Inks are ultraviolet (UV) light cured, pigmented colors. They are glossy and very resistant to chemicals and abrasion. All colors from the Gill-line Color Chart with the exception of neon colors average 3 to 5 years outdoors. Neon colors will begin to fade in approximately 30 days if exposed to direct sunlight. Transparent inks, not shown on our color chart, average 2 years outdoors. They are typically used on substrates that allow the properties of the base material to show through the ink. Four-color process inks average 3 years outdoors. A clearcoat is available as an additional color. It can be used for extra chemical or abrasion resistance or to add a glossy appearance to four-color process inks. A clearcoat will not provide any additional protection from sunlight. Outdoor durability of most Pantone® colors will average 3 years with the exception of the fluorescent colors.
Iinks are water based for line colors and UV cured for four-color process. All formulations are made with lightfast pigments. Flexo items are typically printed on paper and are intended for indoor use only. Flexo labels that require scuff resistance or that will be used for product packaging such as shampoos, soaps, and oils need either a UV cured clearcoat or overlamination for protection.
Inks are UV cured and strong in color to compensate for thinner ink film thickness applied. They create high quality images for four-color process printing and are outdoor durable for at least 12 months.
UV inks are used in our digital presses. These inks are designed to adhere to a wide variety of flexible and rigid substrates as well as to be used indoors and outdoors. Accelerated weather tests have shown inks to be outdoor durable for the equivalent of approximately 24 months in a temperate climate. Ultimate durability will be determined by the substrate and/or use of the product.
