How Ink Is Made

A Chief Ink Maker shows how colour and ink is created from the raw ingredients--powder, varnish, and passion. Everything designers and printers need to know about the process, the challenges and joy of ink making.
Find out more about us at: www.theprinting...
Presented by Peter Welfare, president and head inkmaker, The Printing Ink Company.
The Printing Ink Company:
True Performance in Colour
Written and produced by
Ian Daffern
www.iandaffern.ca/
Directed and Edited by
Tate Young
www.tateyoung.com
www.vepostudios...
Photographed by Tony Edgar
www.tonyedgar.com/

[@Infinitecow]

The guy who runs the joint looks and talks like he is legitimately passionate about it, and I think that's what makes this video so special.

[@johnlovesmac15]

I totally agree!

[@SirCutRy]

+Dr. Robert Hoffman CEOs that actually care about their company and are passionate about what they do are usually also good towards their employees.

[@damonmattheus5981]

The black guy saw it too. Look at his face he is about to laugh! Fuuuuuuny!

[@mikeandreacchio7258]

Or creepy

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

@@SirCutRy In my experience, not really.

[@KCkoolaidking]

I've worked in the ink industry for many years, canning, batch weighing, mill operating... it is a satisfying line of work, however it's not as romantic as this video makes it out to be (just an honest FYI). There are physical dangers (every mill operator knows what happens if the mill grabs you), terrible fumes from certain inks, nasty raw materials you have to work with, and physical exhaustion from working with extremely thick ink. But when the whole process is done it does feel good to know you had a hand in making a quality ink for the customer, I hope they appreciate the hard work.

[@thepsychocybe7078]

aye

[@cyberhead87]

Hi can you help me to understand how to set up ink factory

[@elfworshipper4081]

As a writer I thank you for your service friend

[@breehat735]

So you can suggests ink compositions of different country currency's example Indian neplese Bhutanese etc

[@surajkumarshaw992]

I need your number i want to setup this factory

[@katerinav3590]

"I may never find this ink; but every day I am looking for that next piece to get me there." Love your passion, sir!

[@RajashreeGhoshdiya]

what ink was he talking about!!

[@aublea1]

The ultimate ink; the best gloss, the best running ability, the best set speed, the best rub resistance.

[@s.sarfataz3350]

I need by of set ink for rt mola

[@Khaled_AbdelRazeq_GM]

What type of inks did you looking for? I am consultant of printing inks

[@AllenHanPR]

A man who loves his job, doesn't work a day in his life. this guy is living the dream, speaks with such passion makes me feel I lived a monochrome life this whole time.

[@fukit8374]

Yes sir..

[@carljohnsonballask]

Well worded

[@AllenHanPR]

@@carljohnsonballask Love you friend. I hope your life is full of vibrance. My Dad is a famous artist who got a stroke in 2018. That was the day I lost my artistry too. I can still appreciate it.

[@darrellreid3172]

I started in the offset printing ink manufacturing right out of high school, took many courses in ink technology, colour theory, varnish tech. And much more. Retired at 70 years old, with various accreditations, but the greatest thing was to see finished work.

[@randyshea3703]

My father owned a printing shop for 21 years. This really took me back. I worked and played there most of my childhood. One of my fondest memories was when my dad trusted me enough to go mix up a batch of conductive silver ink we used to print flex circuitry. I could almost smell the ink again.

[@lexmaun69]

Hows your papa now

[@Clove_Parma]

For what is essentially an ad, this is quite beautiful.

[@MegaSim3]

He sounds so incredibly passionate, it's amazing

[@beep6202]

As a pressman, I appreciate how much these people care - cause we care just as much.

[@ee.jo.le_6952]

As a writer I've always been in love with how calligraphy looks, from tattoos to graffiti, I have always appreciated skill in the fluidity and consistency of someone's letters... But the quality of Ink, and my desire to KNOW it better has only blossomed over truly seeing the medium for both street and body art

[@sirparzival9372]

This man clearly loves ink, is passion is amazing. I only hope to find something im this passionate about after many years working on it.

