--- title: "Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black: Permanent Stamp Pad" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ranger-archival-ink-jet-black/" description: "Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black (AIP31468) explained: permanent, waterproof stamping under watercolor and markers, pad size, 0.5 oz re-inker, vs StazOn, origin." category: "Stamps" type: "Ink pad" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 13 products: - name: "Ranger Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black (AIP31468)" brand: "Ranger" brand_origin: "United States" made_in: "United States" material: "Dye ink in a felt pad, plastic case" released: "2017-07" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per stamp or ink pad, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Ranger Industries, Tinton Falls, New Jersey" model: "AIP31468" mpn: "AIP31468" gtin: "789541031468" url: "https://rangerink.com/products/archival-ink-pads-jet-black" --- # Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black: Permanent Stamp Pad > Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black (AIP31468) is a permanent, waterproof, acid-free stamp pad from Ranger Industries of New Jersey. Card makers use it for outlines they will paint with watercolor or color with markers. Ranger gives the case as 3 7/8 × 2.75 in, a 0.5 fl oz re-inker refills it, and Ranger makes it in the USA. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ranger-archival-ink-jet-black/ - Category: Stamps - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black pad with the lid lifted, drawn to scale at 99 mm (3.9 in) wide, beside a fine-line flower stamped in black over a pale blue watercolor wash](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/ranger-archival-ink-jet-black-16x9.png) *Archival Ink is sold for black outlines that stay crisp under watercolor and markers.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/ranger-archival-ink-jet-black-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Ranger Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black (AIP31468) | Ranger (by Ranger Industries, Tinton Falls, New Jersey) | United States | United States | Dye ink in a felt pad, plastic case | 2017-07 | $$: $5–20 per stamp or ink pad | - Made in (Ranger Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black (AIP31468)): United States. Ranger's About page, under "Made in USA", says it keeps all its inks manufactured in the USA at a facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and its store tags the Jet Black pad "Ranger Made" and "USA". The retailer Ninny Snapkins also lists it as made in USA. Source: https://rangerink.com/pages/about ## Key takeaways - Ranger gives the case as 3 7/8 × 2.75 in (98 × 70 mm) and the felt pad as 3 1/8 × 2 in (79 × 51 mm); Amazon adds a 0.75 in (19 mm) height. - Ranger's catalog calls Archival a fade-resistant, waterproof dye ink that is permanent on matte and gloss papers. - ASINsight estimated Amazon US sales at about 1,000 pads a month in July 2026, with a 4.6 rating from 455 reviews. - The matching Jet Black re-inker (ARR30799) is a 0.5 fl oz (15 ml) bottle; a jumbo 4.25 × 6.25 in pad (A3P06701) is also sold. - Ranger says all its inks are made in the USA at its plant in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. ## What is Ranger Archival Ink? **Ranger Archival Ink is a permanent dye stamp ink sold in pads and re-inkers, and Jet Black (AIP31468) is its best-known color.