Abstract: A water-based ink that comprises a water-soluble anionic colorant, an aluminum ion and an acid ion, wherein the content of the acid ion is more than that of the aluminum ion, and the content of the water-soluble anionic colorant is 20 to 1,000 times as much as that of the acid ion by molar ratio.

Abstract: An ink set includes inks each containing a colorant and an aqueous medium, wherein in a fading test under conditions that cause fading corresponding to pseudo-indoor sunlight fading through a window for 3 years or more, the difference between respective images' &Dgr;E, the images being produced with the respective inks, is 10 or less in a CIELAB color space display system, and each of the images has a residual ratio of reflection density of 70% or more. By using the ink set including the color inks with which images having substantially the same fading &Dgr;E after long-term storage are produced, the color balance of a recorded image can be maintained after long-term storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink set, an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet recording method, a recording unit, and an ink cartridge, which can produce ink jet color images in which the color balance does not easily become unstable even if the image is stored for a long time, and in which the color images have greater durability so that degradation of the visual appearance is not easily recognizable even if the image is stored for a long time. The ink set includes a first aqueous ink and a second aqueous ink having the same color tone, the second ink having a lower coloring material content than that of the first ink, and the degree of fading of an image produced with the second ink is the same as or lower than that of an image produced with the first ink.

Abstract: An ink set which comprises a black ink containing an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by an action of an ionic group, and at least two color inks each containing a coloring material and an aqueous medium, wherein (i) respective images formed with the respective color inks have the same &Dgr;E or have the difference in &Dgr;E that is 10 or less in a CIELAB color space display system in a fading test under conditions that cause fading corresponding to pseudo-indoor sunlight fading through a window for 3 years or more, and (ii) at least one of the color inks contains at least one of a coloring material and an additive that destabilize dispersion stability of the pigment in the black ink. The ink set can provide a high quality multicolor image keeping color balance after long preservation and showing less bleeding between black and color regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink set, an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet recording method, a recording unit, and an ink cartridge, which can produce ink jet color images in which the color balance does not easily become unstable even if the image is stored for a long time, and in which the color images have greater durability so that degradation of the visual appearance is not easily recognizable even if the image is stored for a long time. The ink set includes a first aqueous ink and a second aqueous ink having the same color tone, the second ink having a lower coloring material content than that of the first ink, and the degree of fading of an image produced with the second ink is the same as or lower than that of an image produced with the first ink.

Abstract: An ink set includes inks each containing a colorant and an aqueous medium, wherein in a fading test under conditions that cause fading corresponding to pseudo-indoor sunlight fading through a window for 3 years or more, the difference between respective images' &Dgr;E, the images being produced with the respective inks, is 10 or less in a CIELAB color space display system, and each of the images has a residual ratio of reflection density of 70% or more. By using the ink set including the color inks with which images having substantially the same fading &Dgr;E after long-term storage are produced, the color balance of a recorded image can be maintained after long-term storage.

Abstract: An ink set which comprises a magenta ink and a cyan ink, where the magenta ink comprises a coloring material of general formula (I) and a compound of general formula (II), and the cyan ink comprises a coloring material having a copper phthalocyanine structure and a compound of general formula (II): which can provide color images excellent in light fastness at a mixed color region of the magenta and the cyan inks.

Abstract: An ink set which comprises a black ink containing an aqueous medium and a pigment dispersed in the aqueous medium by an action of an ionic group, and at least two color inks each containing a coloring material and an aqueous medium, wherein (i) respective images formed with the respective color inks have the same &Dgr;E or have the difference in &Dgr;E that is 10 or less in a CIELAB color space display system in a fading test under conditions that cause fading corresponding to pseudo-indoor sunlight fading through a window for 3 years or more, and (ii) at least one of the color inks contains at least one of a coloring material and an additive that destabilize dispersion stability of the pigment in the black ink. The ink set can provide a high quality multicolor image keeping color balance after long preservation and showing less bleeding between black and color regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink set, an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink jet recording method, a recording unit, and an ink cartridge, which can produce ink jet color images in which the color balance does not easily become unstable even if the image is stored for a long time, and in which the color images have greater durability so that degradation of the visual appearance is not easily recognizable even if the image is stored for a long time. The ink set includes a first aqueous ink and a second aqueous ink having the same color tone, the second ink having a lower coloring material content than that of the first ink, and the degree of fading of an image produced with the second ink is the same as or lower than that of an image produced with the first ink.

Abstract: An ink set which comprises a magenta ink and a cyan ink, where the magenta ink comprises a coloring material of general formula (I) and a compound of general formula (II), and the cyan ink comprises a coloring material having a copper phthalocyanine structure and a compound of general formula (II): 1

Abstract: An ink set includes inks each containing a colorant and an aqueous medium, wherein in a fading test under conditions that cause fading corresponding to pseudo-indoor sunlight fading through a window for 3 years or more, the difference between respective images' &Dgr;E, the images being produced with the respective inks, is 10 or less in a CIELAB color space display system, and each of the images has a residual ratio of reflection density of 70% or more. By using the ink set including the color inks with which images having substantially the same fading &Dgr;E after long-term storage are produced, the color balance of a recorded image can be maintained after long-term storage.

Abstract: Magenta ink exhibiting excellent coloration on various recording materials is provided according to the present invention. The magenta ink can realize high image densities and can produce images having superior light resistance. The magenta ink contains first and second coloring materials represented by the following general formulae 1 and 2, respectively, and a water-based medium.