Metallic Inks

When making use of metallic inks you are probably trying to achieve a shine that other inks cannot provide. Metallic inks actually have metallic particles inserted into it in order to catch the light and cause the shine or luster that is desired. For the best metallic luster it is advised that a coated sheet is used. This is usually made use of when brochures and postcards are printed. Metallic inks can be used on uncoated sheets, but then you can expect for your postcard or brochure or business card to have less of a metallic effect as more particles of the ink are allowed to be absorbed.

Light doesn’t pass through metallic inks very well which means that they are opaque inks. For this reason it is not always ideal to use a metallic ink with other types of inks as trapping issues often occur. When making use of metallic ink, try to stick just to that type of ink. Most printers try to use as little trap as possible, but if you use metallic inks with other inks, the overlap will sometimes cause an unwanted halo effect.

Metallic inks are made with a process of starting with a pigment that is desired colour of the metal wanted...and then small amounts of metallic particles are added to the pigment. Copper, Zinc, Bronze and Aluminum are often used in order to save on costs. The metallic luster is actually achieved during the drying process as the metallic particles float to the surface and are dried. This is often called “leafing”. The longer metallic ink takes to dry, the better the metallic luster effect will be. When these inks dry to quickly, which is often the case with the UV inks, the metallic effect is disappointing or lost.

For a supplier of metallic inks in your area, contact New Africa Inks, who will ensure that you are provided with access to the best metallic and specialty inks available on the market, at the best available rate.