[@durgeshgupta3035]

Good job sir I'm like as you...✋

[@ryansefton4964]

This video makes me want to runaway from home and become an ink maker

[@Symphoniics]

+James Bond I laughed so hard at your comment, and I can't deny that I thought the exact same thing. XD

[@cunjoz]

+Ryan Sefton follow your dreams

[@taniadelgado6022]

bitchhh 😂😂😂 you and me both 😂

[@GamingFanactic911]

well, you got to get your education first. @ Ryan Sefton

[@SatnamSingh-ok1yy]

Symphoniics xxx

[@1987PhoenixRising]

as an artist this has given me a new found respect for my materials.

[@bookhagtv]

Don't ever delete this, this is pure ASMR for me. Great doc!

[@georgiamersh124]

The word satisfying doesn't even begin to cover this

[@MBGBTBCPUGeek]

+Georgia M I completely agree.

[@ClandFg]

the vid has copyrights ...😜

[@حسينابوهدلة]

Georgia M حبيبي ؤحدينيجبمرتة

[@blvp2145]

I would go with relaxing and satisfying. Beethoven playing in the background makes this film a gem

[@oneinbillions-8293]

Cheese

[@viroleno50]

22 years working with inks and I love it! Excellent video!

[@eddiemooon]

Definitely appreciating the printed designs on my shirts now..

[@pilotintraining2391]

I use to work in the Ink department at the company who prints Canada’s and New Zealand’s polymer currency (among many other countries and security products that are government regulated. Prepping the ink for all pressmen was so fun. I loved milling/grinding the inks and creating specialty inks for clients. Then testing and passing as press ready. A lot of pre press production involved. This was my favourite jobb in the world at only 20 years old. This brings back so many memories before covid Slowed everything down last year.

[@jdolandev]

I hope I can find the kind of happiness in my life that this guy has found in ink. Really beautiful

[@gerardbyrnes5780]

Printer, ink maker, color matcher most of my working life. Retired now. This was lovely.

[@beckiejbrown]

This is ASMR and sleep material for me (and I mean that in a good way). It's a great documentary and so soothing!

[@YourEverydayGuy2]

you can go to sleep in 8 minutes?

[@FelineFurKin]

There’s a lot of love in this video. The glossy, viscous ink, the huge machines and the music even before the description of everything.

[@Michelle6998832]

My father is a News paper, magazines, posters, and books technician for a big company and he has this job his whole life. When I was younger he would take me to work with him and I remember feeling like I was in paradise. There were so many amazing scraps of all kinds of papers, stencils, decals paper, specialty paper that I could get as much as I wanted (I'm talking about like hundreds of pounds of various papers, printed out art papers, posters, comics, plain papers......I would go crazy to the point of feeling sick anxious thinking what I would do with it...... and I would worry about the days I wasn't there thinking about all those amazing supplies that crafters would kill for all being picked up with no charge/free to recycling paper companies or the trash recycle).......I went so crazy that I became obsessed, became a paper goods hoarder to the point where my Dad did not allow me bringing scraps home anymore! I would sit in the break room doing all kinds of drawings, ink painting, clipart print on the regular computers......I loved that odd satisfying smell of the inks, they had 4 main colors that would became any color imaginable and also specialty ones to create metallic, pearlescent, iridescent, gold like, silver like colors. I remember the hundred of large cans exactly like the ones shown in this video. I kid you not, there was so much paint left after they used up the ink in these large cans and they all would go to trash. I used to feel an uncontrollable need to take them home. It was not like half full or nothing like that but they would open the cans, pour the inks in this huge slot for each color using some sort of putty painter's like knife but they wouldn't scrape out every little drop of left over ink in the can that if you scraped the remaining discarded left over you could literally fill an acrylic paint size like bottle, and there were dozens of cans used each day so you do the math. The reason I used to feel outraged about it is to imagine the cost of ink cartridge so expensive to buy for home printers refill. I think if the home printers company wanted they could make printers much more longer to refill and the cost much, much cheaper and still make great profit comparing to what a huge can of premium printing ink costs. They charge us so much for refill cartridges and make them last so little so they can continue make huge profits once you buy their printers.

