The history of
ink creation is as diverse and aged as writing itself, dating back thousands of years.
Inks were primarily derived from natural sources. The earliest inks, made by the Chinese, used soot from pine smoke and lamp oil mixed with gelatin from animal skins to create a black, durable substance. Similarly, in Egypt, around 2500 BC, inks were made from carbon black or soot mixed with gum arabic (a binder) and water. The intent was to produce a substance that adhered well to papyrus, the writing material of the time. The Indians, on the other hand, created ink from burnt bones, tar, and pitch.
All these methods share a common purpose: to create a lasting mark on a material. Over time, the production of ink evolved, incorporating iron gall, a substance made from tannin (from galls), iron salts, and water, which became the standard in Europe for many centuries due to its indelible nature once it bonded with paper or parchment.
Today, ink technology has advanced to include a vast array of types, including those for digital printers, pens, and markers, using both dye and
pigment-based formulas to suit different purposes, from writing and drawing to printing photographs and texts.