Ok admittedly, there has been enormous promotion, optimism, monies invested and joint ventures between companies in trying to get this print process off the ground. Of course there has also been the skepticism, the doubting of fruition and sometimes too much criticism to the validity of the realization for the print process. That will continue until actual productive progress and profit is captured by the investors into the conceptual entity.
However, let us just say that finally this type of printing were to become a reality. The ink has been successfully planted on a substrate and produces print work that is sellable and AFORDABLE.
Thinking forwardly ahead of that, I pose to the forum members the feasibility of the pros and cons of printing with metallic inks, even pearlescent effects.
I will start with the possible PROS: 1) The concept of instant dry and polymerization would be a positive for the usual associated problems encountered with the more conventional print processes, such as offset and even UV cure offset on various substrates. 2) Being a vehicle less ink, more of the micronized nano particle could be delivered to the sheet, again versus traditional ink systems that contain varnish (vehicle), solvents and pigment. A normal loading of metallic pigment in offset would be never any more than 40%, and that is still considered very high. So there might be an advantage for nanography. 3) Durabilty leads back to point 1.
Looking at the CONS: 1) The nano ink particle being so small, there seems that any expected brilliance or leafing possibility would be improbable. 2) With the development of the nano conventional type of ink particle and waiting for proof in working properties, any metallic instance of research and development are probably not even thought of or conceived. 3) Any micronization that would absolutely be necessary for delivery from nozzle in transport to substrate would also detract for the desired effects of metallic or pearl especially. 4) The same problems with de-inking methodologies and being a friend to the environment with the standard nano ink will only exacerbate itself when you are speaking of disposing or recycling of metal elements.
This post is presented as thought as to the long road a new process needs to take to become successful. This is just one of the many obstacles that need to be considered and faced as time proceeds and ambitions are tested.
Please add more to this posting as you see fit for the positives and negatives of the nanography challenges.
D Ink Man
However, let us just say that finally this type of printing were to become a reality. The ink has been successfully planted on a substrate and produces print work that is sellable and AFORDABLE.
Thinking forwardly ahead of that, I pose to the forum members the feasibility of the pros and cons of printing with metallic inks, even pearlescent effects.
I will start with the possible PROS: 1) The concept of instant dry and polymerization would be a positive for the usual associated problems encountered with the more conventional print processes, such as offset and even UV cure offset on various substrates. 2) Being a vehicle less ink, more of the micronized nano particle could be delivered to the sheet, again versus traditional ink systems that contain varnish (vehicle), solvents and pigment. A normal loading of metallic pigment in offset would be never any more than 40%, and that is still considered very high. So there might be an advantage for nanography. 3) Durabilty leads back to point 1.
Looking at the CONS: 1) The nano ink particle being so small, there seems that any expected brilliance or leafing possibility would be improbable. 2) With the development of the nano conventional type of ink particle and waiting for proof in working properties, any metallic instance of research and development are probably not even thought of or conceived. 3) Any micronization that would absolutely be necessary for delivery from nozzle in transport to substrate would also detract for the desired effects of metallic or pearl especially. 4) The same problems with de-inking methodologies and being a friend to the environment with the standard nano ink will only exacerbate itself when you are speaking of disposing or recycling of metal elements.
This post is presented as thought as to the long road a new process needs to take to become successful. This is just one of the many obstacles that need to be considered and faced as time proceeds and ambitions are tested.
Please add more to this posting as you see fit for the positives and negatives of the nanography challenges.
D Ink Man
