Modeling the correlation between ink transfer amount, optical density, and color difference in multicolor offset printing
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract In this study, the correlation between optical density (D) and color difference (Δ E ab ) was investigated through the variation of ink transfer (Δ G ) efficiency among the CMYK process inks and RGB overprints (R = Y/M, G = Y/C, and B = M/C). The mathematical regression model D = D max (1− e − k .Δ G ) and D = D max (1−e −k.t ) were used to describe the relationship between optical density (D) and ink transfer amount, and ink film thickness (t) and for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, respectively. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, p < 0.001) confirmed the strong correlation between ink transfer and ink film thickness with optical density ( R 2 > 0.90). Correlation between optical density and color difference Δ E ab is the second-order polynomial (y = y 0 + b 1 x + b 2 x 2 ) regression model. The findings emphasize the importance of density control in offset printing to maintain consistent color appearance and minimize Δ E ab across production runs. The mathematical regression models of ink trapping (IT) as a function of the secondary ink volume (IT = IT max (1− e − k .Vink )). The results demonstrate that optical density and color difference are closely governed by ink transfer behavior, and the new trapping model provides a reliable tool for predicting color deviation in multicolor offset printing.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Color Science and Applications · Material Properties and Processing · Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Printing Material Lab, Faculty of Graphic Arts and Media, HCMC University of Technology and Engineering , Ho Chi Minh City , Viet Nam
Funding
Ministry of Education and Training, managed fund by Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering, Vietnam
References (39)
Show source-provided references
1. Anayath, R. and Baral, A.K. (2016). Critical analysis of mottling and its impact on various grades of paper substrates printed under conventional sheet fed offset, dry toner & liquid toner based digital print engines. Acta Graphica 27: 7–14, https://doi.org/10.5281/Zenodo.6893955.
2. Aydemir, C., Ö zomay, Z., Karademir, A., and Kandirmaz, E.A. (2013). Effects of matte coating on the paper surface and print density. Sci. Eng. Compos. Mater. 20: 141–145, https://doi.org/10.1515/secm-2012-0070.10.1515/secm-2012-0070 ↗
3. Aydemir, C., Yenidoğan, S., Karademir, A., and Arman, E. (2017). Effects of color mixing components on offset ink and printing process. Mater. Manuf. Processes 32: 1310–1315, https://doi.org/10.1080/10426914.2017.1279323.10.1080/10426914.2017.1279323 ↗
4. Aydemir, C. and Yenidoğan, S. (2018). The influence of surface tension on wetting in dampening solution and sustainability of printing: a review. J. Graph. Engin. Design 10: 5–10, https://doi.org/10.24867/JGED-2019-1-005.10.24867/JGED-2019-1-005 ↗
5. Aydemir, C., Yenidoğan, S., and Özsoy, S.A. (2020). Effects of ink consumption on print quality on coated cellulose-based paper surfaces. Cellul. Chem. Technol. 54: 89–94, https://doi.org/10.35812/CelluloseChemTechnol.2020.54.10.10.35812/CelluloseChemTechnol.2020.54.10 ↗
6. Cigula, T., Tomašegović, T., and Hudika, T. (2019). Effect of the paper surface properties on the ink transfer parameters in offset printing. Nord. Pulp Pap. Res. J. 34: 540–549, https://doi.org/10.1515/npprj-2019-0018.10.1515/npprj-2019-0018 ↗
7. El-Sherbiny, S. and Elsayed, S. (2004). A review of printing ink transfer equations. Techn. J. 1.
8. Eshbaeva, U., Djalilov, A., Turaev, F., and Dilafruz, S. (2021). Mathematical modeling of ink transition of print product. European J. Molec. Clin. Med. 8: 709–717.
9. Gang, Y.Y. and Zhuo, G.Q. (2014). Study on the relationships between the optical printing density based on the offset overprint trapping and ink film thickness. Adv. Mater. Res. 889–890: 433–436, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.889-890.433.10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.889-890.433 ↗
10. Gigac, J., Stankovská, M., and Kasajová, M. (2011). Interactions between offset papers and liquids. Wood Res. 56: 363–370.
11. Gómez, N., Quintana, E., and Villar, J.C. (2014). Effect of paper surface properties on coated paper wettability with different fountain solutions. BioRes. 9: 4226–4241, https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.9.3.4226-4241.10.15376/biores.9.3.4226-4241 ↗
12. Gu, L., Zhang, F., Wang, X., and Li, X. (2015). Effect of performance of offset paper on ink transfer. Appl. Mechan. Mater. 731: 466–470, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.731.466.10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.731.466 ↗
13. Hultgren, K. (1973). Calculation of ink transfer in letterpress printing. Adv. Print. Sci. Techn. 11: 3–30.
14. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 5-3:2009 (2009). Graphic technology – Density measurements – Part 3: Spectral conditions. ISO, Geneva.
15. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 12647-2:2013 (2013). Graphic technology – Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints – Part 2: Offset lithographic processes. ISO, Geneva.
16. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 13655:2009 (2009). Graphic technology – Spectral measurement and colorimetric computation for graphic arts images. ISO, Geneva.
