Specs
Ink Set specs
Setup notes and key briefing figures for the Ink Set.
What Ink Set specs look like across a packaging print week
This Ink Set specs page provides the product details buyers need before approving an ink package. Review the technical information here against the plate, anilox and substrate combination planned for the job.
Start with the ink chemistry, shade list and substrate planned for the run. On South African jobs, winter static inland, Durban humidity, and power interruptions can change viscosity control and drying behaviour across the shift. The spec sheet should match the anilox volume, plate screen and film or board being printed, not just the colour names on a purchase order.
Record the first measured values before any press adjustment is made. A useful ink set file includes target viscosity, pH where relevant, drawdown reference, and the reel or substrate code seen at press side. That information gives production and buying a common reference when colour drift, trapping or rub issues appear later in the run.
Ink data needed before approval
Leave the buyer with numbers that can be checked against the planned press setup. Include the ink series, intended end use, drying method, recommended viscosity range and any mixing ratios for extenders or additives. Clear specs reduce confusion between a lab sample that looked right and a production mix that must hold on press.
Link Ink Set specs to the relevant press path and the matching Ink notes entry before releasing stock to site. Check that container sizes, batch references, hazard details and substrate pairing are correct before anything leaves for the plant.
- Viscosity range for the planned press speed
- Substrate and anilox pairing clearly listed
- Batch codes and mixing details captured
Plant conditions that change ink settings
Specs for work moving through Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town need room for transport heat, storage time and variable plant conditions. A solvent set for flexible packaging must be marked differently from a water-based set going onto corrugated or paper labels. If the job is heading to an older narrow web line or a central impression press with known limits, note that in the specification rather than leaving operators to guess.
At the coast, higher moisture levels can affect drying balance and how quickly readings move during a shift. On the Highveld, dust and static can influence transfer and surface appearance, especially on films. Load-shedding also matters, because restarts can shift colour strength if the ink has stood open or circulation has stopped.
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Figures to place on the sheet
Send the ink set brief with site photos, timing, substrate details, and the print issue already showing. Keep the subject line specific.
List the technical values a buyer or printer will ask for first: colour identification, viscosity target, pH if applicable, recommended anilox range, drying guidance and substrate suitability. Add any limits on food-contact use, lamination, sealing or overprint varnish compatibility where relevant. A complete spec sheet is easier to approve and far easier to trace when a print complaint comes back against a specific batch.
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