[@coon3869]

Michelle Meireles what does your therapist say about this ?

[@intjonmiller]

My first job after high school was a will-train, no experience required large-format screen printing gig. Because of my attention to detail and quality, after just 6 weeks I was put in charge of stretching new screens when one got broken (that help wanted ad was risky; some hires were idiots), and ink mixing. I learned to mix Pantone spot colors by weight. I was VERY good at it. And unlike most guys in the business I didn't wear the ink home (I could go straight from work and go on a date in the same clothes). Almost 20 years later and I still smell the solvents and often think about color in terms of spot mixing colors instead of process colors. That complicated things for the first while when I switched over to prepress for a digital printing company years later. Eventually I learned to tweak color balance through CMYK curves (when I was screen printing I just had to match the individual separation density), but that mixing process still comes to mind today. I enjoyed this video. :)

[@ZVEKOfficial]

I have a test tomorrow. But this is more important

[@AminRedon]

me too lol

[@cmbears17]

Its been 2 years since your test, how did your test go? Did you pass?

[@drewpriestley7148]

I love my palette knives, I miss my bench time.., OMG...I love this story, I agree & disagree! Anyhow, nice work - but there are more than 2 things when I think about ink? Xx

[@msharyfhd511]

What happened to your test? ...did you pass?

[@CrystalB59]

I have a test in an hour... and yes this is more important lol

[@xVinceCx]

It's just so beautiful I teared up at the end. My tears don't have much tack btw.

[@marmac7601]

I truly appreciate your attention to detail. It is an art form in itself. As a visual artist, understanding how certain mediums are made helps me find more expressive ways to use the product. Thank you for taking the time to make this video!

[@freddubergen]

i waited for this video for 52 years. one of the very best i have seen that can attract not only printers like us but even my youngest son who never knew what a typewriter is or a roll of film just love this "ink movie" thanks and keep on making quality printing inks.

[@Robot404_]

Ball scratch at 7:35

[@parvanehabedi6480]

hahah I saw it

[@madman3891]

LMAO

[@ichhabe330]

A man has the privilege to scratch his balls where ever and whenever he wants. This is a right given by God almighty.

[@thedude1744]

Robot404 that was a full on adjustment of angle of the dangle

[@AlmostCouture]

😆😆😆😆 I saw it!

[@TakisFuegoRolledTortillaChips]

this guy makes the most wonderful storyteller i've ever listened to

[@BeardyMcCJ]

This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

[@teresafan1]

My science professor put this link in our powerpoint and it was the most aesthetically pleasing video I've ever watched.

[@JowalQPhotos]

Never in a million years would I have thought the ink making process be soo amazing. This video was just awesome!

[@ThomasBrumm333]

Totally agree, I'm now for nearly 20 years in the paint business making screen and pad printing paint, also paint for cars. No day is like the day before never get bored. And yes, color is passion, passion for color!

[@RebeccaHuffineLondon]

It's a beautiful process. I never thought about the 'how' something I experience every day is made, but I'm glad I know now.

[@jennesont4791]

Something about this video is very therapeutic for me... I love the smell and texture of printers ink from the can. Thank you for sharing the process with this video.

[@MattTaggart]

Excellent, well produced video - and I have to say, the cleanest looking mixing floor I've ever seen.

[@TheDubGnosis]

mad props to the camera work on this

[@ughnothanks9314]

If buying ink for my HP printer has taught me anything, it's that I'm looking at billions of dollars worth of ink.

[@AjithKumara-qk7uk]

Happy to see this more details

[@youngmanchego]

I wish this was longer. I have revisted this video several times.