17. Jiang, W. and Wang, Z. (2010). Research on the method of determining the optimum parameters for offset ink. Adv. Mater. Res. 174: 255–258, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.174.255.10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.174.255 ↗
18. Langenmayr, E., Crescimanno, S., Champlin, T., Krotowski, G., Wu, R., and Cummins, R. (2003). Carbon Black dispersions for high optical density on plain paper. Intern. Conf. Digital Print. Techn. IS&T’s NIP19: 199–202, https://doi.org/10.2352/issn.2169-4451.2003.19.1.art00048_1.10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2003.19.1.art00048_1 ↗
19. Li, Z., Meng, Q., and Liu, L. (2012). The influence of offset paper properties on printing effect. Adv. Mater. Res. 550-553: 3295–3298, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.550-553.3295.10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.550-553.3295 ↗
20. Ma, X., Wei, X., Huang, B., and Zhang, W. (2012). The effect of emulsification ratio on ink-transfer performance and printing quality of UV offset ink. Adv. Mater. Res. 380: 77–80, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.380.77.10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.380.77 ↗
21. Nandakumar, M. and Bose, N. (2016). Offset print analysis with mathematical regression model. Acta Graphica 27: 15–20.
22. Nguyen, H.T.K. and Pham, V.H. (2022). A study of the ink trapping in lithographic printing. Intern. J. Sci. Res. Sci. Techn. 9: 16–20, https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST2293161.10.32628/IJSRST2293161 ↗
23. Ohta, N. and Robertson, A.R. (2005). Colorimetry: fundamentals and applications. Wiley–IS&T Series in Imaging Science and Technology, Chichester, UK:, pp. 74–75. https://doi.org/10.5860/CHOICE.43-5951.10.5860/CHOICE.43-5951 ↗
24. Özcan, A. (2011). Analyzing the effect of paper’s porosity on trapping and colour value. Asian J. Chem. 23: 2755–2758.
25. Peng, L., Fan, H., Qi, Y., and Li, J. (2025). Random forest-based prediction of the optimal solid ink density in offset lithography. Appl. Sci. 15: 4830, https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094830.10.3390/app15094830 ↗
26. Preucil, F. (1953). Color hue and ink transfer − their relation to perfect reproduction. TAGA Proceedings: 102–110.
27. Ritz, A. (1996). A halftone treatment for obtaining multi-colour ink film trapping values. Profession. Print. 40: 11–17.
28. Sesli, Y., Hayta, P., Akgul, A., and Oktav, M. (2023). Analysis of the parameters determining the effect of coated and uncoated papers on print quality. 19 Mayis J. Social Sci. 4: 130–140, https://doi.org/10.52835/19maysbd.1342475.10.52835/19maysbd.1342475 ↗
29. Spiridonov, I. (2013). Determination of the deviations and variations tolerances of the process-colour solids from the OK print in offset printing method. Intern. Circu. Graph. Edu. Res. 6: 46–55.
30. Sükrücemözakhun, Ö.B.A. and Arifözcan. (2012). Analysis of the fountain solution in the offset printing in terms of printability. Asian J. Chem. 24: 641–645.
31. Tran, T.T.T., Luu, B.H., and Nguyen, H.T.K. (2022). Effect of ink transfer on color values in lithographic printing. Int J Sci Res Sci & Technol 9: 235–239, https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST229544.10.32628/IJSRST229544 ↗
32. Tutak, D., Beytut, H.N., and Ozcan, A. (2018). Investigation of the effects of different ink density values on color gamut in offset printing. J. Graph. Engin. Design 9: 23–28, https://doi.org/10.24867/JGED-2018-1-023.10.24867/JGED-2018-1-023 ↗
33. Tutak, D. (2021). The investigation of effect of pigment ratio in ink on color gamut. In: 8th international joint conference on environmental and light industry technologies. Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary, pp. 107–111.
34. Viggiano, J.A.S. and Prakhya, S.H. (2008). Prediction of overprint spectra using trapping models: a feasibility study (chapter 34). In: RIT TAGA student. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, NY, pp. 113–133.
35. Vlachopoulos, G. (2010). Phenomena affecting ink transfer in offset lithographic printing, PhD thesis. Swansea, UK, Swansea University, pp. 12–16.
36. Walker, W.C. and Fetsko, J.M. (1955). A concept of ink transfer during printing. American Ink Maker 33: 38.
37. Yang, Y., Gao, Q., and Jiang, C. (2012). Study on the relationships between the optical density and ink film thickness based on the offset overprint trapping. Adv. Mater. Res. 472–475: 1981–1984, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.472-475.1981.10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.472-475.1981 ↗
38. Yule, J.A.C. and Nielsen, W.J. (1951). The penetration of light into paper and its effect on halftone reproduction. Proc. TAGA. 3: 65–76.
39. Zjaki’c, I., Gali´c, E., Ljevak, I., and Matijevi´c, M. (2024). Improving prediction model for colorimetric changes due to coating processes with oil-based and UV coatings. Coatings 14: 1488, https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14121488.10.3390/coatings14121488 ↗