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May 13,2026
Material Characteristics and Plate-Making Applications of Water-Based Ink Film
In the field of screen printing plate making, water-based ink film is a prepress consumable used to output patterns onto PET film using water-based pigment or dye-based inks.
In the field of screen printing plate making, water-based ink film is a prepress consumable used to output patterns onto PET film using water-based pigment or dye-based inks. It is commonly used in industries such as fly-weave artwork, advertising graphic output, and medal printing. Compared to traditional silver halide film or tracing paper, this type of film exhibits distinct characteristics in terms of plate-making processes and usage methods.
Material Composition
The substrate of water-based ink film typically consists of a highly transparent PET film base coated with a water-based inkjet-receptive layer. Depending on the coating properties, the film can be classified into two types: water-based coating and mild-solvent coating. Water-based coatings are not waterproof and are suitable for printing with water-based inkjet printers. The substrate offers excellent dimensional stability with minimal shrinkage, ensuring accurate dimensions during the printing process.
Output Characteristics
Printing on film with water-based ink produces high black density and dot clarity. The ink dots are fine and non-bleeding, and the edges of halftone dots in color separation plates are sharp, faithfully reproducing the text and graphic details of the design. Some products support high-resolution output, making them suitable for high-quality image plate making. No development or fixing is required after printing, simplifying the plate-making process.
Equipment Compatibility
These films are compatible with piezoelectric inkjet printers from brands such as Epson, Mutoh, and Roland. The ink type must match the coating; water-based pigment and dye-based inks are common choices. Verify ink-coating compatibility before printing to ensure image adhesion.
Storage and Use
Printed film can be stored and viewed in a light room without the need for darkroom processing. However, the water-based coating is not waterproof, so additional protection is required when using or storing the film in humid environments. When stacking film rolls, use separators to prevent them from sticking together and affecting usability.
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