Right Inks for Marking and Coding and Free Tips to Choose

Different printers require different inks. For example, inkjet printers use liquid ink, while laser printers use toner powder. Depending on the model or type of inkjet printers, some use pigment-based ink, and others go well with dye-based ink. Same goes with inks for marking and coding which have different characteristics.

Choosing the compatible ink for your printers is essential for the printers to produce clear and legible marking and coding. With these labels, the traceability of your goods will be apparent through distribution networks. Hence, it helps your business partner and customers understand the goods’ details.

The current industrial packaging has various variable data presented to inform others briefly about the manufacturing process. Now, what would happen if you picked the wrong, incompatible ink for your packaging substrates? Two things for sure, the information will neither be clear nor comply with the requirements set by the government.

Knowing which ink will last longer and producing clean prints for each substrate is essential to avoid such mistakes. Let’s look at the different types of inks suitable for printing, marking, and coding according to your printer model.

Different Types of Inks for Marking and Coding

Many types of inks are available on the market for standard and specialized packaging printing. Below are the examples.

Liquid Ink

As the name suggests, liquid ink has a liquid form. This type is the most suitable for printing variable information onto flat surfaces such as paper and cardboard. Many inkjet printers use liquid ink, yet each model has a different need for dyed or pigmented ink.

Dye-based Ink

Dye-based ink produces high-quality prints and excels in color vibrancy. However, it lacks resistance to fading and water unless you use a coated substrate. The dye-based ink is ideal for colorful prints of commercial use.

Pigmented Ink

Pigmented ink refers to a combination of dry powdery materials and liquid substances. It has higher longevity as it is resistant to fading. Furthermore, pigmented ink can produce detailed and vibrant prints on shiny paper and stickers.

Solid Ink

Solid ink refers to waxen ink. It resembles a crayon or stick which needs to be melted before use. The stick will be heated to its optimum melting point. Then, the ink will be transferred onto the substrate, producing the images or labels.

Sublimation Ink

Sublimation Ink goes through a change from solid to gas. It is made of solid color particles that turn into powder and are dispersed in a liquid carrier. Due to this nature, the sublimation ink is suitable for printing on substrates made of synthetic polyesters such as lycra, textiles, and polyester films.

Toner

Toner is a dry and fine powder composed of polyester or plastic particles. It is suitable for laser printers because the toner must be heated first, then applied to the surface of substrates using the laser printer’s drum. Toner ink is ideal for fast printing, but it still maintains the quality of prints.

UV Ink

UV ink is cured into a substrate’s surface by exposing it to UV light. The initiators produce reactive atoms, which generate rapid monomer polymerization, making the ink turns into a rigid and hard film. UV ink dries quickly.

Ribbon Ink

Ribbon ink is ideal for dot matrix printers and thermal transfer printers. It transfers pigment to the surface of substrates, creating high-quality prints. Dot matrix printers press the ribbon ink directly onto substrates, while thermal transfer printers melt either wax or resin coating using a heated printhead to produce fine prints onto substrates.

Tips for Choosing Inks for Coding and Marking

Consider the following criteria if you are looking for the suitable printing inks for specific requirements in your packaging operation.

Substrate Types

As mentioned before, different inks have different functionality. To look for the best ink, you need to consider what kind of substrates you are going to use for packaging because it will affect the ink’s durability, dry time, and adhesion.

There are three types of substrate: porous, semi-porous, and non-porous. Porous substrates absorb the ink, while non-porous substrates spread the ink, yet it stays on the substrate’s surface, and semi-porous substrates sit between the two.

Colors

Colors are essential for customers to identify your products, among others. Also, with the right color, customers can spot certain information they are looking for on the packaging.

Variable Data

What kind of variable data do you want to print? Texts, images, barcodes? If your packaging operation requires all three, you must choose pigmented inks. Pigmented inks produce fine prints for image and barcode printing.

Ink Resistance

Will your packaging stay indoors, or will it be exposed to sunlight? If the answer is the latter, you need to choose suitable ink with better durability and resistance to fading.

Ink is crucial in producing high-quality marking and coding in product packaging. Depending on your printer model, it might require specific ink to create great results. To choose the best ink, consider its color and resistance. Also, assess the types of substrates and variable data you want to put on the packaging.

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