3 Stages of an Ink. 

Shown at the rear of this photo, carbon black pigment is the colorant used in almost all black inks today. Currently used mainly for reinforcement of rubber tires, industrially produced carbon black was first invented to pigment newspaper inks in the 18th century. Back then, various "fuels" were burned to produce carbon black pigment: bones, tar, old rags - just about anything that burned with a sooty flame. Nowadays, the main feedstock is carbon-rich "still bottoms", the tarry black substance left over from the refinement of crude oil into motor fuels. Carbon black is a fine, dusty powder available in a surprising variety of industrial grades. In the middle of the photo, the carbon black has been mixed with a "dispersing vehicle", which is a liquid varnish to consequently form a dust-free, wet "base". Base is a very concentrated form of pre-dispersed pigment, containing about 40% pigment by total weight. At the front, the finished printing ink is shown lying in a flat, shiny puddle. Printing ink is made from base and a reducing varnish, often called a "vehicle". Final pigment concentration is about 15-20%. With almost a full century of inkmaking experience across three generations, Kerley ink is expert at all three phases of turning pigment into ready-to-use printing ink.