COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOLID INK DENSITY (SID) FOR COATED & UNCOATED PAPER IN SCREEN PRINTING PROCESS USING VARIOUS SCREEN MESH

Abstract

Screen printing continues to be one of the most widely employed printing processes for producing high quality durable images on paper and other irregular substrates owing to its superior ink deposition capability. The increasing demand for standardized colour reproduction and process consistency in commercial printing has highlighted the importance of screen printing. Evaluating print characteristics under controlled production conditions is the most important factor for optimization quality in screen printing. Among the critical parameters in influencing print performance in screen printing are screen materials for screen and mesh resolution, which has direct effect on print quality parameters like TVI, Delta E (ΔE), Solid Ink Density (SID) etc. 
Although several studies have examined the individual influence of substrate type or inks, no comprehensive investigation has reported comparative analysis of Solid Ink Density on coated and uncoated papers printed with UV- curable and solvent - based inks using identical screen-printing conditions and on mesh count at 65 & 85 threads per inch.
Print samples were produced under controlled press-room conditions using a flatbed screen-printing machine. Standardized test charts containing solid colour along with 20 other print elements were combined for various observation with different set of materials. Solid Ink Density measurements were performed using a calibrated spectrodensitometer in accordance with ISO 5-3 and ISO 13655 standards. Statistical analysis, including mean values, standard deviation and inter-substrate comparisons was conducted to evaluate print consistency.
Findings establish statistically supported framework for evaluating solid ink density in screen printing and demonstrate appropriate selection and combination of substrate and ink system that  is essential for achieving optimum colour density, print consistency and process control. The outcomes of this research provide valuable guidance for commercial screen-printing applications and contribute to improved quality assurance and standardization in paper-based printing production.