Dear gretchensmailbox,
A very good question! The answer is it depends. If it is the natural colour chips, some of them are pure pigments while other might have added with some natural glue already. However, you might still need to adjust it according to your needs. You can also find ways to get rid of the glues which have been added in the chips. Yes, there are tips to do so. 🙂
However, for the classic Old Hu Kai Wen 12 colour inksticks, all of them are added with extra things such as natural gelatine made from animal fat, herbs, etc. This will allow you to use them directly. However, it would also be difficult for you to adjust the glue percentage contained in the colour.
I hope this is helpful! 🙂
best regards
Inkston Customer Helper