An aqueous particle-free inkjet ink composition has a pH of 7 to 9, and consists essentially of: (A) water-soluble dye colorants present in a total amount of 2-10 weight %, (B) a water-soluble polymer present in an amount of 1-4 weight %, and an aqueous medium consisting essentially of water. The water-soluble polymer has an acid number ≥130 and a molecular weight of 5,000 to 20,000. It comprises: (a) 55-80 mol % of recurring units derived from ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers selected from substituted or unsubstituted styrenes, (meth)acrylates, and combinations thereof, each (meth)acrylate comprising either a pendant phenyl group or an alkyl ester group having 12 to 20 carbon atoms; and (b) 20-35 mol % of recurring units comprising (meth)acrylic acid, all based on total water-soluble polymer recurring units. The one or more water-soluble dye colorants are chosen singly or collectively to provide a hue other than black.