The most important components in printing are paper and ink. In terms of printing cost, ink cost constitutes a relatively small percentage when compared with paper cost, however ink has the greatest qualitative impact on the final product and on productivity and profitability. Though reputed ink makers test the inks thoroughly before releasing them for delivery, it is most essential that printers ensure the ink is suitable for the job. An unsuitable ink can result in spoilt jobs and result in huge losses. Elaborate equipment and skilled technicians are not required for testing the ink shade. It can be easily and quickly determined by the use of an “INK PROOFING KIT”.
PRINTERS’ PREREQUISITES FOR PRINTING:
- The ink is of the right shade and strength
- It dries well on the stock being printed on
- Where special properties have been specified, the printing ink is capable of giving those properties to the print
- If there is colour shade difference after drying
- If the ink is to be printed on coloured stock or to be overprinted on another ink, what will be the end result
- The ink dries well without chalking or any other problem which may result in rejection and loss
OTHER USES OF INK PROOFING KIT
- A proof can be quickly taken for customer’s approval
- The printer expend time to mix special shades from the ink they have in stock. In this case, machine time need not be wasted for proofing
COLOR STRENGTH OF THE INK
The printer should get the desired intensity of the shade with the right ink film thickness. If the ink is weak, more ink will have to be released which will result in problems like sticking, offsetting, filling-in of halftones, slow drying, transfer of ink from one unit to another (in 2 colour and 4 colour printing machines) and poor trapping. Ink proofing kit will demonstrate the strength of an ink.