What type of ink is used for offset printing?

Date: Sep 24 2024 From: Star Color

Offset printing technology is one of the current four major printing technologies, occupying a very important position with its excellent printing quality and wide applicability. From books and newspapers to exquisite packaging, from advertising to art reproduction, the shadow of offset printing technology is everywhere. Behind all these achievements, a key material is indispensable - offset printing ink.

Overview of offset printing ink

Offset ink is a type of ink specifically designed for offset printing machines. It follows the basic principle of planographic printing, utilizing the immiscibility of oil and water to form a hydrophilic characteristic of the graphic and textual parts on the printing plate. During the printing process, ink is evenly applied to the printing plate and then transferred to the substrate through pressure, completing the replication of the image.

The main components and classification of offset printing ink

The composition of offset printing ink is complex and fine, mainly including pigments, binders, fillers, and additives.

Pigments, as the main display color of ink, determine the color and coverage of ink;

The binder is responsible for connecting pigment particles together, forming a uniform ink film, and endowing the ink with good fluidity and adhesion;

Fillers are used to adjust the viscosity of ink and improve printing performance; And additives are used to improve the printability and stability of ink, such as dispersants, desiccants, etc.

According to different classification standards, offset printing ink can be classified into multiple types.

According to the classification of printing machinery, it can be divided into single sheet offset printing ink and rotary offset printing ink (including roll paper offset printing ink);

According to the classification of connecting materials, it can be divided into two categories: oil-based ink and resin based ink, with the latter further subdivided according to specific resin types;

Classified by drying method, it includes various types such as infiltration type, oxidation film type, volatile type, thermosetting type, UV curing type, etc.

What type of ink is used for offset printing?

What type of ink is used for offset printing?

Common types and characteristics of offset printing ink

1. Solvent based ink: As the most commonly used type of offset printing ink, it occupies more than 80% of the market in offset printing. Solvent based ink is deeply loved by users for its moderate price, good printing adaptability, and wide applicability. It is suitable for various conventional printing jobs, such as printing on ordinary paper such as books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

2. UV ink: UV ink is known for its unique UV curing properties. During the printing process, UV ink is rapidly cured by ultraviolet radiation, without the need for long physical or chemical drying processes. This characteristic makes UV ink have the advantages of solvent-free evaporation, no pollution, and short curing time, especially suitable for printing on environmentally friendly printing materials such as food packaging, plastics, metals, textiles, etc.

3. Special effect ink: In order to meet the market's demand for personalized and differentiated printed products, special effect ink has emerged. These inks give printed materials a unique visual effect and tactile experience by adding special ingredients or using special processes. Polarized ink can give printed materials a pearl like sparkling effect; Metallic ink can create a metallic luster and reflective effect on the surface of printed materials; Luminescent ink can emit fluorescence or phosphorescence in the dark; Matte ink can create a matte texture on the surface of printed materials.

Selection and Application of Offset Printing Ink

Choosing the appropriate offset printing ink is the key to ensuring the quality and effectiveness of printed materials. When choosing ink, multiple factors need to be considered, such as color and coverage, adhesion and dryness, light resistance and friction resistance, etc.

It is also necessary to choose the appropriate ink type based on specific printing materials, printing processes, and printing requirements.

When printing books and cardboard boxes, solvent based inks with bright colors and strong covering power should be selected;

When printing food packaging, priority should be given to environmentally friendly UV ink or special ink that meets food safety standards.

Environmental Protection and Future Trends

With the continuous improvement of global environmental awareness and the increasingly strict environmental regulations, environmentally friendly inks have become an important development direction for the offset printing ink industry. Environmentally friendly ink not only requires reducing the emission and residue of harmful substances during production and use, but also requires easy recycling and disposal after disposal.

At present, there are various environmentally friendly ink products on the market, such as soy ink, water-based ink, UV curable ink, etc. These inks not only have excellent printing performance and usability, but also effectively reduce environmental pollution and damage.

In the future, the offset printing ink industry will continue to develop towards a more environmentally friendly, efficient, and intelligent direction. On the one hand, with the continuous emergence and application promotion of new materials and technologies, the types and properties of environmentally friendly inks will continue to be enriched and improved; On the other hand, with the continuous segmentation of the printing market and the growing demand for personalization, the demand for special effect inks and customized inks will also continue to increase.