To make a finely textured ink that mixes well and is evenly colored, an ink maker must use the finest and lightest pine soot, which Taiwan imports from Germany. Cowhide glue is an industrial glue made by rendering cow hides. Cowhide glue is an animal product, and can smell bad if it is of poor quality.
台灣的松煙遠從西德進口，必須挑選最細、最輕的松煙，磨出來的墨質才會細膩，墨色的暈染變化才會豐富。