Printer inks have become an indispensable part of the working office, commercial establishment and even homes. Busy consumers are able to buy ink for their printers within minutes online; but this wasn’t always the case. We go back in time to take a look at how it all started and how the use of ink then continued to progress throughout the ages.
There are three basic types on inks: one using pigments and a binder, another uses dyes like that found in a fountain pend, and the last, uses a chemical precipitation such as iron gall ink.
In 2500 BC ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations both developed ink around this time. They created ink using fine carbon particles or lamp black These early pioneers also worked with gums or glues to act as a bonding agent. In the 23rd century BC, the Chinese would grind natural plant dyes and minerals with water, then applied it to ink brushed.
In the 4th century BC, India Ink became a popular medium in China. India ink is made of burnt bones, tar, and pitch. It is usually written with a sharp pointed needle. In the 3rd century BC, the earliest examples of India Ink were found on the Dead Sea Scrolls, which is a collection of biblical manuscripts found northeast of the Dead Sea.
In the first centuries BC, Papyrus Scrolls came on the scene. They were made of the pith of a papyrus plan, and it gained popularity as a writing surface in Egypt.
From 800-1500 AD, in Medieval Europe, scribes used parchment or vellum as a writing surface. Cotton was considered low quality back then! In the middle ages between the 5th century and 15th century AD, carbon inks and iron gall inks were common use.
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