Testing

Printers need to be able to perform some simple tests on their inks. Some testing is performed at the manufacturer and specifications are set.

Testing can vary from careful observation at press side to complex chemical and physical analyses.

Standardized tests are provided by the American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM), the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Testing must be performed on a reasonable sample. Tests conducted on nonrepresentative samples are meaningless or misleading.

Ink testing often involves applying ink to substrate. It can be applied by dabbing or by drawing down with a spatula. Drawdowns are not useful for coated paper, foil or film.

Instead rollout devices such as a Quickpeek proofing kit for paste inks, a Vandercook proof press or a Prüfbau.