Ceramic inks are dispersions of a solid (inorganic pigments) in a liquid. The inorganic nature of the pigments is decisive, since it is more suitable to withstand the high temperatures of the firing cycle that usually stand between 1.100 and 1.200 °C. Organic pigments would disappear during the cooking phase.

To date there are two categories of digital inks: solvent-based and water-based inks. The biggest difference between the two is the solvent within which the pigment is in suspension. Non-polar solvents for solvent-based inks and polar solvents for water-based inks.

In general, solvent-based inks are made-up of a 60/70% of non-polar solvents and chemicals and a 30/40% of pigments while the water-based inks are composed of a 30/40% of polar solvents and chemicals, 25/35% of pigments 30/35% of water.