What exactly is ink?
Ink is a coloured liquid or paste that is used to print on a variety of surfaces. Throughout history, it has been made using many different materials and used for unique purposes. In ancient Egypt, ink was created using soot bound together with gums to form a paste. Colour was added using plants and animal products and then mixed together with water to leave a liquid that was suitable for printing. The Chinese used a similar method of combining coloured earth, soot and plants. The first moveable printing press from Europe used ink that was made from soot and linseed oil or varnish.
How is it made?
Ink is made using two key ingredients, dye and a selected pigment. During the manufacturing process, the dye is set to dissolve in the ink and the pigment is ground up before it is combined. This makes sure that everything goes into the mixture consistently and doesn’t separate. It also ensures that no pockets of colour form underneath.
Water is usually added to help create the final product. In some cases, alcohol or linseed oil will also be used, along with certain chemical ingredients that are required for printing on certain surfaces. Today, inks are specially created for printing on specific materials. Depending on the type of surface, be it paper, metal, wood, steel or anything else, you will need a certain type of product. The printing method also needs to be taken into account.
To ensure a smooth, liquid consistency is created, all of the ingredients that are used to create ink are put into a heated vessel. This helps to properly disperse what is contained inside. A filter may be used in some cases to strain the ink and remove any sediments that can be left by the ingredients, which can potentially impact the quality of printing that is carried out later on during printing.
Current standards
At Half Price Printing, we use industry leading practices and the finest quality ink to ensure a fantastic result with each and every project. There’s nothing that we can’t handle, and quality results are always guaranteed. Speak to our friendly team today about your needs and we will leave you with a fantastic outcome. Browse online for our full list of services or speak to us directly by calling 1300 782 840.
