With so many different black ink pads, deciding which one is the best option for a project can get a little confusing. Let’s first examine each one of the options individually and identify what their strengths and purposes are so you’ll never have to second-guess which one you want to use.
All of the black Exclusive Inks™ stamp and pigment pads come in a sleek patented case. The innovative case features an in-lid stamp pad, keeping the ink at the surface and ready to use, as well as a convenient magnetic closure. The raised pads are approximately 3¾” x 2½”, making them larger than average and more versatile. Although they are very similar in appearance, and are all technically black, each ink is formulated from scratch to produce unique stamping results.
1. BLACK EXCLUSIVE INKS™ STAMP PAD
The Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad is a water-based dye ink. Crafters like using it for stamping sentiments and other images that will not be colored over with markers or watercolor. It is ideal for cardmaking, tags, and other everyday uses.
2. ARCHIVAL BLACK EXCLUSIVE INKS™ STAMP PAD
The Archival Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad has the deepest black ink out of all our black inks. It is a solvent-based permanent ink. Waterproof, lightfast, fade-proof, and archival. We recommend using this ink for scrapbook pages and for stamping on vellum. Archival Black is ideal for stamping images and sentiments with staying power.
3. INTENSE BLACK EXCLUSIVE INKS™ STAMP PAD
The Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad is intense not because of its color but because it is a non-smearing, fast-drying, solvent-based permanent ink. Like its Archival Black counterpart, the Intense Black ink is also waterproof and archival. If you want to add color with watercolor or alcohol markers, however, Intense Black is the way to go.
4. BLACK EXCLUSIVE INKS™ PIGMENT PAD
Next, there’s the Black Exclusive Inks™ Pigment Pad. The major difference between this ink and the others is that it is a pigment-based ink. Pigment inks dry permanently on porous surfaces after heat-setting. It takes a little more work to use a pigment ink, but the results are definitely worth it! We recommend adding clear embossing powder to your stamped images, and heat setting them with a Heat Tool, to create beautiful glossy raised images and sentiments.
5. BLACK STAYZON™ INK PAD
Last, and certainly not least, is the Black StazOn™ Ink Pad. This pad offers a fast-drying solvent-based ink designed specifically for use on plastic, metal, glass, ceramic, laminated paper, coated paper, leather, and other non-porous surfaces. Even though this ink is technically “fast-drying,” it can be wiped off a truly non-porous surface within minutes after it is applied, using a Stamp Shammy and StazOn™ Cleaner. This is great to keep in mind because the majority of non-porous surfaces tend to be slippery and can be difficult to stamp with accuracy. Once the ink completely sets, however, it will yield permanent results. So, make sure to keep that Stamp Shammy nearby!
There is a chart for you to download and print, here.
There is enough space in an empty second column for you to stamp a solid heart and outline from the My Acrylix® Erin’s Hand Stamp Set using the individual inks to have real visual examples. (Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder was added to the Black pigment ink and heat set in order to create the glossy raised images shown.)
With this quick and simple breakdown, hopefully you are able to pick which ink pad you want to use with confidence!
*This information was provided by CTMH on their blog*