Aqueous vs. Solvent_ Which ink should you choose_

1. Aqueous vs. Solvent: Which Ink Should You choose? If you need high-quality prints done, you may be wondering: Which ink should you use? Should you go for eco solvent ink or use aqueous inks? What’s the difference? Aqueous inks and eco solvent inks each have technical characteristics that make them ideal for different applications. Here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision. The basic difference · As you can probably tell from its name, aqueous inks are water-based. This type of ink is dissolved in water—a polar substance. Aqueous inks are therefore suitable for printing on paper, which is also polar. ·Meanwhile, eco-solvent ink is dissolved in a non-polar solvent. This is why it is the ink of choice for printing on non-polar plastic media (including vinyl banners). The right choice of ink largely depends on what kind of material you want to print on. Let’s discuss this further. Aqueous inks Do you intend to use your printed product indoors? Aqueous ink is ideal for the job. This type of ink is widely used for fine art photography prints and posters, which require highly detailed images. Some of the best aqueous inks are archival—meaning that the print they produce can last as long as 200 years in proper conditions. Do note that aqueous ink prints are usually limited to a scale of 60 inches wide.

2. While it can produce stunning results on paper, aqueous ink does not stick to plastic—unless the media is lined with a thin emulsion coating that allows it to accept the water-based solution. Even so, the life of such prints can only last up to about six months outdoors. To solve this problem, these prints may be laminated to become more resistant to scratching and moisture. Eco-solvent ink Will you use your prints in exterior environments? Then it needs to be waterproof; both the ink in the media has to stand up to the elements. Eco-solvent ink is often the best choice for these applications. Eco-solvent ink can print directly on uncoated plastics including affordable PVC and other similar media that is used for vehicle wraps and banners. Such prints can last up to three years unlaminated. Eco solvent prints can also be made to be huge—up to 5 m wide—so they are perfect for large scale prints. Solvent inks penetrate and get embedded into the plastic, so the resulting print is water and scratch resistant. You can leave it outside without worries.