Printing Process Terms

The processes that print on stone paper — eco-solvent, latex and wide-format UV inkjet, UV-curable press inks, offset, flexo, screen and gravure, HP Indigo and dry toner — and what each one requires from the coating and the heat resistance of the substrate.

Eco-Solvent Inkjet Printing: Eco-solvent printing is a wide-format inkjet process in which pigment is carried by a mild solvent that evaporates with the help of the printer heaters, leaving the pigment anchored in the media coating. It needs a coating designed for solvent inks. Flexstone S-coated grades are specified for (eco) solvent, latex and wide-format UV inkjet printing and are supplied as 50 m rolls; the exception is FS-S22-PSA and FS-S27-PSA, which are listed for HP Latex only.; Flexstone® Inkjet Media Flexstone® Self-Adhesive Inkjet Media Flexstone® Eco-Film DPA Flexstone® Wall Fabric
Latex Printing: Latex printing is a wide-format inkjet process that uses water-based inks containing polymer particles. Heat inside the printer evaporates the water and fuses the particles into a durable film, so the media must tolerate the curing temperature without shrinking or curling. Newlife publishes a dedicated HP Latex specification sheet (NMEQS-MACO 297) for S-coated Flexstone rolls and PSA-backed grades; FS-S22-PSA and FS-S27-PSA are listed on that sheet for HP Latex only.; Flexstone® Inkjet Media Flexstone® Self-Adhesive Inkjet Media Flexstone® Eco-Film DPA
UV-Curable Printing: UV-curable printing uses inks that harden when exposed to ultraviolet light instead of drying by evaporation or absorption. The process covers UV inkjet as well as UV offset, flexo and screen inks, and it suits non-absorbent substrates because the ink film cures on the surface. Which UV process applies depends on the part number. Wide-format UV inkjet: the S-coated grades except FS-S22-PSA and FS-S27-PSA (HP Latex only), the wide-format K-coated grades (NMEQS-MACO 294, 303, 299) and the FS / FG 2K rolls from 0.20 to 0.30 mm (296). UV-curable press inks: the 2K sheets, the narrow-web K label stock (295) and the FG digital press grades (298). The brochure-only FS-2I and FM-2I grades are listed for HP Indigo only.; Flexstone® Offset & UV Media Flexstone® Inkjet Media Flexstone® Label Stock Flexstone® Wall Fabric Flexstone® Self-Adhesive Inkjet Media Flexstone® Eco-Film DPA
Offset Printing: Offset printing transfers ink from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the substrate, and is the standard process for long-run commercial print. Stone paper does not absorb ink the way uncoated paper does, so ink choice and drying should be confirmed with a press test. Flexstone 2K grades are two-side coated for offset and UV printing; K-coated label stock and the FG digital press grades (NMEQS-MACO 298) are also listed for offset.; Flexstone® Offset & UV Media Flexstone® Digital Press Media Flexstone® Label Stock
Flexographic Printing (Flexo): Flexographic printing uses a flexible relief plate and fast-drying low-viscosity ink metered by an anilox roller. It is the dominant roll-to-roll process for self-adhesive labels and flexible packaging. Flexstone label stock is slit to 210, 310, 410 and 510 mm widths for narrow-web label presses and is listed for offset, flexographic and UV printing; among the 2K sheets, only the FS / FG 2K grades from 0.15 to 0.30 mm (specification sheet NMEQS-MACO 293) are marked offset/flexo compatible, while FM-2K and all 0.35 mm 2K grades are listed for offset and UV only.; Flexstone® Label Stock Flexstone® Offset & UV Media
Screen Printing: Screen printing forces ink through a mesh stencil with a squeegee, laying down a thicker ink film than other processes. It is used for spot colours, opaque whites and special effects on tags, cards and signage. On the Flexstone printing index, screen print is marked compatible for the FS / FG 2K grades from 0.15 to 0.30 mm (specification sheet NMEQS-MACO 293) and is listed in the printability of the FG digital press grades (NMEQS-MACO 298). It is not listed for the FM-2K, 0.35 mm 2K, FS-2I or FM-2I grades.; Flexstone® Offset & UV Media Flexstone® Digital Press Media
Gravure Printing: Gravure printing transfers ink from cells engraved into a metal cylinder directly onto a moving web. It gives consistent colour over very long runs and is the industry-standard process for wallcoverings. The Flexstone wallcovering brochure rates gravure compatibility as excellent, citing strong ink adhesion and fine pattern detail, and recommends gravure or digital printing for unbacked Flexstone wallcovering substrate.; Flexstone® Wall Fabric
HP Indigo (Liquid Electrophotography): HP Indigo is a digital press technology that images liquid ElectroInk electrostatically and transfers it to the substrate from a heated blanket. It needs an ink-receptive surface. Flexstone I and 2I coatings are formulated for HP Indigo, while the FS / FG 2K grades from 0.15 to 0.30 mm are marked not compatible with HP Indigo on specification sheet NMEQS-MACO 293. The FG digital press sheets (NMEQS-MACO 298) are supplied in 460 × 320 mm and 480 × 330 mm.; Flexstone® Digital Press Media
Dry-Toner Digital Printing: Dry-toner printing is an electrophotographic process in which powdered toner is transferred to the sheet and fused by heat and pressure, so the substrate must withstand the fuser without distorting. Flexstone FG-2I and FG-I…-PSA digital press grades (NMEQS-MACO 298) list dry toner in their printability and are rated 80℃ long-term and 120℃ short-term; dry toner is not listed for the FS-2I and FM-2I grades. On specification sheet NMEQS-MACO 293, the FS / FG 2K grades from 0.15 to 0.30 mm are marked testing required for dry toner.; Flexstone® Digital Press Media
Printing Index: The printing index is the compatibility table on a Flexstone specification sheet. It rates each process as compatible, testing required or not compatible. For the FS / FG 2K grades from 0.15 to 0.30 mm (specification sheet NMEQS-MACO 293), UV curable, offset/flexo and screen print are compatible, dry toner requires testing, and HP Indigo is not compatible. That index does not cover the FM-2K and 0.35 mm 2K grades, which are listed in the Label & Hang Tag Solutions brochure for offset and UV only. Always read the index for the exact part number before a production run.; Flexstone® Offset & UV Media Flexstone® Digital Press Media

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