#Offset printing inks

[diccorporation]

Understanding Offset Printing Ink: Key Types and Uses

Offset printing is one of the most widely used methods of commercial printing due to its versatility and high-quality output. Central to the offset printing process is the ink, which plays a crucial role in ensuring vibrant, precise images and text. This description explores the types of offset printing inks and their applications.

Types of Offset Printing Ink

Oil-based Inks

Oil-based inks are the traditional choice for offset printing. These inks consist of pigment, a carrier oil, and other additives to enhance performance. The oil-based composition allows the ink to dry more slowly, giving it the opportunity to bond well with paper. This type of ink is suitable for a wide range of substrates, including glossy, coated, and uncoated paper. Its slow drying time makes it ideal for achieving sharp, defined images, though the process can be slower than with other ink types.

UV Inks

UV (Ultraviolet) inks are a relatively recent development in the printing world. Unlike traditional inks that dry via absorption and evaporation, UV inks dry through a chemical reaction triggered by ultraviolet light. These inks are fast-drying, offering the advantage of quick turnaround times. UV inks are especially popular for printing on non-porous materials like plastic, metal, and glass, as well as for high-quality packaging. The ink provides excellent durability and resistance to fading, making it ideal for outdoor and industrial printing applications.

Water-based Inks

Water-based inks are an eco-friendlier option, using water as the primary solvent rather than oil. These inks are popular in environmentally conscious printing operations. Water-based inks are commonly used for printing on porous materials such as newsprint, cardboard, and uncoated paper. While they have a faster drying time than oil-based inks, they may not deliver the same vividness and durability, particularly on glossy surfaces. However, advancements in water-based ink technology have significantly improved their performance in offset printing.

Soy-based Inks

Soy-based inks are considered an eco-friendly alternative to traditional oil-based inks. These inks use soybean oil as a major component, which is renewable and biodegradable. Soy-based inks are popular in commercial printing due to their lower environmental impact, offering reduced VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions and a cleaner printing process. They also tend to produce brighter colors and have excellent printability, especially on newsprint and other porous materials.

Uses of Offset Printing Ink

Offset printing inks are used across a broad range of industries, with each type suited to specific needs. Oil-based inks are primarily used in high-volume printing of books, newspapers, and magazines. Their durability and ability to adhere to various substrates make them a staple in traditional publishing.

UV inks are most commonly used for specialty applications, such as printing on plastic substrates, packaging, and labels. The quick-drying property of UV inks allows for rapid production and high-quality finishes, making them ideal for high-end packaging, promotional materials, and outdoor signage.

Water-based inks, due to their environmentally friendly nature, are often used for printing on environmentally-conscious materials like recycled paper, as well as for large-scale print runs of packaging and corrugated boxes.

Soy-based inks are increasingly favored for commercial printing projects, especially those requiring high-quality color reproduction. They are widely used in magazine printing, newspapers, and other forms of high-quality print media. The choice of offset printing ink can greatly influence the outcome of a print project. From the classic oil-based inks used for traditional printing to the fast-drying UV inks and the environmentally friendly soy-based options, each type of ink offers specific advantages depending on the application. Understanding these inks and their properties ensures that printers can choose the most suitable ink for their project, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and sustainable results.

[sassafrasmoonshine]

Edmund Dulac, illustrator (British, 1882-1953) • Fairy Book; Fairy Tales of the Allied Nations • U.S. edition, New York: G. H. Doran Company, publisher • 1916 • Pen and ink line drawing with watercolor, reproduced as color offset

"With a scream the Princess rushed forward, and before her wicked sister could prevent her, she had upset her cauldron with a crash."

