| When we order a printing job from a print service | | | | these two inks, which one is better between the |
| provider that requires the use of a wide-format | | | | two? |
| printer, we sometimes need to ask the provider | | | | The Safe and Eco-Friendly Advantage |
| what kind of ink they are using. In the print | | | | If the issue of safety and cleanliness is the |
| service industry, there are two general types of | | | | criterion by which to judge these two types of |
| ink that are used with wide-format printers, and | | | | inks for wide-format printers, the aqueous type |
| they are solvent inks and aqueous inks. | | | | has the edge. Water is safe and clean in that it |
| You may ask: Why should it matter to me what | | | | does not pose a threat to the environment. |
| kind of printer ink is used for my printing job? | | | | Aqueous inks do not release high volumes of |
| The answer to that question is that the kind of | | | | volatile organic compounds or VOCs into the |
| ink used on your printing job can determine the | | | | atmosphere. Water is also a renewable resource, |
| quality and the longevity of the printout you | | | | and so water-based inks are more sustainable. |
| ordered. Solvent inks and aqueous inks have | | | | Solvent inks, however, are not seen as |
| formulations that are entirely distinct from each | | | | environment-friendly. They have a petroleum base |
| other. In some printing jobs, it would be more | | | | and petroleum is a non-renewable resource. They |
| appropriate to use solvent inks while in some, | | | | also release a lot of VOCs into the atmosphere. |
| aqueous inks are better. Knowing what ink is used | | | | They emit toxic fumes as well, which means that |
| for your printing job can help you determine if | | | | print service providers using wide-format printers |
| you are getting your money's worth or not. | | | | that require solvent inks must have a special |
| The Basic Difference | | | | ventilation system that will prevent their printer |
| How exactly are aqueous and solvent inks | | | | operators from breathing in those harmful fumes. |
| different from each other? Actually, the terms | | | | The Durability Advantage |
| "solvent" and "aqueous" only refer to the liquid | | | | When it comes to durability, water-based inks |
| that carries the ink in the formula. Whether the | | | | have not yet removed solvent inks out of the |
| ink is dye-based or pigment-based ink, which is | | | | scene. For all that they are not safe or |
| another story altogether, its carrier can either be | | | | environment-friendly, some customers still prefer |
| solvent or aqueous. | | | | printouts made with solvent inks. |
| Solvent ink is ink where the carrier liquid is derived | | | | That is soon to change, however, with the |
| from oil or alcohol. It is a non-polar substance, | | | | advent of latex inks. Latex inks are water-based |
| which means it works well with plastic-based | | | | inks that are said to have almost the same level |
| medium such as vinyl. Aqueous ink, on the other | | | | of durability as solvent inks. |
| hand, has water acting as its carrier. Since water | | | | It pays to know what kind of ink your print |
| is a polar substance, the perfect printing medium | | | | service provider is using for your printing jobs. It |
| for it would be something polar as well, such as | | | | depends upon you which ink you will eventually |
| paper. | | | | prefer using. What matters in the long run, after |
| Now that you know the basic difference between | | | | all, is the quality of the printout. |