Who knew our Webinar about ink would get you going like this? (Well okay, we did … that’s why we had the Webinar.) Jeff Ashton, vice president of Operations for Quality Inks & Rollers, presented the session covering ink components, green ink, eco trends, color considerations and special-effect ink.
He was deluged with questions (and loved it!). Those he didn’t have time to answer online have been addressed below and cover queries about using the BRC certification logo, how density affects color, when Pantone Color Guides are updated, how to get good ink opacity on dark stocks and much more.
Q: Are the scented inks environmental?
JA: I see no reason why printing scented inks would have a more adverse environmental impact than your typical commercial printing.
Q: What option is more sustainable?
JA: Between soy and linseed for example, I view them as equally sustainable.
Q: Are there other inks just as green as soy inks?
JA: Yes, there are other alternatives every bit, if not more, responsible than soy inks such as linseed.
Q: So soy inks / vegetable inks also contain vehicles and additives?
JA: Yes, they will all have a vehicle system that may in itself contain vegetable oils such as linseed or soy. Most ink will have additives of some sort such as wax compounds or driers.
Q: Is it true that soy fields are being planted in areas that have been razed of valuable forests?
JA: I would hazard to say that this is true, not only of soy, but of various crops.
Q: Are there then hydrocarbons in soy ink?
JA: There sure could be. The soy seal indicates that the product has met the minimum requirement of soy content. It does not indicate the absence of other products.
Q: Are methyl esters much more toxic and in essence exchanging one negative for another?
JA: I do not believe so. According to the EPA in this link, www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/meta/m9499.html, regarding methyl acetate:
“EPA is excluding methyl acetate as a VOC because scientific evidence shows it is “negligibly reactive,” meaning it contributes little or nothing to the formation of smog.”
Also, “Methyl acetate is not listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. In fact, methyl acetate is a potential substitute for other solvents that are hazardous air pollutants.”
Q: Do these inks cost more?
JA: For now they may cost more, but there are cost advantages to be seen as well such as reduced permitting fees and oven costs.
Q: Do printers have to be certified to use this?
JA: Printers do not need to be certified to use the BRC logo. It is the ink maker who goes through the registration process. If the printer is using the appropriate registered ink, then they can use the logo.
Q: Where can I find more info on NAPIM?
JA: www.napim.org
Q: Any idea what percentage of U.S. printers are actually using U.S.-manufactured inks with no heavy metals? E.g. how likely are we to find a local printer with that option?
JA: I would say the likelihood of having material printed in the U.S. with lead-based or chromium-based pigments is minute to non-existent.
Q: How often are Pantone Color Guides updated?
JA: They have been following a yearly cycle in my experience.
Q: Using any other than 4-color process is very wasteful in press wash ups etc. and should be noted.
JA: Yes, the ability to run 4-color or Opaltone process continually, not only saves on materials and wash ups, but also time.
Q: Why do some pigments shift in color from aqueous coating?
JA: It is because the amine (most aggressively a Tri-amine) from the aqueous coating attaches to the central carbon of the chromaphore of the susceptible pigment essentially de-activating its reflectance property.
Q: How does density affect warmth/coolness of color?
JA: For example, a red will run cooler or bluer at less density and warmer or yellower at a higher density.
Q: Do you have a recommendation for getting good ink opacity on dark stocks?
JA: Typically, mixing in titanium dioxide will help to increase the opacity of the ink. Keep in mind that a layer of offset ink can only achieve so much opacity.
Q: Can you expand on the basic difference between pigment inks and dye-based inks, costs, characteristics, etc.?
JA: Dyes are solubolized into the vehicle system in which they are applied. Whereas, pigments are suspended in the vehicle system. Costs will vary between colors.
Q: Could the Glow-in-the-Dark be a UV process?
JA: Yes they have UV screen, flexo and offset from CTI.
Q: Are there any issues related to halftone screening of spot colors?
JA: There can be, typically spot colors are not formulated with sharpness of dot in mind. However, if your ink maker is made aware of this use, they can make adjustments, if necessary, to keep those screen values printing clean.
Q: Can you touch on limitations with scratch-off types of inks?
JA: Typically these are going to be screen or flexo printed. However, there is a scratch-off foil available that works very well and may be the right solution for certain jobs.
Q: If the printers I normally work with don’t tend to work with some of these more specialized effects, how can I help them find information on a specific coating/effect? Or how can I locate a printer that works with, say, soft touch coatings in my area?
