Abstract: The present invention is directed to magenta inks and ink sets for ink-jet printing. The inks and ink sets provide exceptional ozone fastness, particularly when printed on porous media or plain paper. The inks of the ink sets are formulated to be compatible with each other and are capable of producing high quality printed images.

Abstract: Anti-bronzing agents are added to ink-jet inks to prevent bronzing of the inks when printed on various types of photographic media. The additive can include one or more anti-bronzing agents comprising certain planar aliphatic or planar aromatic ring structures. The planar ring-containing anti-bronzing agent can be present in an effective concentration to reduce bronzing of the ink-jet ink printed on the ink-receiving layer.

Abstract: A dye-based ink includes a dye and a solvent. The dye-based ink has a high print quality on plain paper. The dye-based ink may have a print quality similar to pigment-based inks. This may be particularly relevant for black inks.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an ink-jet ink can comprise a dye and a liquid vehicle carrying the dye. The liquid vehicle can include a sulfonated aromatic compound present in the ink-jet ink at an effective concentration to cause improvement of ozone fastness of said ink-jet ink.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to magenta inks and ink sets for ink-jet printing. The inks and ink sets provide exceptional ozone fastness, particularly when printed on porous media or plain paper. The inks of the ink sets are formulated to be compatible with each other and are capable of producing high quality printed images.

Abstract: A dye-based ink includes a dye and a solvent. The dye-based ink has a high print quality on plain paper. The dye-based ink may have a print quality similar to pigment-based inks. This may be particularly relevant for black inks.

Abstract: Anti-bronzing agents are added to ink-jet inks to prevent bronzing of the inks when printed on various types of media. The additive can be an amine anti-bronzing agent that is protonated when the ink-jet ink is printed on the print medium.

Abstract: A dye-based ink includes a dye and a solvent. The dye-based ink has a high print quality on plain paper. The dye-based ink may have a print quality similar to pigment-based inks. This may be particularly relevant for black inks.

Abstract: An additive used in a print medium to reduce bronzing. The additive increases a pH of the print medium. The additive is an organic base or an inorganic base. The additive reduces bronzing of an image printed with a dye-based inkjet ink.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an ink-jet ink can comprise a metallized phthalocyanine dye and a liquid vehicle carrying the dye. The liquid vehicle can include an amine additive present in the ink-jet ink at an effective concentration to cause improvement of ozone fastness. The improvement can be determined by comparing the ozone fastness of the ink-jet ink with a control ink-jet ink that does not include the amine additive.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to ink sets ink-jet imaging, including ink sets having six ink-jet inks. In one embodiment, the ink set can comprise a black ink including a first organic solvent system, a cyan ink including a second organic solvent system, a magenta ink including a third organic solvent system, and a yellow ink including a fourth organic solvent system. In this embodiment, at least two of the organic solvent systems are different. The first organic solvent system can include a first organic solvent and a second organic solvent. The second and third organic solvent systems can include the first organic solvent and a third organic solvent. The fourth organic solvent system can include the second organic solvent and a fourth organic solvent. These solvent systems, and others, can also be used to prepare various dye sets that are dye specific.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to dye sets for formulating ink-jet inks, including ink sets having six ink-jet inks. In one embodiment, the dye set can comprise a yellow dye for formulating a yellow ink, a pair of magenta dyes for formulating a magenta ink and a pale magenta ink, a pair of cyan dyes for formulating a cyan ink and a pale cyan ink, and a black dye for formulating a black ink-jet ink. The pair of magenta dyes can be a transition metal-containing azo dye and a non-metallized dye. The pair of cyan dyes can be a first copper phthalocyanine dye and a second copper phthalocyanine dye that is different than the first copper phthalocyanine dye.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a pigment-free ink-jet ink and method of producing a printed image. The ink-jet ink can comprise an aqueous liquid vehicle including 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, and a colorant consisting essentially of a dye that is solubilized in the aqueous liquid vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an ink-jet ink can comprise a liquid vehicle including a halophenol and a metallized dye. Alternatively, a system for printing images with improved ozone fastness can comprise a printing medium including an ink-receiving layer coated thereon, wherein the ink-receiving layer includes semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates, and an ink-jet ink configured for printing on printing medium. The ink-jet ink can comprise a liquid vehicle including a protonated phenol devoid of water solubilizing moieties, and a metallized dye.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an ink-jet ink, comprising an aqueous ink vehicle including effective amounts 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and derivatized 2-pyrrolidinone, and a dye solubilized in the ink-vehicle. A method of ink-jetting ink with acceptable decap, recovery, and color attributes is also provided that can comprise jetting an ink-jet ink from an ink-jet pen, wherein the ink-jet ink includes an ink vehicle including effective amounts 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and derivatized 2-pyrrolidinone, and a dye solubilized in the ink-vehicle.

Abstract: Anti-bronzing compounds are added to inkjet inks to prevent bronzing of the inks when printed on specialty quick-dry inkjet photographic media. These compounds inhibit bronzing by the proper buffering of the dyes relative to the media of interest.

Abstract: A puddling additive comprising a nonionic, polar group and a C6-C30 hydrocarbon tail for use in reducing puddling in an inkjet ink. The inkjet ink also comprises a dye and an ink vehicle. A method of reducing puddling in an inkjet ink is also disclosed. The method comprises adding a puddling additive to the inkjet ink, wherein the puddling additive comprises a nonionic, polar group and a C6-C30 hydrocarbon tail.

Abstract: A puddling additive comprising an anionic, polar group and a C6-C30 hydrocarbon tail for use in reducing puddling in an inkjet ink. The anionic, polar group is a carboxylate or phosphate group and the C6-C30 hydrocarbon tail is a saturated or unsaturated C6-C30 hydrocarbon chain. An inkjet ink comprises a puddling additive, a dye, and an ink vehicle. A method of reducing puddling in an inkjet ink is also disclosed. The method comprises adding the puddling additive to the inkjet ink.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a print medium that helps to reduce unwanted print artifacts such as bronzing, gloss non-uniformity, print smudging, and coalescence. Specifically, a method can comprise a step of preparing a coating composition with an acidic pH and a step of coating a media substrate with the coating composition to form an ink-receiving layer thereon. The coating composition can comprise a dispersion of inorganic particulates, a polymeric binder, and a weak base comprising a salt of an alkali metal and a weak acid. The weak base generates gas bubbles in the coating composition as a result of the acidic pH.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an ink-jet ink, comprising an aqueous ink vehicle including effective amounts 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and derivatized 2-pyrrolidinone, and a dye solubilized in the ink-vehicle. A method of ink-jetting ink with acceptable decap, recovery, and color attributes is also provided that can comprise jetting an ink-jet ink from an ink-jet pen, wherein the ink-jet ink includes an ink vehicle including effective amounts 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and derivatized 2-pyrrolidinone, and a dye solubilized in the ink-vehicle.