[@RyukUnchouJordison1]

This is the most majestic video in the entire internet, I WANT TO WORK THERE!!!!!!!

[@LesiureBoy]

Did dude really gives a shit about his job. Good for him! I wish I had something I was THIS passionate about:)

[@RajashreeGhoshdiya]

this video mas made by his company.. What did you expect him to say!!

[@RedPhilosophy]

You'd be surprised how many business owners, create a business because they had an idea- but actually don't like their business or what they do.

[@shimarlie1]

absolutely man. The guy fucking loves his ink and he is passionate about it. That's what life is all about...finding your passion. He found it. Good for him.

[@trulymeparker]

He loves getting high every day ftom the paint fumes

[@jssgopman]

Steve Kimble S. Their factory needs WINDOWS!

[@daanimefather845]

This brings back memories. Worked as a mixer/mill operator for 8 years till company moved overseas.

[@sin3358]

I love watching such videos because it gives me a much wider view of my future and possible jobs I might pursue in the future!!! This so far seems like a really interesting job!!!

[@xMrjamjam]

If you arent as genuinely passionate for whatever you do with your life like this man is for ink, keep looking. You'll find what you are looking for, make sure you look within and you'll get all the answers you seek

[@xAliRaza]

I never thought making ink was this emotional.

[@joeleelo1]

People make fun of this guy for being so passionate about his craft but jokes on them cause this guy probably makes so much money

[@ChrisBrindley-yakker]

As a (former) offset press technician, this warms my heart

[@TimtheRipper]

+Chris Brindley same here!

[@flynnmanutube]

We have ink in our veins...

[@industrialsolutions8178]

Which vehicle he used?

[@theaverageknight]

I love seeing the owner of the company so passionate about his product.

[@sal9727]

I don't know why I watching this. But, this is really Amazing!

[@paulsurette9048]

I miss being in inks. 22 years in it. I worked a few inplants. Best one was when I worked for Ink Systems. It was a fun gig. I actually miss the smell of varnishes. I really liked the R&D side of it. Did a lot of QC of raw materials (flushed pigments and varnishes) to make sure we weren't getting screwed. Did a couple of trips to Lawter International. The inplant experience was valuable. Taught me a lot about how printers do the wrong things and blame the ink vendors. Contaminated fountain solution tanks and blown out (overexposed analog) plates were the norm. When printers converted to fountain solution substitutes, that's where problems started. Nothing beat alcohol for drying! I was never a fan of sheetfed hybrid UV inks. If you already have the UV bulbs, then why not use straight UV inks? I loved patrolling folding carton accounts. Loved color-matching, but I didn't like customers who thought that if they could conjur up their product on a Mac, then you must be able to reproduce it with lithography. Especially the folks who were fresh out of the Rochester Institute. One printing facility's son tried to convince me that all coated stocks were the same. I couldn't stop laughing at that one. I hated with a passion every time a client sent a Toyo swatch on a funky stock and expected it to look like the Toyo swatch exactly. At one inplant, the customer was using SWOP color standards on their sheetfed prepress files. We actually had to make the process yellow with a tinge of black if you can believe that. And they sure loved throwing a 'curve' in their prepress, then get frustrated when the halftones couldn't match the prepress proofs. Nobody in the industry was doing what they did, and for good reason. I learned the differences with Heidelbergs and Komoris. So many stories. I could go on and on. Good times!

[@Davefromberkeley]

I was an ink maker throughout the 1970s. This is a wonderful explanation of the craft and process of ink making. Note that in this video, people are using various personal protective equipment. Back when I did this, we worked in the dawning days of OSHA, and such personal protective equipment was not in use. Then, it was brutal, back-breaking labor, done on a production schedule and completely without many of the protections that are commonplace today. Today, I live with neurological damage resulting from chemical exposures I got back then. Still, it was a great, union (which is to say, lucrative) job for a young man without other employment opportunities. We did it without the aid of computers, when telling the color meant seeing it "pop" off the page in QC. That's when you knew you'd made a good batch!

