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Showing posts from August, 2022

How To Make Printing Ink

  Introduction Printing ink is so much more than just the black stuff that you put on a page. It has been around for thousands of years, and it's been used in everything from newspaper presses to digital printers. As you can see, we're not talking about offset printing ink which is oil based. I want to have a little fun and talk about how you can make your own ink for your printer.  At home! Ready? Ingredients You will need the following ingredients: Soot (5 tbsp) : This is as purest as it gest. You can make the soot yourself by holding a glass up to a flame. This will allow you to slowly accumulate the soot. Water (2 tbsp): For the base of your ink, use distilled water so that you don't introduce any impurities into the mix. Distilled water is also easier to clean up than tap water because there are no minerals or residue left behind from tap water. Alcohol (2 tbsp) (grain alcohol): This ingredient works as a preservative for your ink and allows it to last for several mo

What Is CMYK In Offset Printing?

  Introduction CMYK is a color model used in printing. It stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black). The name comes from the initial letters of the four ink colors associated with this model. These are the only colors that can be printed on a press without mixing other colors. CMYK is an acronym that refers to the four most common colors in offset printing. They stand for the colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black). If you are new to the world of printing and design, you may not be familiar with CMYK in offset printing. CMYK is an acronym that refers to the four most common colors used in offset printing. They stand for the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black). The reason why this color combination is so important is because it produces excellent results when working with images or photos. With its unique blend of colors printed on paper or canvas, your artwork will look its absolute best when using these pigments together! It's important to note that while CMYK

Is Offset Printing The Same As Digital?

  Introduction While the two terms are often used interchangeably, offset printing and digital printing are very different. Offset printing is a process that requires more time and resources, but produces better quality prints than digital printing. For example, an offset press can print up to 100 pages per minute while a digital printer can only do around 20 pages per minute. This means that if you need to print large quantities of documents, digital printers may not be the best option for you. However, if your job does not require high-volume output or higher quality results then a digital printer could be perfect for you! Offset vs Digital Offset printing is a type of printing that uses a printing plate that transfers ink to a rubber blanket which then transfers ink to a sheet of paper. Digital printing is a type of printing that uses an image set on a computer, which is then transferred to a printing plate. The Execution In order for offset printing to work, the image must be trans

Offset printing ink calculation formula

The formula for calculating how much ink will be consumed on an offset printing press is a formula that takes into account 5 variables.  It is referred to as the SPANKS method.  Each letter represents a number to multiply.  Then everything is divided by 353.  Here is what each letter signifies: S x P x A x N x K x S / 353 = consumption in kilograms. (S) This is the type of STOCK that will be used.  High quality coated =1.0; Low quality coated =1.2; Offset, wove or bond =1.3; Smooth cartridge=1.6; Newsprint=1.8; Rough cartridge=2.2. (P) This is the PROCESS that will be used.  Offset printing=0.5; Letterpress=1.0. (A) This is the AREA of the printed sheet.  This needs to be entered in square meters. (N) This is the NUMBER of sides being printed. (K) this is the KIND of image.  It represents the coverage of the sheet. Solid coverage =1.0; Halftone images 0.5; Light coverage 0.2.  This number is essentially and estimation of the coverage between 0 and 1. (S) SPECIFIC gravity of the ink. Bl

Is Offset Printing Dead?

  Introduction Offset printing is alive and well, but short-run digital printing is taking over the print world. This shift has many people wondering if offset printing will be dead in the future. The answer: no! In fact, as we start to see more customization and personalization in our daily lives, it's clear that there will always be a demand for high quality printed pieces that can be produced quickly and affordably. Offset printing isn't dead and it's certainly not going anywhere anytime soon. While the decline of offset printing in recent years has been well documented, there are still many examples where it is the best option for commercial printing. Offset printing isn't dead and it's certainly not going anywhere anytime soon. Offset printing has been around for over a century, with its origins in the 19th century. It’s been a mainstay of commercial print since then and remains so today. In fact, offset printing is still a viable option for many types of print

