The development of novel inkjet inks

In 2004, the PI undertook an AHRC funded project entitled "Screenprinted colour as a theoretical model for the development of inkjet technology" (award number B/SG/AN5190/APN19134).

This bid seeks to build upon and extend the methods developed and explored in the previous research. Funding is requested to support a collaboration between CFPR and Pulse Roll Label Products Ltd., a specialist manufacturer of inks and varnishes for the label printing and the packaging industries. The collaboration will use the results of the 2004 research by exploiting recent developments in inkjet technology to enable Pulse to develop innovative UV cure ink products for commercial print applications, thus giving them an advantage in the field.

Today, the field of colour printing is becoming increasingly more technical and remote from traditional methods of the application of colour in the physical world. The way an artist mixes and applies colour is fundamentally different to the digital reproduction of colour and coloured images. An artist's approach to colour printing is concerned with the physical mixing of pigments that are then applied as layers of colour, whereas the digital reproduction of colour is reliant on computational colour modelling to provide accurate numerical data for reproduction. Artists using digital colour are now becoming cognisant in an increasingly technical environment that demands more understanding of different colour spaces, characterisation of printer hardware and paper and an array of file formats. The research developed by Parraman (2004) demonstrated that a more practical knowledge and perceptual understanding of colour can be formulated from the perspective of traditional methods by physically mixing colour pigments and overlayering colour.

In 2004, the technological capabilities and colour science were not ready for exploitation, in part because of limitations in the capability of inkjet print heads. Inkjet printing technology and knowledge has matured, and recent improvements in print head technology and software have increased the potential to inkjet print a wider range of inks onto a wider variety of materials. The previous research will now allow the use of a range of colorants that expand the current process colour set (bespoke colour palettes that match artists colours) spot colours (Pantone) pigments and decorative inks (metallic, mica, gloss) and novel colorants (fluorescent and colour changing) onto materials including leather, wallpaper, metallic card, plastic.

As demonstrated at industrial print expos, the shift from the traditional screenprint and lithography market to high-speed inkjet printing is partially due to developments in UV curable inks, which have better adhesion to a range of materials, resulting in a diversity of novel print applications, including: decorative printing for packaging, textiles and labelling. This development in UV curing creates greater potential for layering in relation to the findings of the 2004 research. Additionally it creates further potential for commercial exploitation for printer and ink manufacturers to develop UV curing inks.

Pulse, who produce UV curable, water-based inks and varnishes for flexography (flexo), screen and letterpress printing, wish to address colour printing from the perspective of traditional overlayering of colour to create secondary colour effects. This proposal will move beyond halftoning and process colours - CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) towards the development of custom pigments and decorative inks to obtain new colour mixtures.

This proposal seeks to undertake collaboration with an industrial partner in order to exploit developments in UV curable inks and industrial print heads printing higher viscosity inks combined with the previous research methodology. The results should lead to new methods for printing from a practitioner perspective aligned more closely to the creative arts and creative industries.

New methodological and practical approaches to printing in relation to labelling and packaging, design and digital print.

The impact will be measured through the ability to make commercial artwork that is conceived using the same methodological approach as currently used by artists as applied in an industrial context. This will lead to skills development, training and new knowledge for the collaborators involved including Pulse employees, CFPR staff and workshop attendees in new methodological approaches to printed colour.

Through the National Gallery seminar, current interest in the methods of testing the multi layering of inks, development of custom colour palettes using traditional artists based pigments would have new implications and impact for colour reproduction of old master paintings, and could provide the heritage sector with new ways of producing facsimiles of original works.

The different methods for measuring the printed inks are highly important for different academic and industrial communities. To gain quantitative data, colour, density and gonio (multi-dimensional) measurements are necessary for parity and metrics, and commercial exploitation. To provide useful information for the creative community high quality microphotography, printed samples and application ideas are necessary to perceive textural appreciation of ink on paper.

Results will be published via the CFPR website, and through journals including The Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, Journal of the International Association of Colour, and through the Society of Dyers and Colourists. The journals will be aimed at the colour science community, wideformat printing industry and academics.

Printed samples will be demonstrated at LabelExpo to commercial and industrial printers.