An example fixer composition includes a glycidyl amine resin, an acid, a co-solvent, and a balance of water. The glycidyl amine resin includes at least two epoxide groups, a phenyl group, and a tertiary amine group. The fixer composition may be included in a printing kit with an ink composition. In an example, the ink composition including a pigment, a polymeric binder, and an aqueous ink vehicle.

A set of a processing fluid and an ink is provided where the ink contains a coloring material, an organic solvent, and a resin R.sup.i and the processing fluid contains a polyvalent metal salt, a resin R.sup.t, and a silicone-based surfactant. A maximum tensile stress of an ink film obtained by drying the ink is 2 N/mm.sup.2 or greater.

An object of the present invention is to provide a precoat liquid which can prevent the penetration of an actinic radiation-curable ink into a recording medium and which is less likely to damage the texture of the recording medium. A precoat liquid, capable of achieving the object, for an actinic radiation-curable ink includes a hydrophilic polymer, a hydrophilic solvent, water, and resin fine particles. The amount of the hydrophilic polymer is 1 part by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the hydrophilic solvent.

An object of the present invention is to provide a precoat liquid which can prevent the penetration of an actinic radiation-curable ink into a recording medium and which is less likely to damage the texture of the recording medium. A precoat liquid, capable of achieving the object, for an actinic radiation-curable ink includes a hydrophilic polymer, a hydrophilic solvent, water, and resin fine particles. The amount of the hydrophilic polymer is 1 part by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the hydrophilic solvent.

A clear ink includes resin particles and water, wherein a volume average particle diameter of the resin particles is 50 nm or less, and wherein a dried film of the clear ink has glass transition temperatures (Tg) at 50 degrees C. or higher and at lower than 0 degrees C.

A clear ink includes resin particles and water, wherein a volume average particle diameter of the resin particles is 50 nm or less, and wherein a dried film of the clear ink has glass transition temperatures (Tg) at 50 degrees C. or higher and at lower than 0 degrees C.

A curable composition containing: a methylene malonate compound; a 2-cyanoacrylate compound; and a Lewis acidic compound. The methylene malonate compound is preferably a compound represented by formula (1) or formula (2). In the formulae (1) and (2), X.sup.1 to X.sup.4 each independently represent O, NR, or C(R).sub.2, R's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R.sup.3 represents an alkylene group, an arylene group, or a group obtained by combining two or more of these groups.

##STR00001##

A curable composition containing: a methylene malonate compound; a 2-cyanoacrylate compound; and a Lewis acidic compound. The methylene malonate compound is preferably a compound represented by formula (1) or formula (2). In the formulae (1) and (2), X.sup.1 to X.sup.4 each independently represent O, NR, or C(R).sub.2, R's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R.sup.3 represents an alkylene group, an arylene group, or a group obtained by combining two or more of these groups.

##STR00001##

An ink composition including water, a pigment, a pigment dispersion polymer A, and a water-soluble polymer B different from the pigment dispersion polymer A, in which the water-soluble polymer B contains a specific acid group and a constitutional unit represented by Formula (1), an ink set, and an image recording method. R.sup.1, R.sup.11, Y.sup.1, and Y.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, and L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each independently represent a divalent linking group or a single bond. Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 may be bonded to each other to form a nitrogen-containing heterocycle with L.sup.1, L.sup.2, and N.

##STR00001##

An erasable ink set includes: an erasable ink; and an erasing time adjuster which is stored separately from the erasable ink and is capable of adjusting an erasing time of the erasable ink. The erasable ink includes a color developing agent including a pH indicator, water, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a first water-soluble organic solvent and a first surfactant. The erasing time adjuster includes water and at least one selected from the group consisting of a second water-soluble organic solvent and a second surfactant.