Ink

Ink is a very thin and runny color that remains strong and staining while thin and diluted. This is perfect for use in a pen (supplemented with a brush)but has the drawback that many inks are not lightfast and can easily fade. This remains true of most pens bought at newsagents, and sadly for many inks sold to artists. Chinese stick ink, and Indian inks made from stick ink are examples of pigmented inks that are much more lightfast. Over recent years various colored pigmented inks have come on the market, and inks labeled as pigmented should always be first choice.