Ink and ink jet recording method employing the same

An ink comprising a dye and a liquid carrier medium,

• wherein the dye comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (II):
• ##STR10## wherein Ph is a copper or nickel phthalocyanine residue, M is an alkali metal or ammonium, Y is Cl, NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 or OR.sub.7, R.sub.8 is a substituted or unsubstituted triazine ring or a substituted or unsubstituted propionyl group, a is a number from 0 to 2, b is a number from 1 to 2, c is a number from 2 to 3, d is a number from 1 to 2, e is a number from 0 to 1, and l is a number from 1 to 3.

An ink comprising a dye and a liquid carrier medium,

• wherein the dye comprises a mixture of a compound represented by the following general formula (I) and C.I. Direct Blue 86 or C.I. Direct Blue 199 with a weight ratio of the compound of general formula (I) to said C.I. Direct Blue 86 or C.I. Direct Blue 199 ranging from 1:1 to 31:
• ##STR11## wherein Ph is a copper or nickel phthalocyanine residue, M is an alkali metal or ammonium, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each H, --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.m --R.sub.3 or --(CH.sub.2 CHOH).sub.m --R.sub.3 in which R.sub.3 is H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or CH.sub.2 OH and in which m is a number from 0 to 4, a is a number from 0 to 2, X is a lower alkylene or phenylene group, C is a number from 2 to 3, and b is a number from 0 to 2 with the proviso that when b is 0, then Y and Z are respectively Cl, OH or OR.sub.4 wherein R.sub.4 is an alkyl group having 1 or 2 carbons or a hydroxyalkyl group, and when b is not 0, then Y is Cl, NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 or OR.sub.7 and Z is NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 , OR.sub.7, a substituted or unsubstituted anilino group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group, wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are respectively H, an alkyl group, an alkylalkoxy group or a hydroxyalkyl group and have 4 or less carbons in total and, wherein R.sub.7 is H, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbons or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group.

An ink comprising a dye and a liquid carrier medium,

• wherein the dye comprises a mixture of a compound represented by the following general formula (II) and C.I. Direct Blue 86 or C.I. Direct Blue 199 with a weight ratio of the compound of general formula (II) to said C.I. Direct Blue 86 or C.I. Direct Blue 199 ranging from 1:1 to 3:1:
• ##STR12## wherein Ph is a copper or nickel phthalocyanine residue, M is an alkali metal or ammonium, Y is Cl, NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 or OR.sub.7, R.sub.8 is a substituted or unsubstituted triazine ring or a substituted or unsubstituted propionyl group, a is a number from 0 to 2, b is a number from 1 to 2, c is a number from 2 to 3, d is a number from 1 to 2, e is a number from 0 to 1, and l is a number from 1 to 3.