Graphic UV & Solvent Based Screen Printing Inks


Graphic screen printing ink is used for a variety applications for both indoor and outdoor use. Lawson can supply printers with both UV cure and Solvent-Based screen printing inks. Common applications for these types of inks include: paper, plastics, textiles, metal, glass, containers and packaging. Nazdar, Sericol, and Dubuis inks are all available through Lawson. Please contact us and we can help you choose the correct graphic screen printing ink for your application. 


UV Screen Printing Inks


UV Screen printing inks contain no solvents, and must be cured with a UV (ultra violet) light source. A main advantage to these inks is that they lack volatile organic compounds, or VOC's. For most screen printers this means there are no vapors, reducing any health concerns. Additionally these inks do not dry in the screen, alowing print production to continue for extended periods. It is recommended that UV inks are printed through very high mesh counts (305 and higher), and are ideal for highly detailed jobs such as four-color process. With a UV ink dryer, these inks cure in a matter of seconds. UV inks are not ideal for all applications. UV ink may not be as durable as solvent inks for outdoor applications.


Solvent-Based Screen Printing Inks


Solvent based screen printing is a very cost effective process and can be used on a large variety of substrates. It offers a durable and long lasting print that is resistant to rubbing or scratching. The pigments of these inks are suspended in a solvent liquid, and only dry when that solvent has evaporated. This drying process can either be done at room temperature or with heat. Solvent inks can range from very opaque to transparent and may be printed on both dark and light substrates. As they are solvent based there are vapors from pritning and drying.