Aqueous ink, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit, ink jet recording apparatus and image forming method

摘要

An object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous ink which can form a more excellent image in bleeding resistance, character quality and print density than the image formed by using an aqueous ink containing a conventional self-dispersion pigment and a salt. The aqueous ink includes a self-dispersion pigment and a salt, in which the self-dispersion pigment is a pigment containing a pigment particle having a -R-(COOM₁)_n group bonded to a surface of the pigment particle, wherein R represents an alkylene group or an aromatic ring; M₁ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an ammonium or an organic ammonium; and n is an integer of 2 or more.