Pigment-based inks
Pigment, unlike dye, is a powder made up of tiny granules that will not dissolve completely in solution. This means that pigment-based inks leave particles of pure colour bonded to the surface of the paper that they are printed on. The resulting images can thus appear very rich and physical, densely saturated in colour – although extremely fine detail may be compromised. Pigment-based inks are much more resistant to UV light than dye-based inks (they were originally developed for outdoor use) and will tend to keep their original colours longer. They are also less likely to run if they come into contact with water. Images printed with archival pigment-based inks onto archival paper (as all of Eyestorm’s pigment-based-ink prints are) will last for at least 150 years if stored in the proper conditions.