Types of Ink: Aqueous

One of the best ways to start learning about large format printing is to talk about ink types. Based on ink types, we can separate the different large format technologies into the following categories:

• Aqueous
• Solvent
• UV
• Dye sublimation
• Pen/Plotter
• Latex

Today we’ll talk about aqueous coating. Aqueous coating is a “fast-drying, water-based, protective coating which is applied in-line on press to attain a selection of finishes more economical price than varnish.” Aqueous coating would be appropriate if, for instance, you wanted to protect something (like a postcard or a business mailing) against smudging while in transit.

Stay tuned for next week’s segment on solvents!