The Craftsmanship of Making Ink
We are surrounded by printed items in our everyday lives – in magazines, books, newspapers, product packaging, food packaging, posters, signs, and more. Our world is made more lovely, vibrant, and interesting because of the inks in these items.
Anyone who has made prints with ink - lithographs, wood blocks, letterpress, or silk screens – probably loves the processes involved in creating artworks using them. And they love the qualities of inks that best suit their needs. What better than to be able to work with color-dense ink that handles easily and consistently?
Inks vary in the depth and complexity of color, viscosity, glossiness, and the time it takes to dry.
Sometimes it’s fun to watch the process behind the product. In this case, we get a tour of ink-making from Peter Welfare, of the Printing Ink Company. He’s passionate about the crafting process of making a high quality ink, with designers and artists in mind.
Watch the video below to see the varnish and powder go through heating, crushing, and mixing to create a high gloss ink with intense color. And, see how the company uses computers for quality control.
“We want to ensure that every pigment particle has been reduced to its smallest possible size. This ensures a smooth, even print …The ultimate ink would have the best glass, the best running ability, the best set speed, the best rub resistance. I may never find that ink, but every day I’m looking for the next piece to get me there.” Peter Welfare
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