Influence of printing substrate characteristics on ink trapping behavior
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59476/ilpmt2026.v2i1.789Keywords:
offset printing, ink trapping, absorbency, whiteness, fluorescenceAbstract
In offset printing, image reproduction is achieved using four process colors, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, which are printed sequentially onto the printing substrate. This widely used printing technique enables high-qual ity and highly detailed image reproduction, and in order to evaluate print quality, several important qualitative parameters are analyzed.
One of the key parameters is ink trapping, which describes the ability of one ink to be accepted over another during the offset printing process. Ink trapping is expressed as a percentage, where higher values indicate bet ter acceptance and adhesion of a subsequent ink layer over a previously printed one. This parameter depends on several interrelated factors that must be carefully balanced in order to achieve optimal print quality. These include ink tack (stickiness), the order in which colors are printed, the speed of the printing machine, and the physical and chemical properties of the printing substrate. Each of these factors can significantly influence the interaction between ink layers during the printing process.
In this study, three specific substrate characteristics were examined in detail: material absorbency, whiteness, and fluorescence of the printing substrate, and their influence on ink trapping behavior. The relationship between ink trapping and substrate characteristics can significantly con tribute to the stability, consistency, and overall quality of the printed result. Four different printing substrates were used in the analysis: uncoated substrate, GC1, GC2, and KD board. The comparative analysis of these sub strates and their characteristics provides a more comprehensive insight into how ink is accepted and transferred in multi-color offset printing sys tems, as well as how substrate properties influence final print quality and visual appearance.
References
1. Kipphan, H. (2001). Handbook of print media. Springer. https://doi. org/10.1007/978-3-540-29900-4
2. Nguyen, H. T. K., & Van Huy, P. (2022). A study of the ink trapping in lithographic printing. International Journal of Scientific Research in Sci ence and Technology, 16–20. https://doi.org/10.32628/ijsrst2293161
3. Ragab, A. E. R., & Kader, M. a. E. (2012). Analysis of trapping of color sequences of multicolor offset printing, 55–61, https://doi.org/10.21608/ idj.2012.299562
4. Sesli, Y., Hayta, P., Akgül, A., & Oktav, M. (2023). Analysis of the pa rameters determining the effect of coated and uncoated papers on print quality. 19 Mayıs Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 4(3), 130–140. https://doi. org/10.52835/19maysbd.1342475
5. Jurič, I., Karlović, I., Tomić, I., & Novaković, D. (2013). Optical paper properties and their influence on colour reproduction and perceived print quality. Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal, 28(2), 264–273. https:// doi.org/10.3183/npprj-2013-28-02-p264-273
6. Pasic, R., Kuzmanov, I., & Mijakovska, S. (2016). Print Quality Control management for papers containing optical brightening agents. Interna tional Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 7(2), 271–274. https://doi.org/10.14299/ijser.2016.02.003
7. Field G.G.: Color and Its reproduction (Graphic Arts Technical Founda tion, Sewickley, 1999).
8. Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry (TAPPI). (2009). Wa ter absorptiveness of sized (non-bibulous) paper, paperboard, and corru gated fiberboard (Cobb test) (TAPPI T 441). https://www.tappi.org
9. Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry (TAPPI). (2011). Opacity of paper (15/D geometry, illuminant A/2 degrees, 89% reflec tance backing and paper backing) (TAPPI T 425). https://www.tappi.org
10. Hubbe, M. A. (2008). Paper’s appearance: A review. BioResources, 3(2), 627–665. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.3.2.627-665
11. Hubbe, M.A., Pawlak, J.J., & Koukoulas, A.A. (2008). Paper’s appear ance: A review. BioResources, 3(2), 627–665.
12. ASTM International. (2025). Standard practice for calculating yellow ness and whiteness indices from instrumentally measured color coordi nates (ASTM E313-20). https://doi.org/10.1520/E0313-20R25
13. Harrison, V. G. W. (1961). Optical properties of paper. The formation and structure of paper: Transactions of the Second Fundamental Re search Symposium, Oxford (pp. 467–485). FRC, Manchester. https://doi. org/10.15376/frc.1961.1.467
14. Brixton Chrome. (n.d.). Understanding Paper Fluorescence – Advanced version. https://brixtonchrome.com/pages/understanding-paper-fluores cence-advanced-version#:~:text=It%20will%20not%20have%20the%20 brownish%20or,The%20stamp%20on%20the%20right%20is%20DF.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jelena Poljak Gaži, Igor Majnarić, Igor Zjakić, Irena Bates
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
