🧭 Which Ink Do I Need?
Each ink pad is designed with specific uses in mind.
Some work best on paper, others on fabric, and others on non-porous surfaces — and this directly affects the result you’ll get.
To help you choose without trial and error, we’ve organized our inks based on how they actually behave in use, not just by brand name.
This way, you can more easily see which ink suits the technique and surface you’re working with.
🖋️ Pigment / Oil-Based Inks
When you want clean, controlled stamping with strong detail. These inks mostly sit on the surface and work beautifully with embossing.
Choose from:
- Tsukineko VersaFine Clair
- VersaColor
- VersaMark
🎨 Dye / Water-Based Inks
When you’re working with color, blending, layering, and backgrounds. These inks absorb into the paper and are designed for effects and movement.
Choose from:
- Pinkfresh Studio Ink Pads
- Graphic 45 Ink Pads
- Studio Light Ink Pads
- Spectrum Noir Dye Ink Pads
- Tim Holtz Distress Inks
- 49 & Market Dye Ink Pads
🧪 Hybrid Inks
When you want strong surface color, water-reactive behavior, and a more chalky finish that works especially well in layers.
Choose from:
- Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks
- Nuvo Hybrid Ink Pads
- Spectrum Noir Finesse Ink Pads
🧱 Permanent / Archival / Solvent Inks
When you need a permanent impression or you’re working on surfaces where standard ink pads won’t perform well.
Choose from:
- Ranger Archival Ink
- Distress Archival
- StazOn
- StazOn Metallics
Solvent-based StazOn inks are also suitable for non-porous surfaces, such as plastic, metal, glass, and ceramic.
🧵 Textile / Porous Surface Inks
When you’re working on fabric or porous materials and need the color to properly bond with the surface.
Choose from:
- Tsukineko VersaCraft Mini Ink Pads
🖨️ Press / Letterpress Inks
When working with press or letterpress techniques, where ink is transferred through pressure rather than absorption.
Choose from:
- BetterPress Inks
- Maker Forte Color Hive reMARKable Ink Pads
⚡ Quick Guide
- Clean stamping & embossing → Pigment
- Color, blending & backgrounds → Dye / Distress Inks
- Chalky layers & water-reactive effects → Distress Oxides / Hybrid
- Permanent results & non-porous surfaces → Archival / StazOn
- Fabric → VersaCraft
- Press techniques → BetterPress / Maker Forte
