The ink on a page is a complex medium composed of solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, and surfactants. As the result of efforts within the printing community to reduce the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some companies have begun using UV (ultraviolet) inks. These inks use only minimal amounts of VOCs and are cured instantly by exposing them to UV light, making them less prone to scratches, scuffs, or ink transfer, and thus leading to far less paper waste than when conventional inks are used.
A pressman working the UV ink in the ink room at Meridian Printing in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. This ink hardens only when exposed to strong UV light so the press can be washed less.
Ink and mixer.