Color mixing and printing ink mixing play a very important role in the flexographic and heliogravure printing industries. Both printing methods, due to their specific characteristics, require different colors and combinations that must be carefully designed and produced. In the following, we will discuss the characteristics of each of these methods and the stages of color production and the desired qualities in them.

1. Dyeing and paint production

Inks in the printing industry mainly consist of two types of bases: solvent bases and water bases. The ink production process includes the following steps:

• Pigment Selection : Pigments provide the primary coloration and give depth and intensity to the color. Choosing the right pigment based on its application and lightfastness is essential.
• Suspension : Pigments must be well dispersed in the base liquid to maintain color uniformity.
• Viscosity adjustment : The viscosity and concentration of the ink must be adjusted so that it both spreads well on the printing substrate and is compatible with printing machines.

2. Flexographic printing

Flexographic printing is popular due to its speed and flexibility. The quality characteristics of flexographic printing inks include:

• Adhesion : The paint must adhere well to various substrates and be resistant to scratches and damage.
• Fast drying : Ink drying time is very important in flexography, so that you can quickly move on to the next printing step.
• Color accuracy : Maintaining color and accuracy in color matching is of great importance in design and printing.

3. Heliogravure printing

Gravure printing is known for its high image quality and ability to produce fine detail. The quality characteristics of gravure printing inks include:

• Color variety : This method allows for the production of diverse, high-quality colors.
• Uniform Coverage : Inks should be designed to provide uniform coverage across all areas of the print.
• Light and chemical resistance : Paints must be resistant to light and chemicals to be durable.

4. Color combinations

In both methods, the combination of colors is done as a function of the customer’s needs and the specific characteristics of the final product. To achieve the desired result, color systems such as CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) are usually used, which can be used to achieve a wide range of colors.

Conclusion

Color mixing and color mixing in flexographic and heliogravure printing are essential aspects of print quality. By selecting the right raw materials and adhering to production standards, high quality printed products can be achieved. Also, the importance of precision in the color production stages and taking into account the characteristics of each printing method must be considered in order to achieve the best results.