[@iankearns774]

Definitely brutal back in the day. I started my Printing apprenticeship in 1982, and vividly remember having to mix up reflex blue in the middle of winter on a slab prior to putting it in the ink duct, we had to add a fair amount of reducer as the ink was so stiff in the can. We had this job that had 80% reflex blue coverage and it was a really long run, my wrists were stuffed by the end of the day. Stiffest inks were that and opaque white, always had your work cut out for you mixing them.

[@alizayshahab8903]

​@@iankearns774 i appreciate your contribution back then ... Sir i have a question, is it the same technique use for preparing textile inks for digital printing? Plus can you please give a detailed guideline about the chemicals used to prepare and stabilize printing inks... Thank you

[@1956yugo]

REALLY EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. KUDOS TO YOUR COMPANY, TEAM AND DEDICATION

[@butter9565]

It looks like honey mixed with egg yolk in the beginning seconds. So cute.

[@AnirudhSharmaanirudh]

Apple Jelly haha yes

[@HoangViet-vito]

Awesome job. Beautifully edited video. So good it distracted me on my work. Those 9 minutes were WORTH IT!

[@DaveRamsammmy]

This video is very insightful on how ink is made. Makes my writing assignment a whole lot easier. Thank you!

[@1116may11]

I have an interview tomorrow with a global ink company. Curiosity brought me here. Thank you for this beautiful video

[@TheLiviaTriple]

it's always awe-inspiring to see someone so passionate about what they do :)

[@Automedon2]

A perfect example of why things done with care and passion produce results that the '"good enough" versions could never achieve.But separately, did you notice that no one has a speck of ink on their clothes or hands. Now, THAT is a real skill.

[@alexblaine8306]

Did you know they employ two lift operators whose only work detail is to elegantly move about a pianist and a ballerina as she flutters atop a smooth pallet stage? These beautiful forklifts are a fine gloss black and feature award-winning certified expert operators to enhance the overall mood, adding emotional depth to the entire ink-making process.

[@PrincessMilky_]

I don't think i've ever been so relaxed and interested when thinking about... ink!

[@ahmedp800]

Don't know why, but I really want to taste this ink, Yummy

[@saleemkhyali7906]

hello

[@youtubedeadly6720]

Hii same situation after watching the video

[@oneinbillions-8293]

It's because it looks like cheese

[@tka1528]

My very first real job was at an imprinting company and was taught how to mix ink for custom colors and such, I became so good at it my bosses only had me mix all the inks. I loved the smell of Vanson inks

[@mujona419]

It looks tasty. LET ME AT IT.

[@MAGNETO-i1i]

ikr?

[@dannybrown3870]

I thought I was the only one

[@PopCultureFan_]

It looks like cake icing or something..lol

[@AzzieMalloo]

I know!

[@citrusorange794]

I'm Actually Having a Full Time Job About ink Glad I'm Getting Information From this Video.

[@TheAnkie0808]

I feel so calm when I am watching it...

[@evilparadisev1535]

Wow, the bright shiny colors of the ink actually made me hungry! It's so colorful and gooie, and mixed, it reminds me of delicious candy! 😀

[@tomas_m]

The music is Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.5 In E Major - Adagio Un Poco Mosso (2nd movement)

[@fechamper1439]

I've never been more satisfied in my life.

[@dmoder3]

This made me almost cry. Wtf.

[@clayhudson5041]

+JustANiqabiAimingFor Jannat-ul-Firdous same here.

[@Aidylkiller]

same. the dude just loves his job so much....

[@terrellthetaurus6568]

I did.

[@Saavik256]

As a printer/bookbinder by profession, I very much appreciate this video.

