A Brief History of Custom Ink from American Inks & Technology

Many experts believe that ink was originally used to write on the walls inside of caves many centuries ago. Unsurprisingly, at that time, ink was made naturally with fruits, veggies, and other materials, like minerals. As time went on, the dyes and pigments were derived from animals and used as ink to write.

In 1200 B.C., a Chinese inventor made black ink with lamp oil and pine tree soot as the dye. He used gelatin that was created using a donkey’s skin. Amazingly, these ingredients came together in an amazing way to become a very popular black writing in all throughout China and surrounding countries. While others tried to change and improve the formula, no one succeeded and it remained as the standard ink formula for quite some time.

In the fourth century, an Indian ink called “masi” was introduced in India. It was made from tar and charred bones. The ink, often referred to as “India ink” is still popular among artists and others because it’s bright and has a high level of permanence, making it beautiful and practical to use.

Now, as you are probably aware, inks have evolved into two types — writing ink and printing ink with even more subcategories within those two main ones. Custom ink sure has come a long way!

If you are in need of a custom ink supplier, American Inks & Technology can help. With over 8,000 current formulations, all of our products are custom made and specifically designed to run in your machines and for your specifications. Every batch is made to order, when you order. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a tour of our facilities, do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to working with you!