Inkbased

Inkbased is a term used in English to describe materials, processes, or products that rely on ink as the primary medium or binding agent. The term is not tied to a single technology; rather, it denotes the central role of ink across different domains, from art to printing and fabrication.

In the fine and applied arts, inkbased media include traditional inks such as India ink and sumi ink, along with water- or alcohol-based solutions used for drawing, brush painting, and calligraphy. Artists exploit ink's fluidity, tonal range, and fast-drying properties, while considerations include lightfastness, permanence, and potential bleeding on absorbent supports.

In printing and manufacturing, inkbased describes processes that deposit liquid inks on substrates. This includes inkjet printing, offset lithography, and screen printing, as well as functional inks used in printed electronics, sensors, and decorative coatings. Key technical factors are viscosity, surface energy, adhesion, drying behavior, and substrate compatibility.

Terminology wise, the hyphenated form ink-based is common in technical literature to emphasize ink as the defining component of a system or material. The term does not imply a single standard composition, and its precise meaning varies with context.