Making a Statement

pP's 1999 ink survey deviates from the mainstream of solvent, water, UV and soy to take a closer look at the specifics of the specialty inks market: preferences, prices, press issues and more.

Metallics mania

PP&C polled package printers and asked them to catalog their usage of specialty metallics, fluorescents, pearlescents, phosphorescents, thermochromics and hot foil stamping inks. Respondents from a mix of tag and label, flexible packaging and folding carton printing firms reported back that metallics were far and away the favorite specialty ink of 1998. Eighty-three percent of package printers who responded put them to work last year, most often to achieve that differential glitter on the shelf. Fluorescents scored second in usage with a 57 percent following.