Printing 101: What is Resin Ink?

Resin inks stand as a transformative force in the realm of printing, offering unparalleled versatility and durability across a spectrum of industries. Unlike traditional inks, which rely on pigment or dye-based formulations, resin inks are engineered with synthetic resins, providing enhanced adhesion and resistance to external elements. This innovation finds its niche primarily in the signage and outdoor advertising sectors, where longevity and weather resistance are paramount. The importance of resin inks extends beyond mere print quality; they ensure the longevity and reliability of printed materials, making them indispensable in applications ranging from banners and billboards to vehicle wraps and architectural signage. In this article, we delve into the unique properties of resin inks, their applications across various industries, and their vital role in elevating the standards of modern printing.

Quick Overview of the Different Types of Printer Inks

Printer inks come in various types, each tailored to meet specific printing needs and requirements. The most common types of printer inks include:

Dye-based inks: Ideal for producing vibrant and colourful prints, dye-based inks are commonly used in home printers and for printing high-quality photographs. They offer excellent colour saturation but may fade over time when exposed to light and moisture.
Pigment-based inks: Pigment-based inks contain solid pigment particles suspended in a liquid carrier. These inks are known for their longevity and resistance to fading, making them suitable for archival printing and documents intended for long-term storage. They are commonly used in office printers and professional-grade printing applications.
Eco-solvent inks: Eco-solvent inks are solvent-based inks designed for outdoor and indoor signage applications. They provide excellent durability, water resistance, and UV resistance, making them suitable for outdoor banners, vehicle wraps, and other outdoor displays.
UV-curable inks: UV-curable inks are cured instantly using ultraviolet (UV) light, resulting in fast drying times and enhanced durability. These inks are commonly used in wide-format printers for printing on rigid substrates such as glass, metal, and acrylic. They offer excellent scratch resistance and vibrant colours.
Solvent-based inks: Solvent-based inks are commonly used in large-format printers for outdoor signage and banners. They offer excellent durability and weather resistance, making them suitable for outdoor applications. However, they may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during printing, requiring proper ventilation.

Each type of ink has its advantages and limitations, so it’s essential to choose the right ink for your specific printing needs and applications.

What is a Resin Ink?

Presenting one of the newest innovations from Roland DG: Resin Inks. New TrueVIS Resin Inks combine all the quick-drying, high-productivity, and environmentally friendly advantages of resin with unsurpassed TrueVIS image quality and colour.

Resin ink, also known as resin-based ink, is a type of ink formulated with synthetic resins as the main component. Unlike traditional inks, which typically use pigment or dye-based formulations, resin inks incorporate synthetic resins to enhance adhesion and durability. These resins form a strong bond with the printing substrate, resulting in prints that are highly resistant to abrasion, chemicals, moisture, and UV exposure.

Resin inks are commonly used in industrial printing applications where durability and longevity are critical. The most common usage is in large-format printing products such as in outdoor signage, labels, packaging, and product identification. They are especially well-suited for printing on challenging substrates like plastics, metals, glass, and coated papers.

Overall, resin inks offer excellent print quality, durability, and resistance to environmental factors, making them a popular choice for demanding printing applications in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail.

Resin Ink’s Best Features:

Resin inks are extremely cost-effective, allowing users to create more output with less ink.
GREENGUARD Gold-certified water-based inks that contain no hazardous substances and meet the most rigorous standards for low VOC emissions.
The resin ink is affordable, durable, and versatile, yielding stunning, long-lasting graphic results on various media.
TrueVIS Resin ink delivers stunning images, dries rapidly, and produces output suitable for a wide range of indoor and outdoor settings, including sensitive environments such as schools and hospitals. Its distinctive formulation renders it unmatched for numerous profitable applications.
TrueVIS Resin Ink’s rapid drying capability enhances productivity significantly.
Resin ink boasts highly concentrated colour pigmentation, resulting in heavier colour saturation compared to conventional resin ink formulations.
TrueVIS Resin Inks are available in economical, environmentally friendly high-capacity 700 ml pouches, ensuring cost-effective and convenient print production with easy replacement.
Roland DG’s newly developed water-based resin ink and its True Rich Color 3 preset work together to provide high colour and natural-looking print quality, time and time again.

Resin Ink’s Available Colours:

Explore the vibrant spectrum of colours offered by Resin Ink for your printing needs:

Cyan
Magenta
Yellow
Black
Optimizer

Common Use of Resin Ink

Resin ink is a versatile printing solution known for its durability, vibrant colours, and excellent adhesion to various substrates. Its wide range of applications makes it a popular choice across different industries. Here are some common uses of resin ink:

Wall décor: Resin ink is commonly used in the production of wall decorations due to its ability to adhere well to various surfaces and withstand environmental factors such as light and moisture.
Retail displays: Resin ink is favoured for creating eye-catching retail displays that require vibrant colours and durability to withstand handling and exposure in high-traffic environments.
Car stickers/decals: Resin ink is ideal for producing stickers and decals with crisp, long-lasting graphics that can withstand outdoor conditions and repeated handling.
Indoor signs: Resin ink is often used in the production of indoor signs for businesses, exhibitions, and events, offering high-quality prints with excellent colour saturation and durability.
Vehicle wraps: Resin ink is commonly used in vehicle wrapping applications, providing vibrant graphics that adhere well to the contours of vehicles and withstand exposure to weather, UV rays, and car washes.
Banners/posters: Resin ink is a popular choice for printing banners and posters that require vibrant colours and durability for outdoor use, such as advertising banners and event posters.

Compatible Printers for Resin Inks

Currently, the most compatible printers for resin inks include models such as the TrueVIS AP-640 large format printers. This advanced machine brings brand-new resin ink technology to the TrueVIS product line, giving customers an additional choice to meet the ever-changing demands of print service providers. TrueVIS AP-640 uses water-based TrueVIS resin ink which offers fast drying, scratch-resistant, and safe results across a broad range of media. Equipped with a high-productivity Dryer Unit, prints dry quickly and thoroughly before advancing to the next stage.

In conclusion, resin ink stands as a versatile and reliable solution for various printing needs. With its fast drying time, scratch-resistant properties, and compatibility with a wide range of media, resin ink ensures high-quality and durable results in diverse applications. Whether you’re creating vibrant retail displays, durable vehicle wraps, or eye-catching stickers, resin ink provides the durability and quality needed to bring your designs to life. Its exceptional performance and versatility make it a preferred choice for professionals across industries, delivering outstanding results time and time again.

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