ink stringing, string break-off length (In French détermination du tirant) non-standardized rocedure for empirically testing the viscosity of a pasty printing ink on the basis of thread formation or break-off length, which allows conclusions concerning the viscosity and tackiness, that is, the “shorter”, the tackier and the more viscous. Methods: 1. A spatula is inserted at an angle into the printing ink (in the ink container) and then lifted out; 2. thread formation between two…

ink scale/set (In French gamme d’encres, série d’encre) set of printing inks matching each other in terms of color, e.g. process color, intensive and hifi color scales.

ink saturation (In French intensité de la couleur) color saturation in print, dependent on the surface ink supply and the coverage of the printing ink.

ink receptivity (In French accueil/amour de l’encre) printability property of a substrate surface, consisting in the ability to absorb printing ink evenly and in sufficient quantity during the printing process from the printing forme, in offset printing from the surface of the blanket, without signs of rejection; metrological characterization by oil absorbency according to Cobb-Unger.

ink mixing system (In French station de mélange/dosage) system for mixing special inks or blended printing ink supplies, incl. ink residues. An ink mixing system for sheet-fed offset inks consists of a basic ink supply (8 to 12 basic colors), precision scales, a spectrophotometer, reception software and possibly a mixing and metering system (similar to that in DIY stores). In flexo printing, when pigment concentrate systems are in use, scale as well as special inks…

ink metering (In French dosage de l’encre) task of the inking units in the printing press. The metering of printing ink can be effected from the central control console in the total ink quantity (by means of fountain or screen roller) and the individual ink keys (by means of ink slides) or is a component in a color control device, e.g. KBA QualiTronic ColorControl. Pre-metering (CIP3 ink key presetting, printing ink profile) on the basis…

ink leftover use (In French utilisation des encres résiduelles) cost-effective inclusion of ink residues in the development of recipes by ink mixture software. Formulation and mixing solutions such as X-Rite Ink Formulation or Connex Alwin II and Winmix are able to incorporate colorimetric measured ink leftovers.

ink formulation and mixing (In French formulation et mélange des encres et peintures) creation of printing inks and paints according to color references.

ink flow (In French écoulement de l’encre) primarily directional flow of printing ink from the ink duct through the rollers, the print forme and the blanket to the substrate. Breaking it back down leads to a secondary flow in the opposite direction, which can lead to ghosting and can also transport paper fibers etc. into the ink duct. Glazing rollers are used to combat ghosting and uneven distribution of the ink over the front or…

ink film/layer (In French film d’encre) initially damp printing ink layer on the substrate, where it forms a dry film (“film formation”).

ink film thickness (In French épaisseur du film d’encre) film thickness in solid ink application, measurable as solid tone ink density. In order to achieve the required ink thickness of the process colors as well as their required chromaticity coordinates, minimum ink film thicknesses must be printed: CMY 0.7 to 1.1 μm, K 0.9 to 1.3 μm.

ink drying (In French séchage des encres) principles of film formation and adhesion promotion in printing inks on substrates: penetration, evaporation (solvents, water), polymerization/condensation (cationic/anionic UV, IR and electron radiation hardening), oxygen bridge formation (oxidation), cooling (phase transition), precipitation (moisture set), sintering/melting (ceramic inks, toner).

ink coverage (In French couverture d’encre) coverage of ink on the substrate in overprinting, e.g. in four-color printing a maximum of 400% – see total ink coverage.

ink consumption (In French consommation d’encre) 1) the quantity of printing ink (in g.) required for a print job; calculation through mass difference (100 printed – 100 unprinted sheets in g) × job run / 100; 2) in newspaper printing, the surfacespecific printing ink (in kg/m2) required to achieve a certain relative color density.

ink consistency (In French consistance) Generic term for the flow properties of a printing ink.

ink can/container (In French boîtes et fûts métalliques) container in which printing ink is sold; label marking scale, pigments, mass, hazard classification, emissions, preset viscosity, temperature window (with waterless offset inks); the most common container types in: 2.5 kg vacuum can and 2 kg cartridge in sheet and heatset offset printing, 200 kg barrel in coldset, also hobbocks in flexo printing.

ink agitator (In French agitateur d’encre) device for installation in the ink ducts of printing presses, on order to 1. distribute the printing ink evenly over the entire ink duct width by means of an agitator cone and to “apply” it to the fountain roller – especially to be recommended for UV inks, 2. keep the viscosity of thixotropic inks low; an ink agitator that can be set up individually in conjunction with ink mixing…

ink, paint, color (In French encre, peinture) liquid dyeing substances with a low to high-viscosity consistency, i.e. printing inks, ink-jet inks, wall paints and artist’s colors.

infield (In French cache perforé) pinhole that takes place in a color comparison. In the color matching of samples, neutral gray stencils with a hole are often used to eliminate the disturbing influences of color stimuli outside the 2° field of view with larger samples. Anyone who has to deal with color should have such pinholes.

inert gas (In French séchage sous atmosphère inerte) creation of a nitrogen protective atmosphere in the radiation curing of ESH printing inks and in long-grain UV offset printing, to rule out the network-inhibiting influence of atmospheric oxygen. In UV printing, heat-sensitive films are printable and higher printing speeds possible through the simultaneously reduced heat input. This was first realized in 2002 in a KBA Rapida 105 installed by the Belgian plastic printer Crea.