JA: I suggest having a discussion with your current printer(s) and suggest that they obtain information from their ink, coating and paper companies on the various effects available to them.
Q: Does the glow ink leave a sheen over the spot?
JA: Good question. Any time we go over the top of another layer, there is the potential to have a sheen difference. Having drawdowns made prior to printing will help you anticipate how drastic it will be. Thus, giving you the opportunity to try alternative measures.
Q: We use a lot of SAQ coating. Can we use SAQ for recycled paper products?
JA: If I am correct in assuming SAQ stands for satin aqueous coating, then yes you can. Depending on the weight of the stock, you may need to go to a low or no-curl formulation.
Q: What are the “green factors to consider for the various special effects?
JA: VOCs, Hazardous Materials, renewable natural materials, distance traveled. These are some of the areas I consider when evaluating materials.
Q: Will ink drawdowns ever be able to show a percentage of a PMS color?
JA: Yes, these can be made; however, I am not a big fan of them because the screens produced on a typical drawdown press don’t approximate well to what will be printed live. This causes confusion in color communication.
Q: Is there a place to find a list of printers specializing in “green inks” in a specific region (SW Ontario for example)?
JA: I would start with CPIA, the Canadian Printing Industries Association, find the closest chapter and see if they have any recommendations. Their Web site is www.cpia-aci.ca/.
Q: In regards to vacuumized metallic pigments, what papers do you recommend to get the most “foil-like” effect? Would this be more cost effective than using an actual foil?
JA: I highly recommend obtaining drawdowns on a few paper stocks as the effect will differ and this will give you several papers from which to choose. On smaller runs, it can be more cost effective.
Q: What is the lowest quantity that justifies using a specialty ink such as scent or thermochromic?
JA: I don’t think there is a set minimum. It will depend on the piece.
Q: Are soy-based inks with 20 percent soy 80 percent pigment and additives or are there hydrocarbons in it as well? There sure could be.
JA: A better indicator of renewable natural resource content will be the BRC rating.
Q: I’ve been told that metallic inks are too soft to not coat. Not true?
JA: It depends on the job. If you are going on a matte stock, I definitely would want the protection. Also, packaging and covers are areas where protection should be a high consideration.
Q: Generally speaking, are UV inks (and UV printing process) more environmentally friendly than conventional offset inks?
JA: To be honest, I don’t know. I do know I can ask five different “inkies” who are well versed in the matter and get differing opinions. The UV has the benefit of zero VOC, but conventional processes can be so minimal these days as to not make that a part of the argument.
Q: Can you do strikethrough effects with soft-touch coating?
JA: I don’t see this working. As the typical strikethrough is dull overprint varnish “striking” through gloss coating. The soft touch being a very dull coating already, I find it hard to imagine anything printed underneath showing much contrast.
Q: Sorry – what about barium and copper for example? I’ve got references that list dozens of pantone colors requiring that stuff.
JA: I goofed. I used the term heavy metal, which can have different meanings to different people. When I was referring to heavy metals, I was specifically discussing the CONEG metals: lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and mercury. I do not consider copper, zinc and barium heavy metals, but that term is not a scientific term so I need to refrain from using it.
Q: Does it cost a printer to register their inks on Napim.org so they can use logo?
JA: It is the ink manufacturer who needs to obtain qualification and registration for the BRC program. The printer need only use a registered ink.
Q: Can you provide a few ink brands that are making UV inks with vegetable base?
JA: I believe INX, Sun Chemical and Flint all have UVs containing soy at the least.
Q: Are ink manufacturers going green, in terms of using green energy to manufacture green inks?
JA: I’d like to answer this question in 24 months and have a resounding yes to give you. We discussed the BRC program in the Webinar. That is Phase I of the Environmental task force for NAPIM. Phase II and III will be diving into life cycles and processes.
Q: How green are waterless inks vs. conventional inks, is there much difference?
JA: As far as the ink formulation goes, I see no reason why one would have environmental benefits over the other. However, in terms of processes, I can see that the waterless would have benefits due to the lack of fountain solution chemistry assuming that the plate portion of the equation is equal.
Q: Can I scent banana paper or sugar cane paper? Where would I find coffee or lemon scented inks?
JA: Yes you can. Check out scentisphere.com for more information on scented inks and coatings.
