Ink comparisons can help make your decisions easier! Learn the similarities and differences between Distress Oxide, Versafine Clair, Catherine Pooler and Brutus Monroe inks. Dye ink, pigment ink... learn with us today!
It's Carissa here with you today. I'm inking about color today! And I'm excited to share a look at the newest inks available at EllenHutson.com.
In the video below, I'm going to walk you through a look at the newest Distress Oxide colors released early this year. Distress Oxides in themselves are not new to the Ellen Hutson store, but I wanted to share a look at the newest colors. This ink has been very popular since its release early last year....and continues to be very popular with many crafters (myself included).
Once we have a look at the newest Distress Oxide colors, we'll also look at the newest ink lines, including Versafine Clair Pigment Ink Pads, Catherine Pooler Dye Inks and Brutus Monroe Surface Inks. All of these inks have unique properties, making them more conducive to certain types of stamping or techniques. I'll walk you through all of this information in the video, so be sure to check it out. I'll also give you a look at several (not all) of the colors available in each line.
Once we talk about the inks a bit in the video, we'll explore what happens to the various types of ink when exposed to water once dry. Water reactive properties can either be exactly what you're looking for or not, depending on the type of crafting you are doing! I'll also take a look at how each of these inks stacks up when for watercoloring.
I'll also show you a look at the Catherine Pooler Midnight Archival Ink and the Versafine Nocturne ink, two great options for black ink. I'll show you what happens when you use these inks with Copic Markers too!
Since there's a lot of information in this video, I didn't actually end up making a project. I did stamp swatches of all of these inks using the Abstract Paint Strokes stamp set from the Essentials By Ellen Line. I think this little ink swoosh is perfect for creating ink swatches. I love that there is a lot of solid area, as well as some fine details near the end of the paint stroke, allowing you to see exactly how this stamps solid and finer details all at once.
I used an ink swatch grid to create my swatches today. You can print this out and use it at home. Or if you prefer, you can create your own swatches on a size that suits you. I find that a 2x2 inch square is the perfect size for swatching and labeling and they fit nicely in the coin pocket holders.
Now I know you may be asking, why does one person need so many different types of ink? Well, I don't know if need is the right word....but as I mentioned before, each of these inks has unique properties, which make it great for particular types of stamping. Is that to say you can't use one ink for everything? Not always. And since various lines also come in various tones and shades, I think it's important that you know the properties of the ink prior to investing in an ink that may not be right for you. I hope by sharing this information today, you'll get a good feel for each of these inks and that this information will be helpful for you to make the best decision for the types of ink(s) to add to your own collection.
Let's talk about just a couple of basics before I jump in to information on each ink.
Dye vs. Pigment Ink
A lot of people often ask "what's the difference between a dye and pigment ink and which one is better?". Here's a quick explanation.
A dye based ink uses dyes to soak in to the fibers of the paper...thereby dying the paper. It is often very transparent when touched to your finger or placed on acetate. These inks are quick drying (preventing smudging). Often times, as dye inks dry and settle, they "dry back" and the color changes slightly when completely dry. For the most part, this is the ink I recommend you starting with if you have to choose between one or the other.
Pigment inks on the other hand are a slow drying (sometimes they require heat setting) pigment rich ink. The ink sits on top of the paper and tends to be more opaque when applied to your finger or acetate. It reminds me of a thin acrylic paint. The longer dry time, makes them perfect for embossing. And because these inks sit on top of the paper, they tend to stay true to the color that they are when they're first stamped.
There are other types of inks available....but these are the two main types of inks offered by most manufacturers.
How Do I Choose?
When you're first starting out, I recommend starting with a good dye based ink. Then just choose colors that speak to you and that you can envision yourself using based on the types of images you stamp. You don't have to buy all from one line. It's okay to use various manufacturers. Choose colors that work for you.
So now that we've covered the very basics, let's talk about some specifics from each line I'll be showcasing today.
Distress Oxide Inks
This ink is a dye/pigment hybrid. It has water reactive properties often found in dye based inks. But is slow drying and very opaque like a pigment ink. The slow drying nature of this ink makes them great for embossing. That slow drying nature also makes them great for ink blending, even on regular white card stock. These inks are unique in that they dry with a chalky like finish. When they are exposed to water, they have an oxidation effect (I'll show you that). They are water reactive and you can achieve all sort of fun looks and use them for various techniques. Distress Oxide Inks are available in 36 colors that coordinate with the original Distress Ink line.
Versafine Clair Inks
These inks are an ink that is pretty new in the stamping world. The Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink has long been a favorite of mine for its rich, dark black color and crisp lines. The Versafine Clair Inks are also a pigment based ink. They are rather quick drying for a pigment ink. Even with their quick dry nature, they still remain wet long enough to achieve fabulous embossed images. They are waterproof when dry (perfect for stamping and watercoloring over). They also leave you with solid coverage and fine details, just like the original Versafine Onyx Black. These inks are available in a beautiful range of 24 colors.
Catherine Pooler Dye Inks
Catherine Pooler inks are a dye based ink that feature a foam inking surface. Other brands (including all that I am talking about today), use a felt inking surface. The foam surface, unique to the Catherine Pooler ink pads, make transfer from the pad to the stamp easy, leaving you with full, even coverage after just a few light taps on the surface of the ink pad. These non-permanent dye ink pads are water reactive....making them great for various types of techniques, including watercolor. These inks are also slow drying, making it possible to emboss images stamped with this ink. The slow drying nature also makes blending with these inks a breeze. These inks are available in 39 beautiful colors.
Brutus Monroe Surface Inks
Brutus Monroe Surface Inks are a permanent, dye based ink pad. These inks were designed to allow you to watercolor from a palate. However, once these inks are dry, they are permanent and no longer move or react when exposed to water. The Brutus Monroe Surface Inks are only available in mini ink cube size, which are easy to store. The permanent nature of these inks make them perfect for stamping on wood, glass and other slick surfaces. Brutus Monroe Surface Inks are available in 29 colors.
So now that we've gone through all of that, let's summarize, shall we?
Distress Oxide
- Dye/Pigment hybrid ink
- Water reactive
- Blendable
- Embossable
- Chalky finish/oxidation effects
Versafine Clair
- Permanent pigment ink
- Quick drying
- Waterproof
- Embossable
- Fine details, solid, vivid coverage
Catherine Pooler
- Non-permanent dye ink
- Water reactive
- Slow drying
- Embossable
- Foam inking surface for solid ink coverage
Brutus Monroe
- Permanent dye ink
- Quick drying
- Water resistant/waterproof
I know that's a lot of information! But I really do hope you have a better understanding of each of these types of ink, what makes them different from each other and finally, which ink is best for YOU! Remember, when choosing your inks, you can't go wrong with colors you love!
Thanks for stopping by today! If you have questions, please leave them in the comments below. I'll do my best to get you an answer. Until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day!
XOXO
Carissa
Watch The Video
You can watch this video in HD on our YouTube channel by clicking HERE. Don't forget to subscribe while you're there so you don't miss any of our paper crafting video tutorials.
Just click on the buttons below to see each collection of ink!
