TH-INK-ING ABOUT COLOR

According to the survey, some of the more popular combinations being used now include: UV flexo inks and UV screen inks; water-based systems and UV coatings; and EB inks and water-based inks. The top reason printers cited for using hybrid ink is its ability to come off the press dry. These systems allow printers the option of processing in-line, speeding all aspects of the process. What used to take two or three passes can now be completed in one by setting up UV lamps after select stations, says Tony Bean, manager of energy-curable inks at Sun Chemical. "Other advantages [UV] hybrid inks offer include waste reductions, the ability to coat in-line, and in some cases, it allows a company substantial savings by eliminating the need to send sheets offsite for finishing applications," he contends.