Pretty Please. . .

Specialty inks are the cherry on top. Just like cherries add a little something extra to a gooey hot fudge sundae, specialty inks give consumers a special treat that enhances an already attention-grabbing package.

“Packaging converters in today’s marketplace are routinely looking for innovative ways to attract consumers to the shelves,” says Joe Schlinkert, technical director, Color Resolutions International. “Increasingly the converters are asking their ink suppliers to develop inks that truly stand out and grab the consumer’s attention.” He explains that some approaches being used include phosphorescent inks that glow in the dark, high luster metallic inks, pearlescent inks that change color based on the viewing angle, ultra-high-strength fluorescent inks, and thermochromatic inks that change color with temperature.

But looks aren’t everything. Tactile varnishes and specialty coatings can give a package a soft touch, easy-to-grip, or heat-resistant surface, says Rick Gloeckler, VP director of sales, Environmental Inks & Coatings, North America. “Shampoo and cosmetic packaging utilize the ‘printable foil’ specialty inks that are currently available in UV, solvent, and water systems.”

Manual Rivas, director of technology, Siegwerk, explains that specialty inks can also serve practical purposes. “In the example of thermochromatic inks in the beverage labels, they impart another dimension to the consumer experience,” he says. “Instead of touching the bottle to feel that the product is cold they can now see when the product is ready.”

The most recent, high-profile example of this is Coors Light’s Cold Activated Bottle, developed by Hallcrest, a Chicago-based manufacturer of temperature-sensitive, color-changing inks. Hallcrest created a label that changes the color of Coors’ signature mountains from white to blue, indicating that the beverage is cold enough to drink.

Another trend is using thermochromic, black light detectable, and IR readable inks as a means to protect products, says John Signet, Water Ink Technologies. “These specialty inks are part of numerous anticounterfeiting measures implemented by brand owners that include covert and overt applications of inks in combination with other security features,” he says.

With a great deal of emphasis placed on visual appeal and security, speciality inks are in high demand. And, as demand for these inks increases, they become more of a necessity than a novelty, according to Gloeckler. “Inks initially considered as ‘specialty’ products can evolve into mainstream product lines based upon their demand,” he says. “Examples of these inks would include water and UV flexographic shrink inks for flexible packaging. Water-based and UV metallic inks and water-based fluorescent inks are all considered to be standard product offerings.”

Stellar metallic inks

Color Resolutions International’s Stellar metallic inks prevent oxidation of the suspended metal flakes in metallic inks, resulting in increased luster, greater stability, and up to a 60 percent reduction in press downtime. These metallic inks are designed for flexible package printing. Stellar inks are formulated to improve viscosity stability. The resolubility characteristics of the inks also help minimize plugging of the anilox roll.—Color Resolutions International, www.colorresolutions.com

Security inks

Water Ink Technologies, Inc. offers thermochromatic security inks for label and package converters.Thermochromatic inks are available in formulations that change color, appear, or disappear when exposed to hot or cold temperatures. The temperature exposure can come from simply touching the print area or from changes in the product environment.—Water Ink Technologies, www.waterinktech.com

Multi-purpose specialty inks

Environmental Inks & Coatings offers “printable foils,” phosphorescents, custom-designed indicator inks for security purposes, scratch-off inks, water wash-off inks, tactile varnishes, water-based tattoo inks, and other custom-designed systems.—Environmental Inks & Coatings, www.envinks.com

Color-changing security inks

Sun Chemical’s and AiC’s SEREND is a line of inks with color-changing characteristics, designed for instant verification of authenticity, representing an attractive, more secure alternative to thermochromics. They feature impossible-to-match color transitions, memory effects, and dual activation mechanisms, making it difficult for counterfeiters to duplicate sensitive materials. —Sun Chemical, www.sunchemical.com

Holographic look without the holographic material

XSYS Print Solutions’ HolographINK process provides eye-catching graphics, improves brand awareness, protects brands, and more. The HolographINK process prints on a wide variety of substrates and eliminates the need for holographic substrate.—XSYS Print Solutions, www.xsys-printsolutions.com

Starlight fluorescent system

Alden & Ott’s Starlight Fluorescent system gives printers greater latitude in press speeds and color strength. The inks are thermal transfer imprintable and work for spot colors or flood coats to match industry-supplied fluorescent paper stocks. They are available in Pantone and custom color matches.—Alden & Ott, www.aldenottink.com

Fluorescent security ink

RAD-SECURE 8NB4RFR is a UV curable, fluorescent security ink that appears red under black light, and is used for for flexo applications on paper and some plastics. The product cures rapidly to a smooth, high-gloss coating with a clean and bright appearance. The ink adheres well to paper and non-wax containing inks, with flexibility and resistance to cracking. It is also resistant to scuffs, scratches, and abrasions.—Rad-Cure Corp.,
www.radcure.com

Screen glitter top coat

UVitec's screen glitter top coat is designed to provide a colorful glitter effect while still being able to be printed smoothly and evenly. UVitec uses a proprietary glitter particle that is made out of a polymer specially engineered for screen printing. The particle is large enough to provide a consistent glitter effect, but small enough to ensure even flow.—UVitec, www.uvitec.com pP