ISSUE 34
THE LUXEMBOURG UNDER 30 CREATIVE COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS
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INK IN MODERN TIMES COMPONENTS OF INK PAGE 02
PHOTO ESSAY: #000 THE INK PAD PAGE 03
INVISIBLE INK NEXT ISSUE: ERASERS PAGE 04
“DON’T THINK IT INK IT.” MARK VICTOR HANSEN
// photo credits texturefabrik tattly.com imagesource John V Willshire Katrina Bell
As creators of art and graphic design, we, at some point have to deal with printing creations. Seeing our work manifest into something tangible is satisfying, but only if it’s everything we’ve dreamed. A lot goes into creating something we can be proud of and knowing what type of ink to use when, is part of this process.
In this issue we’re giving you a crash course on ink. Starting now.
Ink was invented a long, long time ago, the earliest recorded use of inks date back to China in the 23rd Century BC (That’s 4200 years ago). They used plant, animal, and mineral dyes ground with water to create the first inks until the popu-
lar India Ink was invented. Most are unaware, but India Ink was first invented in China, way way back, almost 2000 years before the method was reproduced in India. China continued to lead the way reinventing better and better inks, some created ~256 BC are very similar to ink sticks we commonly use today. Around 1600 years ago a recipe consisting of iron salts, tannin from gallnuts, and a thickener of choice was invented and used for centuries. It wasn’t until Gutenberg invented the printing press that a new standard in ink was needed. Since then the recipe has been reinvented many times as technology is always changing.
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ISSUE 34
THE LUXEMBOURG UNDER 30 CREATIVE COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS
INK IN1 MODERN TIMES Ink [n.]
A viscous or fluid substance, used for printing or writing on a variety of surfaces. [v.] 2 To get inked.
COMPONENTS OF INK
VEHICLE \\ Allows the ink to flow. // Eases spread and transfer of ink across rollers & plates. \\ Often made from linseed oil, ie. flax seed, it’s not just for hippies. // Must have specific drying characteristics, to be controlled and changed to suit the “curing” of the ink on any given surface texture.
In modern slang, ‘getting ink’ or saying ‘show me your ink’ doesn’t mean heading to Staples or pulling out your printer cartridges. It means rolling up your sleeves, whipping off your shirt and unveiling the latest addition to your collection of body art. Because, after all, it is art. Drenched with meaning and metaphor, every tattoo has a monologue behind it. Only tattoos aren’t exactly a modern phenomenon, merely the slang for them is. In fact, humans have been decorating their bodies with inks since the latter half of the 4th millennium BC. Fading in and out of popularity, tattooing has always been an artistic form of expression for mankind.
>> read the full story on LUCCA.lu
BINDER \\ Also known as resin. (not what is pictured above) // Binds all the other components of the ink, allowing them to come together to form a film on a surface. \\ The name of the resin in the ink often gives it it’s name. // Three most popularly used resins: rubber, acrylic or oil.
PIGMENT \\ The colour and opacity. // White and black pigments are used to create a range of shades and tints. \\ They must have certain qualities,such as UV, and heat resistance, to ensure longevity. // Chrome Yellow, better known as lead, was used to lighten colours until the toxic effects came to light.
“ THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL IN SEEING WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT TEXTURE AND TONE AND COLOUR YOU CAN PRODUCE MERELY WITH A PEN POINT AND A BOTTLE OF INK ” - IDA RENTOUL OUTHWAITE
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ISSUE 34
THE LUXEMBOURG UNDER 30 CREATIVE COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS
PHOTO ESSAY #000
VISCOSITY V. FLUIDITY. LIGHT V. DARK. or how pigment acts in a liquid.
WET, MESSY, NOSTALGIA: INK PADS.
photographs by: katrina bell
Originally popularized in 1980s office cubicles, the ink pad has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. Google analytics shows an increase in the search terms “ink pad”, “custom stamp”, “stamped coffee cups” , “stamped paper bags”, etc, etc, etc ...the list goes on. We’re riding the crest of the DIY movement, and getting your own rubber stamp so you can pay an employee $12 per hour to hand stamp every one of your white paper coffee cups has hit peak popularity. The smeared ink, missing letters and skewed alignment really personalizes each piece. It’s this handmade quality we can’t get enough of. Stained fingers be damned, they’re proudly on display as badges of craft honour.
“ THE VERY INK WITH WHICH HISTORY IS WRITTEN IS MERELY FLUID PREJUDICE ” - MARK TWAIN
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THE LUXEMBOURG UNDER 30 CREATIVE COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS
INVISIBLE INK A popular form of steganography during World War II, though not the most secure form of secret messaging as anyone with the knowledge of invisible inks would be able to discover the message. Invisible ink can only be made visible under specialized circumstances. It can be revealed by exposure to heat, black lights, or application of a special chemical. Inks that require a chemical reaction to reveal the message must be written on a type of paper that produced an acid-based reaction, ie. litmus paper. Developer fluids can be sprayed on, or applied with vapours. It is also possible to procure invisible ink pens, where one tip writes in invisible ink and a sec-
ond tip reveals what was written. This is a popular toy amongst children. During WWII a good invisible ink needed these requirements: 1. Mixes with water 2. Produces no smell 3. No shine on paper, ie. no glare 4. Invisible under UV light 5. Does not decolour the paper 6. Nonreactive with iodine 7. Few possible developers 8. Cannot develop under heat 9. Easily obtainable, common 10. Uses few chemicals Invisible inks should not be confused with disappearing inks. These inks will appear and disappear over time with exposure to chemicals. learn more on LUCCA.lu
NEXT ISSUE ERASERS
GUM VS. WHITE
PENCIL TOPPERS
ONES THAT JUST DON’T WORK
“ LIFE IS THE ART OF DRAWING WITHOUT AN ERASER “ JOHN W GARDENER
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