Painting inks differ from drawing inks primarily in their core composition: painting inks are made from pigment, while drawing inks are made from dye.
According to the provided information, while both drawing inks and painting inks are often thin and quick-drying, the key distinction lies in the substance used to create their color.
Key Difference in Composition
The fundamental difference highlighted is the colorant used:
- Drawing Inks: These inks are made from dye. Dyes are typically liquid colorants that are dissolved in a solvent.
- Painting Inks: These inks are made from pigment. Pigments are solid particles of color that are suspended in a liquid medium.
Resulting Properties
This difference in composition leads to varying characteristics in how the inks behave and appear:
- Vibrancy: Because drawing inks are dye-based, their colors are often described as being more vibrant.
- Smudging: A drawback of using dye-based drawing inks is that they are more easily smudged compared to pigment-based painting inks. Pigment particles tend to be more stable once dry.
In essence, the material used for color determines key properties like vibrancy and permanence (resistance to smudging).