Abstract: A color ink-jet printer is provided, with one pen for dispensing black ink onto a print medium and at least one pen for dispensing color ink onto a print medium. The pen for dispensing black ink contains a fade resistant dye-based ink and the pen(s) for dispensing color ink(s) contain a pigment-based ink(s). Such a color ink-jet printer provides both superior color gamut with contrast and excellent fade resistance. Since the black ink does not need to be chromatic one can employ fade resistant dyes that do not decrease the lightfastness of the whole ink set. In addition, very soluble fade resistant dyes can be used reliably in high concentrations allowing the black ink to provide more optical density than current pigment-based black inks.