Match pigment to ink type
Offset, flexo, gravure and UV inks differ in vehicle and drying, so specify pigments suited to that system's solvents and cure.
Applications
Pigments for Printing Ink
Pigment recommendations for printing ink with technical checks and export enquiry support.
Printing inks cover offset, flexo, gravure and UV systems, each with a different vehicle and drying mechanism, so organic pigment selection varies sharply with ink type. Common priorities are high tinting strength for thin ink films, transparency for process colour trapping, solvent and water fastness matched to the vehicle, and fine dispersion for gloss and print definition. Buyers should specify the ink family and end use, confirm bleed and light fastness for the application, and check rheology behaviour so pigment loading does not thicken the ink beyond press requirements.
At a glance
What Pigments for Printing Ink covers
Process-colour transparency
Four-colour printing relies on transparent pigments that trap cleanly over one another so overprints build accurate secondary shades.
High strength, low film
Inks lay down thin films, so pigments need high tinting strength to reach density without overloading and thickening the ink.
Fastness to end use
Confirm light, solvent and, where relevant, alkali or product resistance matched to whether the print is packaging, publication or outdoor.
Recommended pigments
High-demand grades to consider
A starting shortlist of export-grade organic pigments relevant to Pigments for Printing Ink. Open any grade for shade, fastness and packing detail, or send your requirement for a matched recommendation.
Blue Pigments
Phthalocyanine Blue Beta
Pigment Blue 15:3High-strength beta blue for export-grade paints, inks, plastics, and masterbatch.
View export grade Yellow PigmentsPigment Yellow 74
PY74Arylide yellow grade for decorative coatings and water-based systems.
View export grade Red PigmentsPigment Red 170
PR170Strong naphthol red for coatings, plastics, and masterbatch.
View export grade Pigment PastesEpoxy Pigment Paste
Epoxy PasteStable epoxy paste for floor coatings and resin systems.
View export grade Green PigmentsPhthalocyanine Green 36
Pigment Green 36Yellow-shade green for plastics, coatings, PVC, and export applications.
View export gradeExplore more
Related pages & export hub
Answers
Pigments for Printing Ink — frequently asked questions
How do pigment needs differ between offset and flexo inks?
Offset uses viscous paste inks with oil-based vehicles and needs strong, water-balance-stable pigments, while flexo uses fluid solvent or water inks needing fast redispersion and solvent-appropriate fastness. Gravure is similar to flexo but finer. Each vehicle changes the wetting, rheology and fastness demanded of the pigment.
Why is transparency important for process-colour inks?
In four-colour process printing, cyan, magenta, yellow and black overprint to create the full gamut. Transparent pigments let underlying colours show through so overprints mix correctly. Opaque pigments would block lower layers and distort secondary and tertiary shades, so process inks specify transparent grades.
What special demands do UV-curable inks place on pigments?
UV inks cure by photopolymerisation, so pigments must not absorb the curing wavelengths too strongly or they slow through-cure, especially in dense shades. Pigments also must be stable in the reactive monomer vehicle. Grades are selected for cure compatibility as well as colour and fastness.
How does end use drive ink pigment selection?
Packaging inks may need product and rub resistance, publication inks prioritise strength and cost, and outdoor or label inks need light fastness. The same colour index pigment may come in versions tuned for each. Always state the print's end use so the correct fastness profile is supplied.
Buyer knowledge base
Pigments for Printing Ink: a quick sourcing guide
What a buyer weighs before ordering: grade fit, fastness, dispersion, documents and export packing — condensed into a quick reference for purchasing and R&D.
Documents ready
TDS, SDS/MSDS and batch COA, plus REACH and RoHS declarations issued on request.
Fastness that fits
Heat, light, weather, solvent and migration resistance matched to the end use, not over-specified.
Manufacturer-direct
Sourced at origin through an in-house export desk — one contact from sample to shipment.
Colour strength
High tinting strength means less pigment per batch and cleaner, more economical shades.