[@MooCowKris]

Two things: one, this video is beautiful and I want to work here Two, I really want to stick my hand in that stuff

[@ntn_ntn_]

who was this blessed soul uploading videos in 1080p in 2010

[@rekavision]

yo Gryphics wtf I was just watching this video in printing class the fuck you doing here

[@PSYHoMANTIS]

My mom walks into my room "Are you watching porn again? " "Yes Mom. "

[@emzaet391]

You're so stupid man, please, make good comments

[@dabbimame2331]

Why would your mom ask you that? What did you do in the past to make your mom be so direct with her suspicion?

[@Tekashiixine-cq6rr]

Yes.

[@HidDEN-AMV]

​@@dabbimame2331maybe he was caught by his mother watching porn idk 🙄

[@nikyabodigital]

World is so beautiful. So much to learn that you can't possibly learn everything. It makes you appreciate seeing this kinds of things.

[@pumpkinsmasher8346]

I legit cried during this 😁😂 it's so beautiful

[@milesaboveu]

For an ink factory that place is spotless.

[@macey75]

So, this dude REALLY likes his ink I see.

[@ralphmars4653]

This video did not need to be shot so well. It serves no purpose. So why does everything about this go so hard? So satisfying.

[@chrischapman4168]

That ink is worth more than all the money on earth.

[@vimzify]

Wow...What a neat and tidy environment. Did not expect an industry which involves in Ink manufacturing without messing its place....

[@UAlredyKnowWhatItIss]

This is Stephen Colbert's favorite video on youtube.

[@EWLTM]

***** just came from podcast as well :D

[@GrammerSmosh]

***** STEPHEN STEPHEN

[@joshbuckler]

***** Colbert army

[@elisur]

A nadie le sorprende lo increíblemente limpio que está todo. Ni una mancha de pintura, ni en el suelo ni en la ropa.

[@tmqq]

Beethoven 5th Piano Concerto - 2nd movement

[@skatel18]

Thank you

[@gkalsfpasjs]

I've been watching this video everymonth since it came out... Too peaceful and colorful. I will share this video in another community (nonprofit)

[@777wahab]

I want to work there

[@ACS_214]

This is so dramatic…I love it

[@doug]

colors we've talked a BOOT

[@MatBaconMC]

Why do Americans keep saying that? I've never heard a single Canadian say "aboot", it's always sounded more like "abeut".

[@pierre5325]

Wow ! Really a great video. I learned much. And thank you for the beautiful music background. Blessings, pierre from New Mexico

[@zosimostwo]

yeah but what is this powder stuff and how is that made?

[@steveferguson698]

First time I have seen this video. Working and retired from the printing ink business I spent most of my time in the lab. Formulating, color matching and servicing for the packaging side of the printing business. Mostly water based flexo. But some solvent flexo and gravure. As well as formulating aqueous coatings for the offset printing side. Anyone considering the printing ink business should first get a degree of some sort in chemistry. If you have access to a college or university that has a printing program thats a huge benefit too. Look at the big companies. Sun, INX, Flint... Strive for R&D if you can. Where you will spend much of your time as a problem solver for big printers. Its challenging and rewarding and very tedious at times. And HIGHLY competitive. If you land a sales job, get to know your lab. Your product. Don't always depend on your lab. Learn your product. Ink, coating, additives. Strive to know your products. My big frustration was dealing with a salesman who, without knowledge, makes promises to a customer that the lab can't back up!

[@Mirohalia]

Inspirational.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Who would think an ink video would be so enjoyable.

[@MyMrsamsam]

how it's made, how it's tested, the texture of the product damn that's sexy

[@0nlyTheVeryBest]

Thank you for filling my life with color.

but do not show the part where the pigment extracted from the dead unicorns

[@ThomasRohde]

LOLOLOL, I thought it was extracted from unicorn poo and unicorn puke :-D

[@durgeshgupta3035]

Yes

[@sahilsiddiqui1778]

Any one you want All types of pigments colours powder contact me

[@marktaylor865]

Every now and then I watch this. I don't even know why. It is very good.

[@xHarmonious]

beautiful

[@LOLmusics]

Such an elegant description of ink making