An ink in which a dye and a liquid carrier medium are present. The ink includes a dye comprising a compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## 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 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.