Distress Ink and Oxides Overview

Distress inks are a versatile range of products from Ranger that have become a staple in the crafting community. With a variety of options available, such as distress inks, distress oxides, paints, sprays, and more, it's important to understand the differences between each product and their unique properties. In this post, we will take an in-depth look at various distress ink products, comparing their features and benefits.

Shop the full range here!

Distress Ink vs. Distress Oxides:

Distress Inks are available in ink pad form and are known for their vibrant, translucent colours. When applied to paper, they offer a slightly matte finish, making them ideal for blending and watercolour effects. These inks react with water, allowing for easy blending and lifting, and they work well for embossing projects.

On the other hand, Distress Oxides are a hybrid ink-pad formula that combines dye and pigment inks. They have a chalky, opaque finish when dried, which makes them stand out on both light and dark paper. Distress Oxides also react with water, providing unique blending possibilities. Their creamy consistency makes blending smoother and gives a more even watercolour effect.

When working with light-coloured papers, distress inks provide a vibrant and translucent look that stands out. If you're aiming for a more chalky finish or using darker cardstock, Distress Oxides are the better choice. Both distress inks and oxides can be reactivated with water.

Distress Sprays and Re-Inkers:

Distress Sprays and Re-Inkers come in both distress ink and oxide variations. Sprays are excellent for creating watercolor backgrounds and adding colorful accents to various surfaces. Re-Inkers help revive dried ink pads, extending the life of your crafting supplies. You can also mix the re-inkers with water and paint the same way you would with a watercolour paint, the oxide will give you a more matte finish than the ink and won't get as pale when adding water the same way the ink does.

Distress Paints:

Distress Paints are thin, water-based acrylic paints that offer a unique texture and finish. They're perfect for multi-surface applications, working well on materials like wood, metal, plastic, and more. The paints give a chalky, matte finish and can be watered down for a watercolour effect. With the distress paints, you do need to work while they are still wait, as once they're dry they are the waterproof.

Distress Embossing Glazes:

Distress Embossing Glazes provide a delicate glaze-like finish when heat embossed. While not as opaque as traditional embossing powders, they offer a subtle sheen that works beautifully on lighter backgrounds.

Whether you're blending, embossing, watercolouring, or experimenting with mixed-media projects, the distress products provide an array of possibilities. Understanding the differences between distress inks, distress oxides, paints, sprays, re-inkers, and embossing glazes will help you create stunning cards!