Numerous industries, including packaging, textiles, labels, commercial printing, and signs, are seeing an increase in demand for digital printing.
A type of ink created especially for use with digital printing technology is known as digital ink or digital printing ink. It is made to work with wide-format printers, digital presses, and inkjet printers that are used for digital printing.
Due to the fact that it is specifically designed to satisfy the needs of digital printing processes, the digital printing ink is different from conventional printing inks used in offset or flexographic printing. Typically, colorants, binders, solvents, and additives make up digital printing ink. The colorants come in a variety of forms, such as pigments or dyes, and create the necessary colours. The binders serve as a means of keeping the colorants together and making it easier for them to stick to the printing substrate.
As per Adroit Market Research, the market for digital printing ink is anticipated to grow to US$ 3.33 billion at a CAGR of 12.7% in 2030.
The binders and colorants can flow more easily through the printing machinery thanks to the solvents’ assistance in dissolving them. Ink performance can be enhanced by adding substances that speed up drying time, increase UV resistance, or increase scratch resistance. Inks for digital printing are designed to work with particular digital printing methods and tools.
Depending on things like printhead technology, ink delivery method, and inkjet droplet size, different types of digital printers could need different ink formulas. The inks used in digital printing are made to work with a variety of substrates, such as different kinds of paper, textiles, plastics, ceramics, and metals. To achieve adequate adherence and colour brightness, ink composition takes into consideration the surface characteristics of various surfaces.
Numerous industries, including packaging, textiles, labels, commercial printing, and signs, are seeing an increase in demand for digital printing. Shorter print runs, quicker turnaround times, the ability to print with changeable data, and cost-effective manufacturing are just a few benefits of digital printing.
As digital printing technology advances, so does the demand for inks for digital printing. Technological advancements have boosted the capability and quality of digital printing technologies. The efficiency of digital printing has increased as a result of advancements in printhead technology, ink composition, color management, and print resolution. The demand for digital printing inks has risen as a result of people’s growing faith in digital printing as a practical and high-quality printing option.
Compared to conventional printing inks, digital printing inks often have a smaller negative impact on the environment. The setup time for digital printing is extremely short, there is no need for printing plates or screens, and pre-press waste is reduced. Additionally, digital printing inks now have better formulas that use less energy and contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Due to their quick drying times, durability, and suitability for a variety of substrates, UV-curable inks are becoming more and more common in digital printing. Instant drying, intense color brightness, and resistance to fading and abrasion are just a few benefits of using UV-curable inks. Signage, graphics, labels, and packaging are just a few of the areas where UV-curable digital printing inks are in high demand.
In the packaging sector, digital printing inks are widely used for labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons, and corrugated boxes. They make it possible for package materials to have high-quality images, brilliant colors, and personalized choices. Digital printing inks are perfect for product differentiation and targeted marketing efforts because they enable shorter print runs, versioning, changeable data printing, and quicker time-to-market.
The textile and garment industries employ digital printing inks to print images, patterns, and designs on textiles. They have benefits including vivid colors, fine details, and the capacity to faithfully replicate intricate designs. Both natural fibers like cotton and silk as well as synthetic fibers are compatible with digital textile printing inks.
Author: Ink World Magazine