[youngncrazed]

Quick little ink drawing/collage that I offset printed into some postcards

[michdoodles]

Womp womp 🙃 At least I am testing this out on regular printer paper and not my years old sticker paper

[keerthi-neelam137]

Shanmukha Traders: Leading Offset Printing Suppliers in Hyderabad

Shanmukha Traders has positioned itself as a leading provider in the offset printing industry in Hyderabad, catering to key locations such as Lakdikapul and Gouliguda. Known for our wide range of products and services, we specialize in supplying chemicals, spare parts, inks, and cutting-edge solutions for the offset printing industry. Whether you're looking for high-quality offset printing chemicals, spare parts, or premium digital offset printing services, Shanmukha Traders is your go-to supplier in the region.

Top Offset Printing Chemical Suppliers in Hyderabad

At Shanmukha Traders, we pride ourselves on being one of the leading offset printing chemical suppliers in Hyderabad. Our chemicals are essential for ensuring clean, efficient, and precise printing. We offer a variety of solutions that cater to different printing needs, including cleaning agents, plate processing chemicals, and more. With a commitment to quality and performance, our chemicals help improve productivity and extend the life of your printing equipment.

Offset Printing Machine Spare Parts Suppliers

We also serve as one of the most reliable offset printing machine spare parts suppliers in Lakdikapul and Gouliguda, providing a wide range of spare parts to ensure your printing operations run smoothly. From rollers and bearings to belts and sensors, we carry a comprehensive selection of spare parts for various offset printing machines. Our goal is to help minimize downtime and maintain the efficiency of your printing business.

Digital Offset Printing Services

In addition to traditional offset printing supplies, Shanmukha Traders also offers digital offset printing services. As businesses evolve, digital printing has become a go-to solution for shorter print runs and faster turnaround times. We provide high-quality digital printing solutions that ensure vibrant colors, sharp details, and durability. Whether you’re in Hyderabad or nearby areas, our digital offset services are designed to meet your unique printing needs.

Leading Offset Printing Ink Suppliers

As prominent offset printing ink suppliers, we offer a diverse range of premium inks that ensure superior printing results. From standard inks to specialized products, Shanmukha Traders provides high-quality options that cater to various printing requirements. Our inks are designed for excellent adhesion, fast drying times, and vibrant color reproduction, ensuring that your printed materials stand out.

Toyo Printing Inks Suppliers

We are also recognized as authorized Toyo printing inks suppliers in Hyderabad, offering a range of premium inks from this renowned brand. Toyo is known for producing high-performance inks that are both eco-friendly and reliable. Whether you need Toyo UV offset inks or Toyo brand LED inks, we ensure that you get the best quality products at competitive prices. As trusted Toyo inks dealers, we guarantee consistent availability and top-notch service.

UV Narrow Web Printing Inks and Flexo Inks Suppliers

In the world of narrow web and flexographic printing, high-quality inks are essential for achieving precision and consistency. Shanmukha Traders supplies a wide variety of UV narrow web printing inks and UV flexo inks to meet the needs of modern printers. Our products ensure excellent adhesion, vivid color, and reliable performance across various substrates, making us a trusted UV flexo inks supplier in Lakdikapul and Gouliguda.

Trusted Offset Printing Service Providers

With years of expertise and a reputation for reliability, Shanmukha Traders stands among the most trusted offset printing service providers in Hyderabad. Whether you're a small business or a large commercial printer, we offer customized printing solutions to meet your specific needs. From supplying essential products to offering maintenance services, our team is dedicated to ensuring that your printing operations run smoothly and efficiently.

Why Choose Shanmukha Traders?

Comprehensive Range: We offer everything from offset printing chemicals and machine spare parts to digital offset printing services, making us a one-stop solution for all your printing needs.

Expertise in Toyo Inks: As authorized Toyo inks dealers in Hyderabad, we provide premium-quality inks that ensure reliable performance and vibrant results.

Wide Coverage: Serving key locations like Lakdikapul and Gouliguda, we ensure prompt deliveries and support for businesses across Hyderabad.

Reliable Service: We are known for our dependable customer service, ensuring you get the products you need, when you need them.

