The History Of InkStep 1 •Some of the oldest cave paintings incorporating ink date back 40,000 years to the ancient

caves of Sulawesi (Indonesia) and El Castillo (Spain).

France’s Chauvet Cave, one of the most famous prehistoric rock art sites in the world.

The History Of InkStep 2 •Ancient Chinese and Egyptians burnt tar with vegetable oil to create a carbon-based ink –

called lamp black - which was suspended in gum to adhere to the desired surface.

Indian ink was developed using lamp black, carbon black and charred bones, which were mixed with glue to create a block that could be liquefied when needed.

The History Of InkStep 3 •Round about the 8th century, inks began to use chemical precipitation. The earliest of its kind

was based on iron salt and tannic acid bound by resin.

This ink was used with quill pen and parchment that you may have seen in many historical movies.

The History Of InkStep 4 •China spearheaded woodblock printing in 2nd century AD. But it was a laborious process that

had to be done perfectly to ensure usable blocks.

In 1040 AD, Chinese inventor Bi Sheng devised movable-type printing using wood and ceramic materials, and later, bronze.

The History Of InkStep 5 •Between 1436 and 1450, German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg developed the world’s first

printing press and formulated an oil-based ink that more easily adhered to metal.

The carbon-based ink also consisted of lead, copper and titanium.

The History Of InkStep 6 •After the typewriter was invented, printing started being used extensively for business

communications.

This necessitated further development in ink. Manufacturers started experimenting with different formulations and techniques.

The History Of InkStep 7 •The laser printer adopted a different route, using an electrostatic system comprising a

combination of carbon powder mixed with sugar and iron oxide, to transfer the ink. The 70s marked the emergence of inkjet printers by Canon, Epson and Hewlett-Packard. Dye sublimation, UV-curable, aqueous and solvent inks were sprayed onto paper, guided by magnetized plates.

The History Of InkStep 8 •Modern inkjet printer inks employ sophisticated mechanisms that dry quickly, resist fading,

spread evenly and don’t cause the printer nozzle to clog.

Some use water-based dye inks while others are pigmented.