a printing ink particularly suitable for use in flexographic and letterpresses includes a basic dye , a polyhydric alcohol , water soluble carboxylic acid containing polymer and optionally water , thickeners , corrosion inhibitors and biocides . preferably the water soluble carboxylic acid containing polymer is a homopolymer or copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid . the ink has an extremely high affinity for cellulosic and hemi - cellulosic substrates such as kraft paper and newspaper . it forms a permanent bond to such substrates but does not easily dry out on the press rollers .