Conclusion

For businesses looking for top-quality offset printing chemicals, spare parts, digital offset printing services, and premium Toyo inks, Shanmukha Traders is the trusted name in Hyderabad. With a strong presence in Lakdikapul and Gouliguda, we offer a full range of printing products and services to keep your operations running smoothly. Contact us today for all your offset printing needs, and experience the best in quality and service from Shanmukha Traders.

For more information please visit our website www.shanmukhatraders.com

[inky-tries-her-best]

That one bit between nightmare and moment of clarity is probably, writing-wise, my favorite passage in the entire game. So of course I hand-wrote all of it on a scrap piece of offset ink-stained paper that had a cool texture.

For anyone curious, more about how this weird little piece came to be below the cut

I'm an illustrator in training. By which I mean I'm taking an advanced vocational training in illustration course. One of the classes is a printing class (As in carving art into a matrix you then stamp/print).

Sometimes, you remove the excess ink off your matrix by placing a spare piece of newspaper or magazine paper on top and peeling it off, taking a hefty amount of excess ink with it.

This particular scrap sheet came out with a really cool texture, so I kept it instead of throwing it out.

Then, genius struck:

So I reached for my white gel pen and started going at it. At some point I needed something heftier, so I wound up borrowing a posca paint marker off a classmate, then a red paint marker off a professor.

I was. Locked in. On a mission (the mission was seeing this piece through. I was VERY compelled, for some reason.)

So TLDR this is just a stained piece of magazine paper I drew on. Then I scanned it and fixed the overblown scan in Krita to give the blacks the real depth they're supposed to have.

[uwmspeccoll]

Chinese Ceremonial Papers

Many hundreds of varieties of prayer sheets used to be produced by specialist ma-chang printers all over China. Many of the limited range made today are the cheapest offset-litho jobs on the cheapest machine-made papers, but the designs still imitate the original woodblock prints.

Modern Taiwanese sheets of cash, made from recycled paper, sold very cheaply by weight in Taipei.

Mock money and other ceremonial papers for religious ceremonies will be gathered in "bowls" of crude papers, usually made of a mixture of rice-straw and bamboo fibers.

The simplest form of mock money is made traditionally with thin layers of tinfoil affixed to the center of a small piece of bamboo paper, although in contemporary production the cheapest grades of machine-made paper will be used instead, and in Taiwan and Malaysia metallic inks may be used instead of tinfoil.

Here's a piece of mock money in traditional colors with auspicious designs, and tinfoil brushed over with a dye from the pagoda tree to make it resemble gold.

Contemporary Taiwanese ceremonial paper.

Another variety of gold mock money, with inscriptions and symbols for good fortune building up the design, usually still quite well printed from woodblocks on fairly good quality paper, but sometimes now mass-produced by offset lithography.

Contemporary ceremonial paper printed letterpress on a stout machine-made paper in Hong Kong. The yellow coloring might have been brushed on by hand, but otherwise production of these attractive sheets has been mechanized completely.

At the Feast of Hungry Ghosts many large sheets of paper with pictures of all the clothes one's ancestor could need are burned. Although images of the paraphernalia of modern life like cell phones and computers might be printed on these papers, the clothing is always of traditional style.

Red paper envelopes with good luck symbols have been used for many years to enclose gifts of money made at New Year. They may be found wherever any ceremonial papers are sold; today usually with elaborate and eye-catching gold-stamping.

Decorative Sunday

The examples shown here are original paper samples included in Roderick Cave's (1935-2019) two-part article on "Ceremonial Papers of the Chinese" published in Matrix 12 (Winter 1992, pp. 51-66) and Matrix 13 (Winter 1993, pp. 161-177), printed at the John and Rosalind Randle’s Whittington Press in Risbury, Herefordshire, England.

In these articles, Cave, a noted print historian, librarian, and educator, discusses the history, manufacturing, printing, distribution, and uses of Chinese ceremonial papers used in rituals, celebrations, and festivals associated with the gods and the ancestors.

