There is nothing that can match custom pigment ink for colour depths and blends.

As such, this is typically the go-to ink for photo printing. However, technology is closing the gap between both inks and most printers will facilitate both pigmented and dye-based inks to create the highest standard of printing. Of course, price is always a strong driver for decision making. For the best pigment ink, you will be looking at spending more than dye-based inks.

This is because the complex process of producing pigmented inks requires more labour time which has a cost. Custom pigmented inks are highly regarded for their ability to blend colours more immersively.

This makes for them to be well sought after, but also more expensive. Professional and hobbyist photographers are more inclined to choose pigment-based inks due to the consistency of colour that can be achieved.

Despite dye-based inks producing slightly more vibrance, the blend and consistency of colour are what makes for a truly stunning photo. For the absolute best of the best, you will want to purchase a custom pigment ink that will also serve the test of time.

As a hardier based ink, pigment ink will also not succumb to fading from sunlight very easily. This results in your print looking newer for longer. There is, however, the cost. Should you really care about your printing then custom pigment inks will cost a pretty penny.

As such, you may look to find a solution for dye-based inks that still delivers the vibrance that you need; without the payday loan. Should you find yourself choosing between dye or pigment ink for photo printing, you should also read our comprehensive guide on inkjet vs laser printers. The difference between the two printers will have a significant impact on your printing outcomes.

In particular, long term cost savings. Armed with the knowledge of which ink performs best for each circumstance, you should now be better prepared to select the ink type that will deliver the greatest outcomes. If you find yourself printing photos and colour dominant documents, pigment ink will afford you a more vibrant palette.

Conversely, longer-lasting text-based documents are best suited when printed with dye-based ink. Remember though, ink technology has significantly improved over the years and you will likely find that your printer uses a combination of pigment-based ink and dye-based inks.

Therefore, we would not be too concerned should you have not read this article before purchasing your ink type. Just be sure to pay attention to considerations such as sun exposure and opportunities for smudging.

Should you have any questions, feel free to head on down to our comments section or speak to us via live chat. We would be more than happy to assist you in choosing the right printer and ink for your needs.

Hi Simon Thank you for the article it was really helpful. Do you know where in AUstralia I could source the pigment one. Cheers Tracey. All of the major brands like Canon, Epson and HP use both dye and pigment-based inks. Canon inks that start with PG in their product numbers are typically pigment-based, while Epson uses pigment-based inks in their higher-end photo printers. Javascript is disabled on your browser.