Labels are a very common item, and almost all commodities are sold with labels attached, so the demand for labels is extremely high. So, what kind of ink is used for printing labels?

When printing labels, high-demand items such as food packaging labels and cosmetic labels often choose water-based ink or UV ink for printing. UV ink and water-based ink each have their unique advantages and applicable scenarios. Here is a detailed comparison of these two types of ink:

I. Characteristics and Advantages of UV Ink

1. Fast Curing Speed: UV ink can be cured within seconds through ultraviolet radiation, greatly improving production efficiency.
2. Excellent Light Resistance: UV ink has outstanding light resistance, and printed materials are not prone to fading even after long-term exposure to sunlight.
3. Strong Abrasion Resistance: Cured UV ink has high hardness and abrasion resistance, suitable for labels that require frequent friction or contact.
4. Wide Range of Applications: UV ink can be applied to various materials such as plastics, metals, aluminum-plastic panels, ceramics, and glass, meeting various label printing needs.
5. Stable Quality: UV ink maintains stable quality during the printing process and is not easily affected by environmental factors, ensuring print quality.

II. Characteristics and Advantages of Water-Based Ink

1. Environmentally Friendly and Non-Toxic: Water-based ink uses water as a solvent, is non-toxic and odorless, harmless to the environment and human body, and meets environmental requirements.
2. Easy to Clean: Water-based ink can be easily cleaned with water, reducing contamination and damage to printing equipment.
3. Vivid Colors: Water-based ink has vivid colors and high color reproducibility, suitable for labels requiring high-quality color representation.
4. Natural Detail Processing: Water-based ink can finely represent details during the printing process, making the labels more exquisite.
5. Suitable for Paper Printing: Water-based ink is particularly suitable for printing high-absorbent materials such as paper and cardboard, such as packaging printing and book printing.

III. Selection Suggestions

1. Based on Label Material: If the label material is high-absorbent materials such as paper and cardboard, water-based ink is recommended; if the label material is plastic or metal, UV ink is more suitable.
2. Based on Printing Requirements: If fast curing, light resistance, and abrasion resistance are required for the labels, UV ink is a better choice; if environmental protection, vivid colors, and detail representation are prioritized, water-based ink is more appropriate.
3. Based on Production Efficiency: UV ink has a fast curing speed, suitable for high-volume, high-efficiency printing production; while water-based ink, although having a relatively slower curing speed, has advantages in environmental protection and color representation.

The above are the respective characteristics of UV ink and water-based ink in label printing. When selecting, comprehensive consideration should be given to factors such as label material, printing requirements, and production efficiency to ensure the best printing effect. Do you understand now?