** Ranger's catalog calls it fade resistant, waterproof and permanent on matte and gloss papers; retailers add acid-free and non-toxic. Card makers buy it for black outlines they will color in afterward, with watercolor, markers or ink blending. Ranger Industries, its maker, is based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Ranger says it was founded in 1929 making commercial inks for the US banking industry, and developed its first art stamp pads in 1979. ## Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Ranger Industries (Tinton Falls, New Jersey) | | Model | AIP31468 (also written AIP-31468) | | UPC | 789541031468 | | Ink type | Dye (Ranger catalog) | | Ink properties | Permanent on matte and gloss papers, waterproof, fade resistant (Ranger); acid-free, non-toxic (retailers) | | Drying | Air-dries on matte paper; heat-set on glossy (Walmart listing) | | Case size | 3 7/8 × 2.75 in (98 × 70 mm); 0.75 in (19 mm) tall, per Amazon | | Inking pad | 3 1/8 × 2 in (79 × 51 mm) | | Re-inker | ARR30799, 0.5 fl oz (15 ml) | | Jumbo pad | A3P06701, 4.25 × 6.25 in | | Made in | United States (Tinton Falls, New Jersey) | Ranger's product page gives the case and pad sizes; its April 2026 catalog gives the codes and ink type. Retailers' own figures differ: Ninny Snapkins lists 2.75 × 4 in and Simon Says Stamp about 3.5 × 2.5 in. ![To-scale drawing of three black ink pad cases: Ranger Archival Jet Black 99 by 70 mm, StazOn Jet Black 99 by 67 mm and Memento Tuxedo Black 97.5 by 67.8 mm](https://stationerytimes.com/images/ranger-archival-ink-jet-black-size.svg) *Archival Ink is about the same footprint as the other full-size black pads we cover.* ## Is Archival Ink waterproof under watercolor and markers? **Yes, once it is dry, according to Ranger.** Ranger says the image doesn't bleed over water-based inks, markers, acrylic paint and watercolors, and Spellbinders' listing adds alcohol inks; that is the main reason stampers choose it. Let it dry fully first. On matte cardstock it air-dries; on glossy paper the Walmart listing says to heat-set it with a heat tool. ## How long does it take to dry? **It dries quickly on matte cardstock, but Ranger's retailers say glossy paper needs heat-setting.** Reviewers on Spellbinders mention that it dries fast and doesn't smear. Neither Ranger nor the retailers we found give a drying time in seconds. Because humidity and paper change the result, test on a scrap before coloring a finished piece. ## How does Archival Ink compare to StazOn, VersaFine and Memento? **Archival Ink is the paper-first permanent black; the others each suit a different job.** | | Archival Ink | StazOn | VersaFine | Memento | |---|---|---|---|---| | Maker | Ranger (USA) | Tsukineko (Japan) | Tsukineko (Japan) | Tsukineko (Japan) | | Sold for | Paper, under watercolor and markers | Glass, metal, plastic, leather | Fine detail on paper | Coloring with alcohol markers | | Ink base | Dye (Ranger) | Solvent | Oil-based pigment | Water-based dye | | Water over it | Waterproof (Ranger) | Yes, per stampers | Yes, once dry | Runs | See our guides to [StazOn](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/stazon-ink-pad/), [VersaFine Onyx Black](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/versafine-onyx-black-ink-pad/) and [Memento Tuxedo Black](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/memento-tuxedo-black-ink-pad/) for their sources. ## How do you re-ink an Archival pad? **Use the Ranger Archival re-inker, a 0.5 fl oz (15 ml) bottle sold in each pad color; Jet Black is ARR30799.** Walmart's listing says the re-inkers work on all Ranger Archival pads. Spread a few drops across the pad and let them soak in before stamping. Spellbinders sells the Jet Black pad and re-inker as a bundle. ## How popular is it? **Archival Jet Black is one of the steady sellers in its niche on Amazon US.** An ASINsight report from July 2026 estimates about 1,000 units a month, ranks it 5th among archival ink pads, and shows a 4.6 rating from 455 reviews. These are third-party estimates, not Amazon figures. Its typical US price sits in the $5–20 band. ## Where is Ranger Archival Ink made? **Ranger says all its inks are made in the USA at its facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.** Its About page says the same of its embossing powders, paints and glues, and the US retailer Ninny Snapkins also lists the Jet Black pad as made in USA. Ranger also makes the [Tim Holtz Distress Oxide](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/tim-holtz-distress-oxide-ink-pad/) pads in the same plant. For lining up a stamp so you can print it twice in exactly the same place, see our [MISTI stamping tool](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/misti-stamping-tool/) guide. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Ranger Archival Ink waterproof? Ranger's catalog calls it waterproof and permanent on matte and gloss papers. That is why stampers use it for outlines they paint over with watercolor. ### Can you use alcohol markers over Archival Ink? Ranger says it doesn't bleed under water-based inks, markers, acrylic paint and watercolors, and Spellbinders' listing adds alcohol inks. Let the ink dry fully first, and test on your own paper and markers. ### Is Archival Ink a dye or pigment ink? Dye. Ranger's catalog describes the mini pads as "the same unique, fade resistant dye ink formula as full size Archival Ink Pads", so it isn't a pigment ink. ### How long does Archival Ink take to dry? A Walmart listing says it air-dries on matte paper and should be heat-set on glossy paper. Reviewers report it drying quickly on cardstock without smearing. ### What size is a Ranger Archival Ink pad? Ranger gives the case as 3 7/8 × 2.75 in (98 × 70 mm) and the inking pad as 3 1/8 × 2 in (79 × 51 mm). Amazon lists the closed case as 0.75 in tall. ### How do you re-ink an Archival Ink pad? Use the Ranger Archival re-inker in the matching color, a 0.5 fl oz bottle (ARR30799 for Jet Black). Add a few drops across the pad and let them soak in before stamping. ### Is Ranger Archival Ink better than StazOn? They suit different jobs. Archival Ink is sold for paper and stays crisp under watercolor, while StazOn is a solvent ink made for glass, metal, plastic and other non-porous surfaces. ### Where is Ranger Archival Ink made? Ranger says all its inks are made in the USA at its facility in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. A US retailer also lists the Jet Black pad as made in USA. ## Sources - [Ranger: Archival Ink Pads Jet Black (AIP31468; case 3 7/8 × 2.75 in, pad 3 1/8 × 2 in; UPC 789541031468)](https://rangerink.com/products/archival-ink-pads-jet-black) - [Ranger: Full Catalog, April 2026 (Archival dye ink, permanent on matte and gloss, 0.5 fl oz re-inker ARR30799, jumbo A3P06701)](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2159/8935/files/FullCatalog-April2026.pdf?v=1779197612) - [Ranger: About (founded 1929; all inks made in USA in Tinton Falls, NJ)](https://rangerink.com/pages/about) - [Faire: Ranger Ink brand profile (all inks made in USA, Tinton Falls, NJ)](https://faire.com/brand/b_uj5jqbw7qu) - [Ninny Snapkins: Ranger Archival Ink Pad Jet Black (2-3/4 × 4 in, made in USA)](https://ninnysnapkins.com/products/ranger-archival-ink-pad-jet-black) - [Simon Says Stamp: Ranger Archival Ink Pad Jet Black AIP31468 (about 3.5 × 2.5 in)](https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/products/ranger-archival-ink-pad-jet-black-aip31468) - [Desertcart (Amazon product information): Ranger Archival Jet Black (1.91 × 9.91 × 6.99 cm)](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/48242169) - [Bigamart: Ranger AIP-31468 Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black, 6.86 × 9.91 × 1.78 cm](https://bigamart.com/?p=327384) - [A Fine Time for Hobbies: Ranger Archival Ink Pad Jet Black (permanent on matte and gloss, acid-free, waterproof)](https://www.afth.co.uk/ranger---archival-ink-pad---jet-black-6365-p.asp) - [Walmart: Ranger Archival Ink Pad No. 0 Jet Black (air dry matte, heat set glossy)](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ranger-Archival-Ink-Pad-Jet-Black-Permanent-Waterproof-Acid-Free-Non-Toxic-Wont-Bleed-Smudge-Provides-Vivid-Crisp-Stamping-Results-Air-Dry-Matte-Heat/965314345) - [Spellbinders: Ranger Archival Jet Black bundle (pad and 0.5 oz re-inker; crisp over markers and watercolor)](https://spellbinderspaperarts.com/products/ranger-archival-jet-black-bundle) - [Walmart: Ranger Archival re-inker 0.5 oz (works on all Archival pads)](https://www.walmart.com/ip/978236279) - [ASINsight: best-selling archival ink pads on Amazon US (July 2026)](https://www.asinsight.com/report/US/archival-ink-pads)