In this study, pepsin hydrolysis, high speed centrifugation and acidic hydrolysis were used to refine the melanin from squid (Ommastrephes bartrami) ink, and the characteristics of surface morphology, optical spectra and metal elements of these refined squid melanin were investigated. Results of scanning electronic microscope (SEM) showed that acidic hydrolysis damaged the melanin’s original morphology. These refined squid melanin had maximum absorbance around 220nm. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra revealed that pepsin hydrolysis and acidic hydrolysis cut off amino groups from squid melanin. However, the characteristic peak of indole group of melanin shifted from 1399.64cm^-1 to 1307.88cm^-1 after acidic hydrolysis. High speed centrifugation for squid melanin resulted in forming new peaks at 2925.02cm^-1 and 2854.09cm^-1, respectively. Moreover, the different refining methods lead to the effects of decrease or enrichment on the contents of metal elements in squid melanin.