How An Offset Printing Machine Works

  Introduction In the late 1800s, German inventor Friedrich Koenig created a printing machine that allowed him to transfer ink from one surface to another. He called it an "offset printing machine," and his invention has since become one of the most popular methods for printing images onto paper. Even today, offset printing machines are used for everything from newspapers to letterhead stationery. If you're curious about how this technology works—or if you want to learn more about what goes into making an offset printer—you've come to the right place! The offset printing process can be summarized into four simple steps. The offset printing process can be summarized into four simple steps: Prepress Printing Transfer Finishing Step 1: The prepress stage. The first step in offset printing is called prepress. In this stage, you will create a file that defines how you want your print job to look. This file is usually created using photoshop or another similar program and i

What Is the Impact of Offset Printing on the Environment?

  Offset printing uses vegetable-based inks, which are safer than traditional inks. This eliminates the need for solvents and the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful toxins. In addition, environmentally friendly offset printing equipment is easier to clean. Less solvents are used which means fewer VOCs are released into the air. This can also help reduce the obsolescence of printed products. Recycled paper reduces the impact of offset printing on the environment Recycled paper is the preferred material for many commercial printing operations. This type of paper has several benefits over virgin paper. First of all, it is greener and helps the environment. Paper mills reduce the amount of carbon emissions by using recovered paper for new production. This method also makes use of less energy and reduces their dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, recycled paper is cheaper to produce than virgin paper. Recycled paper is produced by using pre and post-consu

Type of Offset Printing Ink Drying

Drying offset printing ink has taken on several different directions.  Each method has different advantages. Heastset drying  – This is a form of evaporative drying whereby the ink passes through a gas oven and the solvents in the ink reach a flashpoint and evaporate.  Once evaporated, the inks are cooled down by means of chilling rollers and the pigment solidifies in the resin. Web press dryer. See this article for a detailed explanation of this process. Electron beam drying  – This is the method of drying or curing offset printing inks by means of an electronic beam.  These lamps are installed after each printing unit and cured immediately after leaving he printing unit. Electron beam drying process. Ultraviolet drying  – Otherwise known as UV curing, this method employs ultraviolet light to cure inks.  The printing inks are especially formulated to reach to this frequency of light and solidify. UV light drying inks. Absorption drying  – This is the most common method of drying for

Offset Printing Ink Terminology

Lightfastness  – The ability of a printing ink to resist fading when exposed to light.  This is different from the term ‘permanence’ in that it specifically refers to light, and more precisely to the quality of the pigment. Color gamut  – This is the range of colors that a printing ink can reproduce on a given substrate.  Most offset printing is limited by the CMYK color gamut.  However some printers will add additional spot colors that help them push the barrier of this color gamut.  Hence their printing presses will be configured to print more than the four colors required for process color printing. CMYK color gamut – Refers to cyan, magenta, yellow and black. This is the order that the inks are laid down on offset printing presses. The gamut refers to the ability of the first three colors to achieve a range of colors.  This is a 3D model that can vary depending on the paper and ink quality. Lakes  – This term refers to pigments that have been mixed together by various means to give

The Top Three Suppliers of Offset Printing Ink

  Brands of offset printing ink These are the top brands of printing ink in the world.  These companies are consistently the top suppliers and have moved very little in rank in the last 20 years. #1 35 Waterview Blvd. Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: (973) 404-6000 www.sunchemical.com Printing ink sales worldwide: 3.5 billion Printing ink sales in north America: 1.6 billion Number of employees: 20,000+ worldwide #2 North American Headquarters 14909 North Beck Road Plymouth, MI 48170-7194 Phone: (734) 781-4600 www.flintgrp.com Printing ink sales worldwide: 2.7 billion Printing ink sales in North America: 1.4 billion Number of employees: 7,900 worldwide 3. 150 N. Martingale, Suite 700 Schaumburg, IL 60173 Phone: (630) 382-1800 www.inxinternational.com Printing ink sales worldwide: 1.3 billion Printing ink sales in north America: 427 million Number of employees: 7,900 worldwide