Ink comes in many different forms and has a multitude of uses in printmaking, drawing, and other forms of art making. Ink generally consists of a colorant—either a dye or a pigment—suspended in a binder, also called a vehicle. Dye based inks produce colors that initially appear more vibrant, but fade faster than pigment-based inks. Pigment based inks are more archival and maintain their appearance for a longer amount of time. Ink can take the form of a liquid, paste, or powder, and each type has different applications. Ink has been produced and used by various cultures for millennia. The black liquid ink known as India ink has its origins in China as early as the 3000 BCE. India ink is composed of soot—a black powder made by burning organic matter—mixed with water. The particles of soot evenly distribute themselves within the water, making an additional binding element an optional component. India ink make be applied using a brush—as was common in early Chinese artistic applications—or with a pen. Swedish artist Sophie Tottis is an example of a contemporary artist who uses India ink in her work: her Written Language series consists of large, abstract India ink drawings on paper. Other artists who have created ink drawings include Terry Winters, John Armleder, Dieter Roth, and Mona Hatoum.

Inks used for printmaking typically come as a paste. The artist might add drier or a transparent base to make the stiff ink more easily workable before making a print. Ink can also be used to create digital prints using inkjet or laser printers. Fine artists typically favor pigment-based inks for this purpose because the colors are much longer lasting.