Process-colour cleanliness
Four-colour printing needs clean, standard-hue process pigments; phthalo blue, diarylide yellow and process reds must match reference so overprints reproduce correct greens, oranges and blacks.
Industries
Pigments for Printing Ink
Organic pigments for printing ink sourced from India with grade selection, documents, and export support.
Printing inks demand pigments with high transparency, strong tinting and clean process shades, since inks are printed in thin films and often trapped or overprinted. Organic pigments dominate here: diarylide yellows, phthalocyanine blue, and process reds define the four-colour palette, while high-fastness grades serve outdoor and packaging work. Buyers sourcing from India should confirm suitability for their process, whether offset, flexo, gravure or UV, plus solvent and alkali resistance, transparency for good trapping, and fastness matched to end use. Verify rheology and pigment strength for accurate ink formulation.
At a glance
What Pigments for Printing Ink covers
Transparency for trapping
Inks print in thin films and overprint each other, so transparent grades trap cleanly; opaque pigments muddy overprints and distort the colour gamut.
Solvent and alkali resistance
Match pigment resistance to the ink vehicle and end use; some pigments bleed in strong solvents or soap, unsuitable for detergent or laminate packaging.
Process-specific rheology
Confirm the pigment gives suitable flow for your press, since gravure, flexo and offset differ sharply in viscosity, tack and drying demands.
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.
Red Pigments
Pigment Red 57:1
PR57:1Barium lake red widely used in ink and coating formulations.
View export grade Violet PigmentsPigment Violet 23
PV23Carbazole violet for high-strength blue-violet industrial applications.
View export grade Blue PigmentsPhthalocyanine 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 gradeExplore more
Related pages & export hub
Answers
Pigments for Printing Ink — frequently asked questions
Which pigments make up the standard four-colour ink set?
Process cyan is phthalocyanine blue, process magenta is typically a quinacridone or rubine, process yellow is usually a diarylide, and black is carbon-based. These give a wide, clean gamut. For durable outdoor or packaging work, higher-fastness organic reds and yellows replace economical grades.
Why does transparency matter more in inks than in paints?
Inks print as thin films and layer over each other, so transparent pigments let underlying colours show through, producing correct overprint hues and a full gamut. Opaque pigments block underlying ink and dull secondary colours, which is why process inks favour highly transparent organic grades.
How do I choose pigments for food-packaging inks?
Select grades with low migration and appropriate regulatory compliance for indirect food contact, and confirm resistance to any pasteurisation or retort conditions. Verify the pigment does not bleed through the substrate or into the packed product, and request documentation covering low extractables and heavy-metal limits for your market.
Does UV-curable ink need different pigment considerations?
Yes. Pigments must not absorb the UV wavelengths the initiator needs, or they slow cure, so darker and certain organic shades can hinder through-cure. Confirm the pigment is compatible with UV systems and cures fully at your line speed, and test film adhesion and fastness on the final cured print.
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.