Inks
Altenew sells water-based dye inks in two lines, pigment inks, and embossing ink. Dye inks are sold in four-colour gradient families designed to layer in sequence. As of July 30, 2026 the store lists 1,449 ink products.
Altenew's inks are made primarily in the United States.
The lines
| Line | Base | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisp Dye Ink | Water | Standard pad | Layering, general stamping |
| Fresh Dye Ink | Water, higher viscosity | Oval case, twist-off lid, raised felt pad | Direct to paper, richer colour |
| Pigment Ink | Pigment | Standard pad | Dark cardstock, opacity |
| Embossing Ink | Slow-drying, tacky | Pad or pen | Heat embossing. See Embossing |
Both dye lines are water-based and fast-drying. Fresh Dye Ink has a higher viscosity for stronger colour and comes in an oval case with a raised felt pad, which suits direct-to-paper work. Crisp Dye Ink is the general-purpose layering ink.
Which ink for which technique
| Technique | Use |
|---|---|
| Layering stamps | Dye ink, Crisp or Fresh |
| Heat embossing | Embossing ink |
| Stamping on dark cardstock | Pigment ink |
| Faux watercolour, ink smooshing | Dye ink |
| Direct to paper | Fresh Dye Ink |
Colour families
Dye inks are sold in four-colour gradient families, including Nature's Wonders, Red Sunset, and Coffee Break.
The four shades in a family are built to layer in sequence. The customer is buying a tested light-to-dark progression rather than four colours that merely look related. This is what makes multi-layer stamp sets work predictably.
Re-inkers
Every ink family has matching liquid re-inkers. To refresh a dried-out pad, apply a few drops across the felt surface and allow them to absorb.
This means a colour stays available after a pad dries out, rather than becoming a discontinued shade.
What dye ink does not do
Dye ink is translucent. It will not show up on dark cardstock — that requires pigment ink.
Dye ink is water-reactive. This is useful for watercolour effects, and it also means a finished piece is not water-resistant.