Well, that depends. When I say waterbased, I indeed mean the inks are
waterbased. That doesn't mean they aren't waterproof when they dry, or
get locked into certain paper formulations.

The pigment inks used by Epson, for instance (Durabrite and Ultrachrome)
are waterproof once they dry. They use non-water soluble pigments
suspended in a water based liquid which uses water soluble acrylic
resins. Once dry, the pigment is held to the paper surface via the
resin, which becomes waterproof when dry.

The alcohol and ammonia dissolve the resin again even after drying.

Some dye inks also can become water proof upon drying or at least water
resistant, so again other solvent or wetting agents help.

Art

clifto wrote:
Arthur Entlich wrote:

Although I have only tested Epson inks formulations, I have been told by
others who have tried both 3rd party and other brands of inks that the
same basic mix works on the majority of water based inkjet printer inks.


What strikes me most about this whole complicated process is how easy it
is to remove the water-based inkjet ink from paper by getting it wet.