The making of ink, colored liquid that is used to print on paper, plastic and cardboard, is a fascinating process but actually a simple recipe. In general, ink is made in very large batches in a process similar to cooking soup. Both use a large pot and in some cases, heat is necessary to cause a chemical reaction to create a certain type of ink or color. Although you see the resulting ink in nearly everything you see and read, you seldom stop to think just exactly how it’s made.
Dye or pigment is what adds color to ink and that substance is usually found in granular or powder form that dissolves in water. No matter what type of pigment is used to make ink, the dry substance must first be ground into fine particles so that it dissolves completely in water. In addition, using finely ground pigment ensures that the particles won’t settle at the bottom of your ink container.
The actual making of ink is easy and begins with a very large pot or vat. A liquid or solvent chemical is added to the pigment or dye and mixed thoroughly. Most mixing is accomplished by a motorized mixer, spatula or similar object, which also maintaining the mixing while the ink is heated. Depending on the chemical configuration of the pigment or dye, other chemicals, solvents, stabilizers or preservatives may also be added to the ink and mixed in the pot. Heat may be applied and mixing continues to ensure the ink is heated evenly. Once mixed and heated, the ink is them run through one or several filters to remove fine particles that can get caught in printing presses, inkjets or pens. The ink is allowed to cool and is then distributed to manufacturers of products that use it. The process of making ink is even more fascinating when you watch a batch being made. You can watch the creation of ink, first hand by watching this video on Youtube.