Kodak has launched new Kodachrome inks for its Ultrastream continuous inkjet technology.
These inks will play a major role in helping the new Prosper Ultra 520 press, which utilises Ultrastream technology, to deliver “outstanding offset-quality print at high speeds covering a broad range of applications. The secret lies in Kodak’s proprietary pigment micro-milling process, which creates pigment particles that are typically less than 50 nanometres with a very narrow size distribution. Competitive pigment milling processes cannot approach these levels,” Kodak stated.
Kodachrome inks are said to produce a 95% larger gamut volume than SWOP (web offset) and a 39% larger gamut than GRACoL (sheetfed offset). Because these properties mean the inks require less laydown to achieve outstanding colours, they help reduce the running costs of the inkjet press; “The finer pigments created by this unique process result in faster ink drying times and very thin dried ink layers. This means less scattering of light, richer and purer colours with extraordinary vibrancy, and an exceptionally wide colour gamut without sacrificing image permanence.” Kodak explained.
The water-based, low-humectant Kodachrome inks are more sustainable than conventional solvent-based inks, and do not contain PVC or phthalates. Together with Kodak’s proprietary range of printable water-based optimiser agents (primers), the company said the new inks can be used for printing on practically any substrate while the optimiser agents improve ink receptivity, ink adhesion, rub resistance, and image quality on most types of paper, plastic, and film.
