Akua Intaglio Ink – Vibrant & Permanent Inks for Professional Printmakers

If you’ve spent any time in printmaking, you know how important the right ink can be. Akua Intaglio Ink has become a favorite for artists who want bold, professional prints without dealing with harsh chemicals. It’s soy-based, non-toxic, cleans up with plain water, and still feels like the classic oil-based inks many of us grew up on. Whether you’re into intaglio, monotype, or relief printing, this ink is versatile enough to handle it all.

What Makes Akua Intaglio Ink Different?

Some inks either look great but are a pain to clean, or clean easily but don’t give that deep, rich finish. Akua Intaglio Ink manages to do both. Here's what makes the ink different from the competitors.

Oil-Like Feel, Without the Mess

Printing with Akua feels a lot like using oil-based ink — smooth, thick, and perfect for detail — but cleanup is a breeze. You just use water and soap, and you’re done. It also stays wet on the plate for ages, so you’re never rushing to get a print pulled.

Rich, Long-Lasting Color

The pigmentation is strong, so your prints come out vibrant and stay that way. You can mix colors easily to get your perfect shade, and they don’t lose intensity.

Safe for You and the Planet

Because it’s soy-based, it’s gentler on the environment than petroleum inks. It’s also low odor, making it ideal for smaller studios, classrooms, or home use.

How Can You Use It?

Akua Intaglio Ink works in more than just intaglio — it’s great for monotype, relief, and collagraph techniques.

Intaglio Printing

For etched or engraved plates, Akua holds onto even the finest details and transfers beautifully to damp paper. You get rich impressions without the ink drying too quickly.

Monotype Printing

Monotype artists love its long open time. You can blend, layer, and play with textures directly on the plate without worrying about the ink setting too soon.

Relief and Collagraph

The ink rolls out smoothly for relief blocks and adheres evenly to textured collagraph plates. You can expect clean lines and solid coverage every time.

Quick Tips for Better Prints from Akua Intaglio Ink

Here’s a snapshot of tips to help you get the most from the Akua Intaglio Ink:

• Clean up with soap and water
  The intaglio ink cleans up easily with a dry rag, followed by soap and water. Inexpensive liquid dish detergent can be used. Never use toxic solvents
• Never Skins or Hardens in the Jar
  Ink will never skin or harden in the jar or on the ink slab, so no ink is ever wasted.

Option To Print on Damp or Dry Paper

Choose to print on dry or damp paper according to what may be best suited for your technique. Plates with greater tonal value, deeply bitten or raised surfaces require dampened paper. It may not be necessary to dampen paper for shallow bitten plates with high contrast images. Monotypes print best on dry smooth paper.

Where to Buy Akua Intaglio Ink?

You can grab Akua Intaglio Ink from Blick Art Materials, which has a huge selection both in-store and online. 

Amazon also carries a wide range, from single colors to complete sets, making it easy to stock up from home.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Does it dry on the plate?

Nope. It stays workable for a long time, which is great if you like taking your time with detail or layering.

Can I mix Akua Intaglio Ink with other inks?

Yes, especially other Akua inks. You can create custom colors without losing brightness or changing the consistency.

Is it safe to use at home?

Definitely. Its soy-based, non-toxic formula is perfect for home printing or teaching spaces.

What kind of paper works best?

Dampened printmaking paper usually works best, but experimenting with different textures can lead to interesting results.