Printers look to ink manufacturers for high-quality products and the ability to withstand and adjust to the multitude of variables or X factors. Ink formulations today must be flexible, stable, fast drying on press, have excellent water balance, and yet not emulsify too much. The key to designing ink is the balance, control, and compromise that deals best with the X factors.
The X factors are what we call printing variables. They include all of the following:
Paper or Substrate
Most printers can't change the substrates once purchased, so the most important thing a printer can do is send a sample of the stock to the ink company before ordering ink. Substrates differ in their coatings, ...