The scribe or his assistant, after obtaining the necessary raw materials was preparing the ink that would be used for writing the text. The scribe usually prepared two mixtures, a black and a red one. The latter would be used for the execution of the historiated initials, the various indications and the titles. There were two different types of black ink. The main ingredients of the first were soot (of vegetal or animal origin), an adhesive medium such as gum (usually gum arabic) mixed together with water. The second type of black ink was made by mixing ferrous sulphate with a solution of tannic acids derived from the fermentation and extraction of oak galls. An adhesive medium (usually gum arabic) and solvents (water, wine or vinegar) were also added. The black colour was the result of a chemical reaction when the mixture was coming into contact with air. Inks were usually kept in glass bottles. 

For the preparation of red inks, the scribes would mix a red pigment such as cinnabar, minium, or, an organic colorant such as madder roots with an adhesive medium (usually gum arabic) and finally the necessary solvent (water).