Inside the printroom
Practical guidance on ink selection, drying and printing problems, from Iran Shoraka’s technical archive.
Choosing offset ink: from paper to finished print
Choosing offset printing ink involves more than selecting a colour or comparing prices per kilogram. An ink that works well for a job on coated paper may not be the best…
Read article ↗Five common problems with water-based flexo inks
Foaming in water-based flexo ink Water-based flexo inks contain surfactants that can generate foam. A limited amount is normal, but excessive foaming can affect print…
Read article ↗Five tips for choosing newspaper ink
Stable ink–water balance An important property of newspaper ink is its ability to work with the right amount of dampening water. During printing, the ink should not…
Read article ↗Offset or flexo? Web or sheetfed? A guide to printing methods
Many people are familiar with digital, inkjet or laser printing, perhaps through a colour printer at home or in the office. Industrial printing introduces other…
Read article ↗Optima Plus and Optima Plus HD: why ink forms a skin
Why ink forms a skin in the ink fountain Iran Shoraka developed Optima Plus in the Iranian calendar year 1399 (2020–2021). The launch-era article describes resistance to…
Read article ↗Press cleaning solutions: essential, but choose carefully
Solvents and press cleaning solutions are essential for cleaning after a print run. Many solvents used 50 or 100 years ago, such as kerosene and petrol, are no longer…
Read article ↗How printing inks dry: methods and processes
Printing inks are liquids or pastes with different viscosities. After they are transferred to a substrate, the printed film must become a durable solid layer suited to…
Read article ↗Reducing printing waste with heatset ink
How can heatset printers reduce waste? Paper waste is a significant concern in heatset printing, particularly because these presses run at high speeds. The article gives…
Read article ↗Printing on containers: processes and technology
A container’s curved surface can make printing seem difficult, but screen printing can decorate it. For food cans and two-piece cans, however, screen printing can be…
Read article ↗Key considerations for offset inks on tinplate
This article covers the main properties of tinplate inks, commonly used for offset printing on metal. Printing on metal and tinplate Metal is used to make cans and…
Read article ↗Water-based flexo inks for paper
The environmental objectives discussed in this archived article had an effect across the printing supply chain. Printers examined alternatives to solvent-based systems…
Read article ↗What are coldset inks used for?
Coldset and heatset are web offset ink systems with different formulations and drying requirements. The right choice depends on the paper, print quality and production…
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