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A History of Ink

A History of Ink

A History of Ink

Posted on 27/06/2018

The invention of ink and paper has been one of the most significant developments in human history.  Ink enabled us to record events, knowledge, facts and stories in a way that was only previously done through sculpture, carvings, pictographs and word of mouth.  Ink has changed how we run society, so let’s find out a bit about its history.

The earliest forms of ink

The use of ink can be traced back to prehistoric times, where it was used for artistic purposes, usually in the form of cave paintings. These early inks were made from sap, animal blood and other natural substances. The first known use of ink for writing can be dated back to 2500 BC, when both the ancient Egyptians and the Chinese began using inks made from fine carbon particles and gums, saps or glues. The Egyptians wrote with this ink on papyrus, a thick paper-like material made from the pith of the papyrus plant. Many years later, around 100 BC, China invented paper as we know it although it took many years to spread to the rest of the world.

Ink through the ages

India ink, made from burnt bones, tar and pitch, became popular in 4th Century BC China and its use soon spread throughout the world. India ink was used to write the Dead Sea Scrolls, and continued to be widely used for many hundreds of years. Although India ink is very durable and is not susceptible to light or chemical induced fading, it is only effective when used on absorbent materials such as paper. India ink flakes off when applied to non-absorbent surfaces such as parchment or vellum, which were popular writing surfaces in Medieval Europe. To combat this issue, chemical inks, such as iron gall ink, were developed around the 12th century AD. Iron gall ink was made from tannic acid and iron salt bound by resin, and was used in the standard form of writing with a quill pen and parchment.

Modern Ink

With the invention of the Gutenberg printing press in 1457 (based on much older Chinese inventions like block printing and moveable type), the printing revolution really began to take off. Printing presses used an oil based ink, and although they were only accessible to an elite few, they allowed for mass communication. When the typewriter was invented in 1860 and mass produced in 1870, businesses were able to produce their own forms of communication much faster. Typewriters eventually gave way to printers, of which the earliest forms were daisy wheel and dot matrix printers. Inkjet printers were developed in the 1970s and became available in homes in the late 1980s. Inkjet printers use water based dye inks, which are sprayed onto paper in minute particles. The solvent from the dye is absorbed into the paper, ensuring the colour remains. Laser printers, however, use an electrostatic system to transfer a powdered form of ink, called toner, onto paper.  Both modern printers use the CMYK four colour system.

Ink has come a long way from its humble beginnings and has completely transformed the way we communicate. TonerInk are ink specialists, stocking a wide range of ink cartridges, and are happy to help with all your printing needs.