There is provided an aqueous formulation comprising an IR-absorbing
naphthalocyanine dye of formula (II): ##STR00001## or a salt form
thereof, wherein: M is Ga(A.sup.1); A.sup.1 is an axial ligand selected
from --OH, halogen, --OR.sup.3, --OC(O)R.sup.4 or
--O(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.eR.sup.e wherein e is an integer from 2 to 10
and R.sup.e is H, C.sub.1-8 alkyl or C(O)C.sub.1-8 alkyl; R.sup.1 and
R.sup.2 may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or
C.sub.1-12 alkoxy; R.sup.3 is selected from C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.5-12
aryl, C.sub.5-12 arylalkyl or Si(R.sup.x)(R.sup.y)(R.sup.z); R.sup.4 is
selected from C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.5-12 aryl or C.sub.5-12 arylalkyl;
and R.sup.x, R.sup.y and R.sup.z may be the same or different and are
selected from C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.5-12 aryl, C.sub.5-12 arylalkyl,
C.sub.1-12 alkoxy, C.sub.5-12 aryloxy or C.sub.5-12 arylalkoxy; The
formulation has a pH in the range of 3.5 to 7 and is particularly
suitable for use as an IR-absorbing inkjet ink, providing compatibility
with known CMYK inks together with an optimally red-shifted
.lamda..sub.max.
