Printers Ink obviously doesn't need a medium then as it mixes, brushes and drys very well for me with Sansodor or white spirits. I mix it quite thin and apply several layers. It drys smooth. I have tried liquin, linseed and various varnishes and still prefer the white spirits.

To me Printers ink is allready in a kind of carrier as its like a paste and not just metallic particle fines, it also drys if left on a palette. Maybe that's why it works well mixed with white spririt.

Years ago you could get Rose metallic powder, that did need a carrier such as that from an enamel tin or varnish... This was no good with white spirits.

Carlos

Was going to mention this anyway after Mike's post, these inks vary quite a bit from source to source in case you didn't know.

Some of them don't seem to dry at all if they're not mixed with a medium, partly this may be that they dry very very slowly on their own (many weeks) but they may also be particularly pigment heavy so they're a little underbound. Others, like the one you have, do dry fine on their own.

Einion

petroleum spirit will dry rather fast and give a satin finish
turpentine will keep the glossy look
Marc

to bonehead: Thanks for detailed explanation, now I understand it.