Many people readily go through the motions surrounding everyday printing. In most cases, it's a simple task that is as easy as pushing a button to send the information from your computer screen to a piece of paper that becomes the finished product. However, there is an awful lot of chemistry involved in printing. While it's surely not necessary to understand exactly what is going on to have a successful printing project, the science can be interesting, especially to those that make printing a large part of their office or business environment. Besides, it can be just plain fun to unlock the secrets that make printing ink work. Pigments or Dyes? The main difference between different printing inks has to do with how the ink itself is made. There are two main types of colorants that can make up ink: pigments and dyes. Each works fine, but are made and act differently. Pigment colorants are actually suspended in the liquid components of the dye, with the particles remaining microscopically intact. On the other hand, dyes are substances which dissolve in the emulsion or liquid of the ink. When dealing with HP Laserjet Ink, the user may be completely unaware of what type of preparation is used to create the ink- it could be either a pigment or a dye. In either case, the colorant is usually combined with some kind of solvent to liquefy the components. In additions, thickening and stabilizing agents can be added to create the proper consistency to feed through your printer; glycol is a popular choice to bring the ink to a usable form. Pros and Cons Different professionals and tasks prefer pigments over dyes and vice versa. One of the main advantages of using printer ink that is created through the dye process is a wide range of colors. Because the ink actually dissolves into the liquid agent, the colors mix more readily and the user can get a much wider range of color nuance in their prints. However, the liquefied colorant is also more likely to bleed through the paper and over-saturate the project. Adding special chemicals to the mix or introducing a quick-dry machine to the project can compensate for these issues. Pigment inks, on the other hand, resist mixing with water and are also less prone to fade over time. Like most things, the best type of ink for your project will depend on your particular needs, so knowing how each type works is an advantage as you plan your printing.