Writing Substances

The writing media used in various cultures and epochs can be divided into two groups. The first comprises materials that write by themselves, producing script by depositing their own material onto the writing surface. This group includes charcoal, graphite, chalk, raddle, and metal styluses. Depending on the material and consistency, these may be cut or pressed to make styluses that are then used for writing.

The second group comprises all colouring liquids that are applied to the writing surface with the help of a tool such as a quill, pen, or printing block. It includes inks made from dye solutions (for example, tannin inks) and those made from pigment dispersions (for example, sepia, soot, and bister inks). The latter are sometimes also rubbed as pastes into letters incised into the writing surface, where they increase visual contrast.

Due to the variety of recipes and the natural origin of raw materials, there is a wide range of different components and impurities in writing materials.