Pigment vs Dye Ink

During your search for the perfect inkjet printer, you’ll need to consider one crucial factor: the ink type.

Knowing which ink type suits your printing needs will allow you to get the best results out of your inkjet labels.

You’ve got 2 choices:

• Dye ink
• Pigment ink

Depending on the type your printer will use, your labels can achieve spectacular vibrancy. Or maybe you need long-lasting durability? Either way, knowing the choices is worth your time.

So trust us, a look into each ink type will help steer your label printing in the right direction: 

P.S. Don’t forget to check your printer’s ink compatibility!

What’s special about dye ink?

Dye is a type of ink that contains color substances that dissolve in a liquid. 

Think of dye ink like mixing food coloring into a glass of water. The food coloring dissolves into the water and turns it a different color. 

When printing on label materials, dye ink absorbs into the fiber. This produces a wider color range than pigment. 

Unfortunately, the nature of dye-based inks makes them susceptible to bleeding, especially labels with heavy ink coverage. This is why they’re unsuitable for outdoor applications where they might come into contact with: 

• Water
• Chemicals
• Oils 
• UV light
• Heat

The low level of durability dye ink has also means it’s prone to fading faster and smudging easily (especially if labels have no protective coating). 

Since dye ink is more susceptible to outside elements, labels for indoor applications are best recommended. 

Dye ink provides more vivid colors. Colors appear much darker and more saturated because it’s absorbed into the label material.

This is a huge advantage for prime labels in retail. 

Bright looks help your products stand out on store shelves, giving them a unique appearance among a dozen other lookalikes. This’ll attract attention from customers to look at your product first. Or distinguish your brand.

And as an added bonus, dye ink is the cheaper option. 

So if vibrant colors and a shorter label lifespan sound right, dye ink is the choice for you.

If you’re looking for examples of printers that use dye inks, the Canon LX-D5500 is one option.

In contrast, what’s the difference with pigment ink? 

Pigment is a type of ink that contains color substances that are suspended in a liquid carrier. 

Picture a glass of water sprinkled with glitter. Even if you mix it together, the glitter will only swirl in the water, not dissolve. 

When printed, pigment ink sits on top of the label material and fuses with the fiber instead of soaking into it. This results in a slower drying time than dye. It also means a narrower color range so colors appear lighter, less vibrant. 

But pigment ink lasts longer.

Upwards of 2 years or more, depending on the environment and exposure. Applications that require durability are a suitable option for pigment ink. Just note, these benefits come with a bigger price tag.

Pigment inks are built for durability. Outdoor applications or harsh environments where exposure to water, oil, chemicals, or light are ideal. These places can look like:

• Manufacturing plants
• Industrial facilities 
• Factory settings

Labels are less likely to smudge, scratch, or tear, adding to their long list of benefits. And when combined with the right synthetic materials, some certified pigment inks become GHS and BS 5609 compliant.

If labels that hold their color against time and the elements sound right, then pigment ink is the choice for you.

Inkjet printers like the Epson ColorWorks series are known for utilizing pigment ink. 

Dye or pigment ink – doesn’t matter which! 

Smith Corona is prepared to supply everything you need to print your best inkjet labels. Our selection of inkjet printers, printer accessories, and labels is unmatched.

Visit www.smithcorona.com to find what you need. Questions? Our team is ready to assist, just call 1-800-875-7000.