Our copies of Matrix are a donation from our friend Jerry Buff.

View more posts on Chinese papers.

View other posts associated with Roderick Cave.

View more Decorative Sunday posts.

[celinamarniss]

With the Triumvirate series complete, I could finally bind all of the stories into one (chunky) volume. Since the series was written for and is dedicated to JediMordSith and evilmouse, I decided to bind them both copies as well. Printing out three big text blocks and crafting the matching covers was a marathon of a project. I was afraid I'd run out of ink! I had to order a specific type of paper for the gold strip on the cover and then wait for it to arrive after the paper company sent it to the wrong address.

I picked the lavish art-deco-ish paper to nod to the lavish Imperial court in the fic, with a touch of Imperial red and Chiss blue in the duo-tone spine. Two of the books have metallic blue end sheets, and one book has gold end sheets.

I usually stamp the notch on the cover with the Rebel seal, but the stamp ink wouldn't stick to the metallic paper at all! I came up with the offset triangle to replace it. This volume won't quite match the rest of the set, but that's okay. It feels a bit like a separate project anyway.

The cover paper is from Mulberry Paper and More, the red and blue-shot book cloth comes from the scraps pile at Oregon Art Supply, and the text block paper is Dotmar cream from PapersPapers.

StichyArts drew the fanart on commission.

[proteidaes]

Hi everyone! I wanted to boost a project I'm really excited about!! BASKET is an upcoming graphic novel by Marie Derambure and written by Paco Moccand, put together by Lucky Pocket Press!

The 7 girls who make up Cabestany Junior Girls Basketball Club score, stumble, and balance on the precipice of growing up on and off the court. New relationships, upcoming exams, and the district competition looms over Ines, the team's lone wolf and basketball star, and Fanny, the hobbyist with a curious new interest in Ines. With a sinister plot brewing behind the scenes of the big game, and a mysterious figure lurking around the court, will Ines and Fanny's new friendship save the team? 

BASKET is 200 pages of stunning graphite comics and illustrations, offset printed in a deep plum spot ink on pulpy manga paper.

The book is just shy of its funding goal, so let's help get this project some attention during its last week on kickstarter!

[indiepressrevolution]

Now at IPR: ORC BORG

Live fast. Die loud. Punch heaven in the face. A stand-alone space ruckus RPG powered by MÖRK BORG.

This is the 2024 Neon offset press edition, printed using Pantone neon inks, more vibrant than it has any right to be.

ORC BORG is compatible with and inspired by the MÖRK BORG RPG, but is a standalone game that can be played using only this book.

https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/ORC-BORG-Print-PDF.html

[titleleaf]

May Mischief Print Sale

I was on the fence about this, only for my many-years-old scanner to finally give up the ghost in the weirdest way possible and now I guess I'm doin' it. Money is tight rn but I'd love your help to offset the costs that come with making art.

I'm selling some original 8x10 linocut prints of my #1 homosexual mutineer, Cornelius Hickey. Hand-printed on acid-free paper in two-tone carmine/ivory black Schmincke Aqua Linoprint -- each print has slight variations in the shade of ink and the impression made by the block. 

Each print is $20 each + shipping -- I finally have a non-shitty international shipping option and am ready to use it! 

[diccorporation]

The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Offset Printing Inks

In the vibrant world of printing, offset printing stands out for its exceptional quality, efficiency, and versatility. Central to this printing technique is the use of offset printing inks, which play a pivotal role in achieving vivid prints that capture every detail with precision. Whether you're a business looking to elevate your marketing materials or an enthusiast eager to understand the intricacies of printing technologies, this guide will navigate you through the fascinating aspects of offset printing inks.

What is Offset Printing?

Offset printing is a widely used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. This method is renowned for producing high-quality, sharp, and clean images and is commonly used for large volume printing tasks such as newspapers, magazines, brochures, and books.

