We discuss the emerging role of solution processing and functional ink formulation in the fabrication of devices based on two dimensional (2d) materials. By drawing on examples from our research, we show that these inks allow 2d materials to be exploited in a wide variety of applications, including in photonics and (opto)electronics. Keywords: Graphene, Transition Metal Dichalcogenides, TMDs, Black Phosphorous, Phosphorene, Functional Inks, 2d Materials, Inkjet Printing, Ultrafast Lasers, Flexible Electronics