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Inks & Coatings

A Comprehensive Guide to Inks and Coatings for Printing Applications

In the world of printing, inks and coatings are a key factor in ensuring a successful final product. The right combination of ink and coating can determine how long your printed materials last, how vibrant the colors appear on the page, and even how resistant they are to fading due to sunlight exposure. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which ones are best suited for your particular application. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you select specialized printing inks with particular properties suitable for specific applications. Let’s get started!

Types of Inks

When it comes to printing inks, there are several types that can be used depending on the type of material being printed on. For example, solvent-based inks use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a carrier for the pigment and offer excellent color saturation but also have a strong smell and release toxic fumes into the air when dried. But if you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, water-based inks are non-toxic and offer good color saturation without any toxic fumes or smells. They also dry faster than solvent-based inks, making them ideal for high-volume projects.

Types of Coatings

In addition to selecting the right type of ink for your project, it’s also important to consider which type of coating is best suited for your needs. Glosses or mattes finishes can be applied as coatings that provide added protection against fading due to sunlight exposure over time when printed on outdoor surfaces like billboards or signs. Varnish is another popular coating choice that provides a glossy look while protecting against dirt, fingerprints, and UV rays from fading colors over time. Finally, UV curing ink sets offer better resistance against fading due to sunlight exposure over time when printed on outdoor surfaces like plastic containers or metal cans while providing a glossy finish that resists scratches and other damages more effectively than varnish or glosses coatings do.

No matter what type of material you’re printing on—from paper goods to plastics—it’s essential that you select an appropriate combination of ink and coating for your project in order to ensure optimal results. With this comprehensive guide to selecting specialized printing inks with particular properties suitable for specific applications combined with protective coatings like varnish or UV curing ink sets that offer better resistance against fading due to sunlight exposure over time when printed on outdoor surfaces, you’ll be well equipped with the necessary information needed to make an informed decision about which ink/coating combination is best suited for your needs! Good luck!