The Role of Offset Printing Inks

Offset printing inks are specially formulated to suit the offset printing process. They must possess certain characteristics to ensure they transfer correctly from the plate to the rubber blanket and finally to the substrate. The composition of these inks is crucial for the quality of the final print.

Types of Offset Printing Inks

Oil-Based Inks: These inks are the most traditional and widely used in offset printing. They dry through absorption and oxidation, providing durable and vibrant prints.

Soy-Based Inks: An eco-friendly alternative, soy-based inks offer easier recycling of paper and less harmful emissions during the drying process. They also provide bright, vivid colors.

UV-Curable Inks: UV inks dry instantly when exposed to UV light, allowing for faster printing speeds and use on a variety of substrates, including non-porous materials.

Advantages of Offset Printing Inks

High-Quality Prints: Offset printing inks enable the production of sharp, clean, and consistent images, making them ideal for a wide range of printing needs.

Incorporating Offset Printing Inks into Your Projects

Understanding the nuances of offset printing inks is just the beginning. To truly leverage the potential of these inks for your business or creative projects, partnering with a seasoned printing service provider is key. This is where our expertise comes into play.

Conclusion

Offset printing inks are at the heart of creating stunning, high-quality prints that stand the test of time. By understanding the different types of inks available and their applications, you can make informed decisions for your printing projects. And when you're ready to bring those projects to life, consider partnering with a trusted provider who can offer the expertise and services you need to achieve outstanding results.

[gynandromorph]

Digital printers are just like. Really expensive printers. I'm hoping we get more expanded gamut printers in the near future (CMYK+OGV) but they would require print shops to buy new printers compatible with the extended gamut + fuck with the usual CMYK color profile layers. Offset printers are like mass production printers that print 4 pages clustered into an area on a huge roll of paper and put ink down by pressing plates against the paper as it's rolled through the machine. Offset printing is very expensive without a shitton of products to produce because 4 custom-carved titanium plates are necessary for each page. For example if Idletry was 850 pages long, to print on an offset printer, the print shop would need to create 3,400 custom titanium plates. That's why you will usually work with a digital printer.

[printersoundspress]

New trifold studio logo for an artist event I’m attending tomorrow

The two tone offset was unintentional, a fun accident caused by poorly mixed ink and a rubber block shifting during printing

[printingservicesaustralia]

From Digital to Offset: Understanding Various Types of Printing Techniques

1. Digital Printing: Faster, more efficient and more convenient

Digital printing is one of the most popular and viable printing options available today. This involves transferring images directly to paper or other media using PDFs and other digital files. This approach has gained traction due to speed and low setup costs, making it ideal for short runs or scheduled projects.

Applications: Digital printing is widely used to print marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, business cards and banners. It is also commonly used in printing custom products such as photo books, invitations and garments.

Advantages:

· Speed: Digital printing is faster than printing methods, making it suitable for fast turnaround jobs.

· Cost-effective in smaller quantities: There are no setup fees, making it more affordable for smaller publishing businesses.

· Customization: Digital printing allows for easy personalization, perfect for targeted marketing.

However, digital printing doesn’t always produce the same depth of color or texture as other methods, especially on larger pieces.

2. Offset printing: Better quality, greater volume production

Offset printing or offset lithography is one of the most common and reliable methods of printing large volumes. This process involves transferring an image from a metal plate to a rubber cushion, then pressing the image onto paper. It is known for its image quality and is particularly suitable for more demanding stability applications.

Applications: Offset printing is ideal for many productions, such as magazines, magazines, catalogs, and larger merchandise.

Advantages:

· Higher Image: Offset printing produces sharper, cleaner images with more accurate colors, making it ideal for jobs that require higher quality print work.

· Cost effective for large volumes: Although the initial process is more expensive than digital printing, offset is more expensive when printing in large quantities.

· Consistency: Offset printing provides consistent results throughout printing, ensuring that each print is perfect.

