Images Magazine November 18

PRINTING INKS www.images-magazine.com 86 images NOVEMBER 2018 Epson: UltraChrome DS Dye Sublimation Inks Epson has produced inks for its printers for nearly 40 years and “does not supply any other manufacturer with its inks and other manufacturers do not make ink for Epson printers“. It adds: “Non-genuine inks can carry risks in terms of colour accuracy and also clogging print heads. Epson’s own manufactured inks are designed to produce long lasting, vibrant images.“ The company’s water-based UltraChrome DS dye sublimation inks promise “superb colour stability“ along with water- and wear-resistance. They are ecologically sound, says Epson, and, when applied to polyester fabrics using Epson’s SureColor SC-F printers, pass the requirements of the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for human ecological requirements of Class 1 products for adults, children and babies up to 36 months, which specifies testing criteria to reduce the presence of harmful substances within a textile product. For direct-to-textile (DTG) applications, UltraChrome DG ink is supplied in 250ml to 600ml cartridges for the four process colours plus white. “It produces crisp, even colours and smooth gradation,“ says Epson. “The ink is stretch-resistant and tack- free and produces a finish that is smooth and soft to touch. The white ink is circulated within the system and has been designed to reduce clogging, which increases productivity, allowing deadlines to be met consistently.“ www.epson.eu International Coatings: Axeon Crystal Clear Gel Gloss 1807 International Coatings describes its new Axeon Non-PVC Crystal Clear Gel Gloss 1807 ink as “ground- breaking, in that it can be printed like regular plastisol inks that allow printers to boost production speeds and overall efficiency without having to sacrifice quality. “Axeon Crystal Clear Gel Gloss 1807 provides printers with a shiny, smooth and glossy clear ink that produces a wet look when printed on top of other flashed colours.“ The ink is described as creamy and smooth and it can be printed through various mesh counts. It is used for highlighting special parts of a design to enhance the texture and appeal of the overall print. www.iccink.com Steve Woods Services: Permatone Colour Management Range Permatone is a colour management set of ready-for-use textile printing inks designed for use in a colour- matching system, explains the Australian manufacturer Colormaker Industries. The system can currently produce over 1,000 colours, with more scheduled for release in 2019. Permatone inks are 100% solvent-free and promise “pure, vibrant colour, an exceptionally soft handle and excellent durability“. Permatone has been granted approval by the Soil Association and has also met the requirements of the Global Organic Textiles Standards for non- organic chemical inputs used in certified organic textile processing. The inks are therefore recommended for printing organic garments, baby clothes, intimate apparel and swimwear. Also from the company is Permaset Aqua, a screen printing ink collection designed for use on dark fabrics. It includes both Standard (transparent) and SuperCover (opaque) ranges together with four metallic and four process (CMYK) colours and a range of ancillaries. Each range includes eight glow colours and a print paste. “This 100% solvent-free range is environmentally friendly,“ says the company. “The pigments provide intense, vibrant colour, rich in coverage and deliver exceptional colour yield. They have excellent resistance to damage by rub, wash and dry-cleaning, and exceptional light-fastness.“ Permaset SuperCover colours have been specifically engineered to print on dark fabrics, promising excellent coverage and opacity. They are supplied ready for use, and can be printed straight onto dark fabrics, including black T-shirts, and do not require an under base. www.steve-wood.co.uk International Coatings is printing a set of iconic posters by the artist David Edward Byrd using its new ink, such as this Hendrix print which is displayed in the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art. Credit: Image reproduced with permission of David Edward Byrd Blue Lips Droplet T-shirt printed with Permaset SuperCover inks by Wasted Heroes of Liverpool Epson‘s UltraChrome DS dye sub inks work with its SureColor SC-F printers