Cephalopods use two different ink strategies. The most common is the ordinary cloud discharge that acts as a smoke curtain, but some also eject pseudomorphs, a number of smaller discharges that remain due to a higher concentration of natural mucus and take about the same shape and size as their maker. Such discharge often accompanies an immediate change of color and sipo squirt, after which many predators rush on one of the pseudomorphs while squiddie is already a mile away.

In addition, many cephalopod predators, such as morays, use advanced chemosensory systems to detect their prey. However, preliminary testing shows that the ink also contains ingredients that can irritate, desensitize or even fill lambs, suggesting that the ink is much more than a simple smoke curtain.