Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function
Modern logo design is characterized by its ability to convey information through the use of various images and text compositions. These designs often use simple elements such as lines to capture the essence of a product. When using thermochromic inks in logo design, it is important to consider their...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/8/3125 |
| _version_ | 1797604513460256768 |
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| author | Zrinka Jakopčević Katarina Itrić Ivanda Rahela Kulčar Suzana Pasanec Preprotić Marina Vukoje |
| author_facet | Zrinka Jakopčević Katarina Itrić Ivanda Rahela Kulčar Suzana Pasanec Preprotić Marina Vukoje |
| author_sort | Zrinka Jakopčević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modern logo design is characterized by its ability to convey information through the use of various images and text compositions. These designs often use simple elements such as lines to capture the essence of a product. When using thermochromic inks in logo design, it is important to consider their composition and behavior, as they differ significantly from conventional printing inks. This study aimed to determine the resolution capabilities of the dry offset printing technique when using thermochromic ink, with the ultimate goal of optimizing the thermochromic ink printing process. Horizontal and vertical lines were printed using both thermochromic and conventional inks to compare the edge reproduction characteristics of the two ink types. Moreover, the impact of the type of applied ink on the share of mechanical dot gain of the print was investigated. Additionally, modulation transfer function (MTF) reproduction curves were generated for each print. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to investigate the surface of the substrate and prints. It was found that the quality of the printed edge produced by thermochromic inks can rival that of conventional inks. Thermochromic edges showed lower raggedness and blurriness values for horizontal lines, whereas line orientation proved to be insignificant in the case of vertical lines. MTF reproduction curves confirmed higher spatial resolution for vertical lines in the case of conventional inks, whereas they were identical for horizontal lines. The share of mechanical dot gain is not highly influenced by the ink type. SEM micrographs confirmed that the conventional ink smooths out the micro-roughness of the substrate. However, on the surface, the microcapsules of thermochromic ink (measuring 0.5–2 µm) are observable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:47:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27402c7ec5db420c8abfd83255c916dc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:47:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-27402c7ec5db420c8abfd83255c916dc2023-11-17T20:13:27ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-04-01168312510.3390/ma16083125Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer FunctionZrinka Jakopčević0Katarina Itrić Ivanda1Rahela Kulčar2Suzana Pasanec Preprotić3Marina Vukoje4Faculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaModern logo design is characterized by its ability to convey information through the use of various images and text compositions. These designs often use simple elements such as lines to capture the essence of a product. When using thermochromic inks in logo design, it is important to consider their composition and behavior, as they differ significantly from conventional printing inks. This study aimed to determine the resolution capabilities of the dry offset printing technique when using thermochromic ink, with the ultimate goal of optimizing the thermochromic ink printing process. Horizontal and vertical lines were printed using both thermochromic and conventional inks to compare the edge reproduction characteristics of the two ink types. Moreover, the impact of the type of applied ink on the share of mechanical dot gain of the print was investigated. Additionally, modulation transfer function (MTF) reproduction curves were generated for each print. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to investigate the surface of the substrate and prints. It was found that the quality of the printed edge produced by thermochromic inks can rival that of conventional inks. Thermochromic edges showed lower raggedness and blurriness values for horizontal lines, whereas line orientation proved to be insignificant in the case of vertical lines. MTF reproduction curves confirmed higher spatial resolution for vertical lines in the case of conventional inks, whereas they were identical for horizontal lines. The share of mechanical dot gain is not highly influenced by the ink type. SEM micrographs confirmed that the conventional ink smooths out the micro-roughness of the substrate. However, on the surface, the microcapsules of thermochromic ink (measuring 0.5–2 µm) are observable.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/8/3125thermochromic inkedge raggednessedge blurrinessedge spread functiondot gainprint quality |
| spellingShingle | Zrinka Jakopčević Katarina Itrić Ivanda Rahela Kulčar Suzana Pasanec Preprotić Marina Vukoje Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function Materials thermochromic ink edge raggedness edge blurriness edge spread function dot gain print quality |
| title | Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function |
| title_full | Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function |
| title_short | Enhancing Applicability of Reversible UV Thermochromic Offset Inks: Edge Quality Parameters and Thermochromic Printing System Modulation Transfer Function |
| title_sort | enhancing applicability of reversible uv thermochromic offset inks edge quality parameters and thermochromic printing system modulation transfer function |
| topic | thermochromic ink edge raggedness edge blurriness edge spread function dot gain print quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/8/3125 |
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