AKUA KOLOR
Contents
About Akua Kolor
Color Chart
Flip Top Lids
Release Agent
Modifiers
Purchase online
About Akua Kolor
Fluid Pigment for Printmaking & Painting on Paper
Originally developed for monotype printmaking, Akua Kolor can also be used for other techniques, such as Japanese woodcut and painting on paper. By adding drops of these concentrated pigments into Akua Intaglio Transparent Base, you can custom make intaglio or relief inks.
Made with light fast pigments, pure gum binders and honey
No chalk, fillers, dryers, or polymers are added. Colors dry with a luminous finish. The addition of honey gives the brilliant and vibrant appearance.
Consistency
Akua Kolor has an exceptionally rich working consistency which “feels right” for both additive and reductive monotype techniques. It’s unique slow drying formula allows many hours to create an image on the monotype plate.
Roll-up Capable
Akua Kolor is rolled directly onto the plate. There is no need to roll-up and transfer the ink using a separate ink slab. Rolling Akua Kolor directly on the plate will save you money and time because ink is never wasted, and no time is spent cleaning an ink slab.
Easily Modified
Choose from a wide range of Akua modifiers to adjust sheen, thickness and transparency.
Akua Kolor and Akua Intaglio are compatible
Akua Kolor can be mixed into Akua Intaglio Inks or Transparent Base to create various new colors for intaglio or relief techniques. Akua Kolor can also be printed on top or beneath Akua Intaglio inks for multi-plate overlays.
Prints on Dry Paper
Akua Kolor prints beautifully on dry paper because it stays wet on the plate.
The tedious task of soaking, blotting, flattening and drying paper before and after printing is eliminated. It also allows for perfect registration because the paper will not stretch or shrink when it goes through the press.
Print With or Without a Press
Prints can be made with the use of an etching press, or by hand pressure using a PinPress, baren or spoon.
Cleans up easily with water
Clean up is fast and easy with just water and a rag. You will have more time for creativity as you save time on preparation and clean up. You will save money by never having to buy solvents again. Rags can be washed in soap and water and reused.
Akua Kolor
Color Chart
There are no suspension agents added to Akua Kolor, therefore pigments settle to the bottom. A mixing ball is enclosed in the bottle to ease the mixing/shaking of some of the heavier pigments.
Sold in 4-ounce squeeze bottles with spill proof twist off cap.
All colors are light fast.
We’ve recently improved our Akua Kolor bottle design to include a twist spout. Original-style bottles require the addition of a flip-top lid for measured pouring of ink. New batches of ink do not require an additional flip-top lid. Colors that require a flip-top lid are indicated below with an asterisk *.
Color Chart (print 1 page pdf)
Lemon Yellow (PY3) Slight green shade, Semi-transparent
Hansa Yellow (PY74) Slight orange shade, Intense
Diarylide Yellow (PY83) Orange shade, intense*
Dinitro Orange (PO5) intense*
Scarlet Red (PR112) intense
Crimson Red (PR5) Blue shade, intense
Perylene Vermillion (PR123) transparent*
Quinacridone Red (PV19) violet red, intense*
Quinacridone Violet (PV19) intense
Ultramarine Blue (PB29) very transparent
Phthalo Blue (PB15:1) Intense
Phthalo Blue Green (PB15: 3) Intense*
Phthalo Green Yellow (PG36) Semi-transparent*
Phthalo Green Blue (PG7) Intense
Yellow Ochre (PY42) Intense Contains mixing ball
Raw Umber Light (PBR7) Transparent Contains mixing ball*
Burnt Sienna (PBR7) Transparent Contains mixing ball
Red Oxide (PR101) Intense Contains mixing ball
Brown Oxide (PBR6) Transparent Contains mixing ball
Burnt Umber (PBR7) Transparent Contains mixing ball
Raw Umber (PBR7) Transparent Contains mixing ball*
Jet Black (PBLK7) Warm shade, Intense
Lamp Black (PBLK7) Cool shade, Intense
Titanium White (PW6) Semi-transparent Contains mixing ball. May also need stirring with stick.
Flip Top Lids
We recently improved our Akua Kolor bottle design to include a twist spout. However, flip-top lids are still available for purchase if you have the original-style bottle.
Sold in bags of 20, 8, 6 or 4.
Akua Release Agent
Release Agent has three purposes.
1. Hand Printing with the PinPress
Required to release Akua Kolor brushwork from plate to paper when hand-printing monotypes with the Pin Press.
2) Used for ghost prints.
A ghost print is the second print from a monotype plate that has been inked only one time. It is a lighter version of the same image. By rolling Release Agent over the plate, it helps to transfer the remaining ink off the plate and onto another sheet of paper. Release Agent looks white in the jar but rolls-up clear and colorless. It has a soft, buttery consistency and cleans up with liquid dish detergent. Akua Release Agent is highly recommended for monotype with Akua Kolor. This modifier helps produce rich prints with minimal pressure and fantastic ghost impressions.
3) For Releasing Metallic Inks
Roll Akua Release Agent over the metallic ink that was applied to the plate. The Akua Intaglio Release Agent softens the metallic ink and allows for a better release from plate to paper during the printing process. The more ink that releases from the plate the more intense the shine.
Modifiers
Intaglio Transparent Base
8 fl. oz. / 237 ml jar
- For Akua Kolor InstructionsTransforms Akua Kolor into intaglio ink or relief ink
- For Akua Intaglio InstructionsIncreases transparency
Blending Medium
4 fl. oz. / 119 ml bottle
- For Akua Kolor Instructions
- Wash effects or wet on wet look
- For Akua Intaglio Instructions
- Loosens Ink
Ink Stifener (Oil Converter)
8 fl. oz. / 237 ml jar
- For Akua Kolor Instructions
- Deepens colors
- Adds semi-gloss finish
- For Akua Intaglio Instructions
- Stiffens Ink
Retarder
4 fl. oz. / 119 ml bottle 
- For Akua Kolor Instructions
- Acts as a release
- Slows drying rate
- For Akua Intaglio N/A
Tack Thickener
4 fl. oz. / 119 ml bottle
- For Akua Kolor Instructions
- Thickens for relief printing
- Deepens colors
- For Akua Intaglio N/A
Extender
4 fl. oz. / 119 ml bottle 
- For Akua Kolor Instructions
- Reconstitutes”air thickened” ink
- Dilutes pigment intensity
- For Akua Intaglio N/A
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