1. A solid ink stick comprising: an ink stick body formed of a phase change ink material, the ink stick body being configured for inclusion in a first set of ink sticks and having substantially a same size and shape as other ink sticks in the first set of ink sticks and ink sticks in a second set of ink sticks, the first set of ink sticks being of a different series than the second set of ink sticks; and an identification pattern formed on the ink stick body, the identification pattern being one identification pattern in a set of identification patterns, the identification pattern formed on the pattern area of the ink stick body being visually discernible from the other identification patterns in the set.