A metal phthalocyanine compound that is useful as a black colorant suitable for use in an ink-jet recording ink, a water-based ink composition containing the metal phthalocyanine compound, and a product colored with the metal phthalocyanine compound. In particular, a metal phthalocyanine compound having, as substituents, both an acylamino group and a carboxyethylamino group on the phthalocyanine structure, or the salt thereof is used as a black colorant. Recorded images formed by the use of this colorant are excellent in light fastness and water fastness and exhibit absorption in infrared and visible regions, so that highly effective utilization can be found in printing of, for example, bar codes which are available in near-infrared ray reading.