Ultraviolet Inks - has the future arrived

The coming in of the Ultraviolet inks and the possibilities it has opened for printing is simply amazing and in fact never ending. Just when you thought that you have understood the new system, a further new development comes up. Be it raised/ embossed effect inks, glitter inks, tectile effect inks, there is an answer to every kind of creative expression.

With the new generation machines in Offset, Gravure and Flexo having inline UV decks, it has made things even simpler for getting inline printing and thus faster solution. Consequently costs have seen a downtrend and the technology getting much more amenable for a lot more Brands.

What started as more of a Chinese phenomenon has now taken over the world and like how. The glossy packaging that one would see in China and wonder how it was being done slowly and gradually has evolved to dizzying heights.

While the UV inks and the printing processes evolved and started becoming available more easily, the post press operations needed to be worked upon. The answers were sought to the Odour problems and the food grade ability of such inks and one has come a long way. However there are still questions remaining unanswered, how do we avoid finger marks on the glossy surface, how do we do over-wrapping without having misty formation in-between layers etc.

As is obvious, the results of the UV differ from printing process to process and one has to make a conscious choice based upon the cost, required output, volumes etc. The process of Silk Screen which has developed to a very large extent in China ,offers dramatic results and huge possibilities for the creative exploration.

Given the almost forever developing technology one wonders if the future has arrived and what more is waiting to be explored.