3. Screen Printing: Robust and versatile

Screen printing, also known as silk screening, uses grid stencils to ink various surfaces. The process is particularly popular for printing products such as t-shirts, mugs and promotional materials, as it produces vibrant and long-lasting colors.

Application: This process is widely used for creating custom clothes, clothing, signs and even posters.

Advantages:

· Durability: Screen printing is extremely durable, making it ideal for products that require durability.

· Versatility: Works with a variety of materials including fabrics, plastics and metals.

· Bold colors: Screen printing is known for producing vivid and opaque colors, making it popular for more visual images.

However, like offset printing, screen printing can be cost-effective in small volumes due to its setup costs.

4. Flexographic printing: Perfect for packaging

Flexographic printing, commonly referred to as flexo, uses flexible rubber or photopolymer plates to transfer images onto a variety of materials such as plastic, foil, paper, etc. It is most often used in packaging, labels and packaging.

Application: Flexo printing is commonly used to print labels, flexible packaging, boxes, and other packaging.

Advantages:

· Faster and more efficient: Flexographic printing offers faster production speeds, making it ideal for larger orders.

· Extensive alignment: This technique can print on virtually any substrate, including porous materials such as plastic and metal objects.

· Production efficiency: Flexographic printing can produce high-quality, consistent results, especially with larger print sizes.

5. Gravure Printing: High-volume gravure printing

In gravure printing, or rotogravure, the image is engraved onto a cylinder, which is then applied to the print. High-resolution images and continuous tone images are often printed with this technique.

Application: Gravure printing is widely used for printing packaging, magazines, catalogs and wallpaper.

Advantages:

· High Quality: Graver produces beautiful images with beautiful details and rich colors.

· Ideal for long-term printing: Although setup costs are high, gravure is cost-effective for very large runs, making it perfect for mass-market printing.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Printing Method

The type of printing method you choose depends largely on the needs of your project, including volume, budget, and desired output. If you’re looking for quick, smooth printing with a fast turnaround time, digital printing could be the right fit. Offset printing or gravure printing can provide consistent results for high quality, intense production. For special applications such as custom garments or packaging, screen printing and flexographic printing stand out as excellent options.

If you want to get high-quality printing services, it is important to choose someone who is skilled in the specific technique that best suits your project. Whether you print a few brochures or thousands of labels, the right printing techniques ensure that your content looks professional and effectively communicates your message.

[tea-ddie]

BALLYHOO — BOOK ONE

I am beyond delighted to share my queer-noir graphic novel, Ballyhoo: Book One. Ballyhoo will be released on February 8th, 2024. You can now pre-order it on my website. Ballyhoo is the result of over two years of work and one year of inking like crazy. It is the first third of a story I am so excited to get into the world. It has queer bars, it has theater gays, and it even has a dramatic circus backstory. This 140~ish page volume is the first three chapters of the comic, all offset printed by yours truly. Summary and sample pages below the cut.

Summary:

While traveling to a new city to see the opening of her new play, The Bally Girl, writer Oretta Adams stumbles back into communication with two old friends. Marjorie Miller, previously an unruly and gay circus performer, has now settled into her role as a classic mid-century American housewife,  much to Oretta’s surprise. Evelyn Gold, on the other hand, has transformed her entertainment skills from the trio’s carnie days into a successful career in Portapolis’ lesbian bar scene.  Evelyn and Marjorie, once lovers, no longer have contact with each other. Oretta finds herself tiptoeing across the city, trying to keep Marjorie and Evelyn apart while hiding her own secrets about what really brought her to Portapolis in the first place. 

Everything is bound to come out, especially when opening night of The Bally Girl gets closer everyday. Good intentions, unfortunately, can only go so far.

Sample pages:

If you're interested in reading, please consider pre-ordering! It really helps a small, self-published artist like myself out. Because all books are handmade by myself, there are a limited number of available copies. Reblogs and sharing is also highly appreciated.