What can I do to help this? Similar to traditional oil-based inks, Akua Intaglio Inks are slow-drying, as they are a soy- (oil-) based ink. Unlike traditional oil based inks, Akua Inks dry by absorption, not evaporation, because they do not contain any toxic cobalt dryers. My prints are not drying/drying slowly.Click here to see the Akua Inks Comparison Chart. In most situations, prints made with Akua Intaglio Ink look identical to prints made with oil-based ink. Additionally, Akua Intaglio Inks make the entire process of wiping the intaglio plate much more efficient and require much less effort and time than oil-based ink. All other methods and materials remain the same. While the tack and viscosity might initially feel different, the only real change that needs to be made in the studio is the replacement of the solvent can with a bottle of diluted dish soap for cleanup. What are the differences between the working qualities and appearance of prints made with Akua Intaglio and oil-based ink? Working with Akua Intaglio Ink is very similar to working with oil-based ink.The fact that Akua Ink doesn’t dry on the slab eliminates the need to clean up right away. Akua Inks will not dry on a non-absorbent surface, meaning you never have to clean your palette or worry about damaging tools or plates with dried ink. The ink never hardens or skins, meaning you don’t waste ink and no longer have to use hazardous anti-skin sprays. Akua Inks clean up quickly and easily with soap and water, not hazardous solvents. They offer the artist the opportunity to work in a safer, fume-free studio without sacrificing the quality of their methods and materials. What are the advantages of Akua Inks? Akua Inks are high-quality, pigmented inks.Both Akua Intaglio and Akua Liquid Pigment have water among their bases' ingredients. However, small amounts of Akua Liquid Pigment added into Akua Intaglio Inks or Akua Transparent Base would eliminate Liquid Pigment’s water-solubility. It prints best on dry paper and cleans up with just water.
Soap is necessary to dissolve Akua Intaglio Ink. If you were to mix water into Akua Intaglio ink, it would not dissolve, it would stiffen up. A non-water-soluble ink will offer a sharper image. If the ink were soluble, then it would not hold up to the challenge of printing on damp paper. The Intaglio process requires printing on damp paper. Are Akua Inks water-based or water-soluble? Akua Intaglio Ink is NOT water-soluble.The term “water-based” implies that water is among the ingredients in the inks' formulation. What is the difference between water-based and water-soluble ink? The term “water-soluble” is used to describe substances that dissolve in water.