Ink for Inkjet Screen Engraver

Inkjet Engraver is direct-to-screen printing technology. This will be applicable for both flatbed and rotary screen printing. This technology was introduced in 1980 and today it has achieved remarkable landmarks in printing industries. The precision and the quality of screens is increased manifold with this advanced technology. Specially manufactured high UV absorbance black inks are used to print with these machines. 

Let’s understand the process of the inkjet engraver. The screens which are to be exposed are coated with the conventional photosensitive emulsions. The coated screens are prepared for printing by drying the coated surface. Relevant separation image is printed with the help of engraver on the surface of the screen.

The area of the screen where the pores have to be kept open is printed with the black ink. After printing the screen is exposed to UV light. Upon exposure to UV light, the photosensitive emulsion cures and blocks the pores of the screen. Area printed with the black inks, the UV light is absorbed by the inks thereby preventing the underlying emulsion from curing. Upon curing the screen is washed with water which removes uncured emulsion. Thus your stencil is ready for screen printing.

There are two main types of the machines suitable for screen engraving. Flatbed machines are used to print the screens for flatbed machines, Table size of the machines are decided by the maximum size of the screen to be printed. Rotary screen engraver is used to print on the screens used for rotary printing machines.

The screen is printed with the help of RIP software which helps in precise halftone images. The printer uses black inks in all channels of the print-head. Piezoelectric print-heads are used popularly used for their ability to print drops with high precision, long life and various drop sizes. This helps in the creation of screens with precise halftone printing.

Specially made high density black ink is used to print on the screens. The screens printed digitally have the high sharpness and minimum dot-gain. This results in high-quality screens with superior precision.

Especially with the latest multicolor printing systems, this helps in achieving good precision in color registration. Consistent and reliable performance has made inkjet engravers preferred a choice of the quality textile printing. In the hindsight, inkjet engraver is the first digital technology adapted by the textile industry.