When we think of printing today, it’s easy to imagine high-tech laser printers, ultra-sharp colour outputs, and next-day ink cartridge deliveries. But the story of inks and printing is one that dates back thousands of years, long before home offices and toner refills. In this first part of our series, we look at the fascinating origins of ink and how it became an essential part of human communication.
A Word on Ink Types
Throughout history, different types of ink have been developed depending on their purpose and available materials:
• Carbon ink – One of the earliest forms, made from soot or lampblack mixed with water and a binding agent like gum Arabic. It was widely used in Asia and valued for its permanence.
• Iron gall ink—This ink was created by mixing iron salts and tannic acids from oak galls. Popular in Europe from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century, it produced a rich, dark line that aged well (though it could eventually damage paper).
• Oil-based printing ink – Introduced with Gutenberg’s printing press in the 15th century, this thicker ink was essential for adhering to metal type and producing legible prints on paper.
• Modern printer ink – Today’s printer inks, used in inkjet and laser printers, are highly specialised. They’re typically made using synthetic dyes or pigments suspended in water or oil-based solutions, engineered for specific uses like photo printing, high-speed documents, or archival quality.
Each type of ink served the needs of its time, from ancient manuscripts to cutting-edge digital prints.
Modern Day Featured Inks at Stinkyink
Whether you're printing school projects, business documents, or your next masterpiece, having the right ink makes all the difference. At Stinkyink, we stock a wide range of high-quality cartridges for all major printer brands. Some of our current bestsellers include:
• HP 305XL High Capacity Black Ink Cartridge – Ideal for everyday printing with sharp, clear text.
• Canon PG-540XL & CL-541XL Multipack – A great value bundle for Canon users needing both black and colour inks.
• Epson 603XL Rainbow Multipack – High-capacity inks perfect for vibrant, long-lasting prints.
Ancient Beginnings
The first recorded use of ink dates back to around 2500 BCE in Ancient China and Egypt. These early inks weren’t used for printing as we know it today but for writing and drawing on papyrus, parchment, and other early materials. The Chinese combined soot, animal glue, and sometimes fragrant oils to make a black ink known as India ink, while Egyptians used ground minerals, charcoal, and plant-based dyes.
In both cultures, inks were typically applied with brushes or reed pens rather than the nibs or cartridges we’re used to today. Even in these early forms, ink was pivotal in preserving stories, laws, and religious texts.
The Greco-Roman Contribution
The recipes became slightly more advanced when the Greeks and Romans got hold of ink-making techniques. They began experimenting with plant iron salts and tannins to create more durable inks, which were less likely to fade or smudge over time.
These so-called iron gall inks became incredibly popular throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. In fact, they were so reliable that many famous historical documents — including some of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks — were written using them.
The Printing Revolution
While inks were steadily evolving, a game-changing innovation was just around the corner: the printing press. In the mid-15th century, Johannes Gutenberg revolutionised communication by inventing a movable type printing press in Germany. This invention called for a new type of ink — thicker and oil-based, rather than the water-based inks used for handwriting.
Gutenberg’s ink was made from soot, turpentine, and linseed oil, creating a paste-like substance that clung to metal type and transferred beautifully onto paper. This transition from water-based to oil-based printing inks marked a major milestone, enabling mass production of books and laying the foundation for the modern publishing industry.
A Lasting Impact
The evolution of ink has transformed it from a simple tool into a cornerstone of global communication. From hand-written scrolls to the earliest printed books, inks made it possible to share knowledge, record history, and express ideas on a wide scale.
In Part 2 of this blog series, we’ll explore how ink technology developed through the industrial age and into the digital world, including the rise of fountain pens, typewriters, and the modern-day inkjet printer.
