It’s not often something completely new arrives on the scene, but in January Tim Holtz and Ranger introduced Distress Oxides Inks.\u00a0 Tim describes them as a fusion of dye and pigment inks and I think of them as a melding of the best of both.\u00a0 And yep, that’s pretty new and revolutionary!<\/p>\n
Dye inks are transparent and produce nice crisp images when you stamp with them.\u00a0 Pigment inks are opaque.\u00a0 They also have a tendency to being gloppy and stamps with fine lines and details often do not transfer well when inked with a pigment ink.<\/p>\n
Enter Distress Oxides that not only combine the best of both, but also add the oxidation property.\u00a0 Add water to an inked image or anywhere you’ve applied a color and the reaction begins.\u00a0 The color softens, the dye component of the ink begins to wick out, and as it dries, the white hazing that is the oxidation becomes evident.<\/p>\n
The opacity lent by the pigment means your layers are visible as you build them with color and pattern and the inks are visible when used on dark surfaces.\u00a0 Add water for oxidation, to cause the dye component to wick and bleed, or use it to lift color away from the surface.\u00a0 Water is best buddies with Oxides!<\/p>\n