Ink Solutions Digital Solutions
Kodak is setting new standards in inks for inkjet production printing with its new Kodachrome inks. These inks enable presses using Ultrastream continuous inkjet technology to achieve the highest levels of colour rendition, image stability, and detail.
Kodachrome inks play a major role in helping the recently launched Prosper Ultra 520 press, which utilises Ultrastream technology, deliver outstanding offset quality print at high speeds covering a broad range of applications.
The inks provide exceptional vibrancy and colour consistency on a wide range of substrates. The secret lies in Kodak’s proprietary pigment micro-milling process, which creates pigment particles that are typically less than 50 nanometres with a very narrow size distribution. Competitive pigment milling processes cannot approach these levels.
The finer pigments created by this process result in faster ink drying times and very thin dried ink layers. This means less scattering of light, richer and purer colours with extraordinary vibrancy, and an exceptionally wide colour gamut without sacrificing image permanence. Kodachrome inks produce a 95% larger gamut volume than SWOP (web offset) and a 39% larger gamut than Gracol (sheetfed offset). Because these properties mean the inks require less laydown to achieve outstanding colors, they help reduce the running costs of the inkjet press.
The water based, low humectant Kodachrome inks are more sustainable than conventional solvent based inks. They do not contain PVC or phthalates, making them safer for people and the environment. Together with Kodak’s proprietary range of printable water based optimiser agents (primers), the inks can be used for printing on practically any substrate. The optimiser agents improve ink receptivity, ink adhesion, rub resistance, and image quality on most types of paper, plastic, and film.
‘Kodak has been pioneering inkjet production printing for 56 years, and our new Kodachrome inks are designed to deliver outstanding print results and maximise productivity and value for our customers,’ said Jim Continenza, executive chairman and chief executive officer, Kodak. ‘Kodachrome inks, together with our high speed Ultrastream inkjet technology and optimiser agents, create efficient digital solutions for cost effective printing of a broad range of applications. This enables customers to shift more work from traditional printing processes such as offset to digital, opening up new opportunities for increased revenue and profits.’
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