When it comes to printing metals, you need to understand the different inks that are used. They aren’t the same inks that are used for other types of applications, and knowing a little about them can make your printing much more successful.
There are a lot of common coatings that are used on metals today, and they can all affect your printing results, so you’ll need to be aware of what the metal is treated with before you start printing. The most commonly used inks for metals are solvent-based, although UV-based inks are sometimes used if they are deemed more appropriate for the type of metal and the type of coating that you’ll be working with.
The solvent-based inks are further divided into whether they have to be heat cured, or whether they can just be allowed to air dry. Before you buy any ink, find out what kind it is and how it dries. Then make sure it’s the right kind of ink for the metal and the coating that you’re using. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches in the future.
Tags: metal inks, printing on metal
