All colours mainly consist of colouring, binding agent, solvent and additives. Within the world of printers, many factors have to be considered when choosing a colours. Each printing method has its own type of colours in terms of drying quality and viscosity as well as which print material to use.

The colouring consists of pigments produced synthetically at chemical plants. The pigments are made of coal tar or oil and are therefore organic. Others are produced from chemicals and are thus inorganic.

These types are not used much any more. Pigments may be produces in all shades. In nature, there are some shades which cannot be copied, e.g. magenta. Binding agent is used to transport colours over the rolls and then bind it to the paper.

Most of the time, synthetic resin is used in combination with natural resin.