1. КК
  2. All Volumes and Issues
  3. № 2 (48) / 2025
  4. Study of Flexographic Imprint’s Quality on Flexible Packaging Materials

Study of Flexographic Imprint’s Quality on Flexible Packaging Materials

КК.
2025;
Volume 48, Number 2
: pp. 62 - 70
https://doi.org/10.32403/2411-3611-2025-2-48-62-70
Authors:
  1. V. V. Bernatsek
  2. P. M. Ryvak
  3. T. V. Vladyka
  4. N. V. Vladyka
  5. R. P. Marchuk
1
Lviv Polytechnic National University Institute of Printing Art and Media Technologies
2
Lviv Polytechnic National University Institute of Printing Art and Media Technologies
3
Lviv Polytechnic National University Institute of Printing Art and Media Technologies
4
Lviv Polytechnic National University Institute of Printing Art and Media Technologies
5
Lviv Polytechnic National University Institute of Printing Art and Media Technologies

Flexographic printing is currently one of the leading technological processes for manufacturing flexible packaging from film materials for various groups of consumer goods. UV inks are gaining particular popularity due to their environmental benefits, fast curing, and the ability to print on various non­absorbent substrates. The article presents a comparative study of two generations of INXFlex™ UV Euro series UV inks for narrow­web flexographic printing. The reproduction and graphic characteristics and tonal gradient transfer of the triad­colour inks on a transparent polymer base were experimentally investigated using spectrocolorimetric analysis. The conformity of the obtained imprints to the colour proof was assessed in various tonal areas from light areas to saturated dark tones. Additionally, the strength properties of the printed samples were determined by assessing the rub resistance of the ink layer.
The research results confirm that for high­quality label and packaging production with stringent requirements for colour reproduction and durability of the printed image, especially for food packaging, it is advisable to use the INXFlex™ UV Euro II ink system. This system provides better stability of tonal gradient transfer, more accurate compliance with international standards, and increased mechanical resistance of the ink layer, which collectively guarantees high quality and durability of the printed products.
The obtained results confirm the importance of a comprehensive analysis of the quality characteristics of flexographic printing on film materials and emphasize the relevance of further research aimed at improving colour reproduction stability and packaging reliability.

flexographic printing
UV inks
optical density
gradation transfer
pa­ckaging materials
reproduction and graphic indicators
printing quality
  1. Rashchyk, S. E., & Rodionova, O. V. (2024). Tendentsii v haluzi tekhnolohii fleksohrafichnoho druku [Trends in flexographic printing technologies]. Redaktsiina kolehiia, 144. [In Ukrainian].
  2. Repeta, V. B., Hurhal, N. S., & Senkivskyi, V. M. (2012). Vybir alternatyvy protsesu vuz- korulonnoho UF-fleksografichnoho druku [Choice of alternatives in narrow-web UV flexo- graphic printing process]. Kvalilohiia knyhy, (2), 62–65. [In Ukrainian].
  3. Senkivskyi, V. M., et al. (2012). Faktory prohnozuvannia yakosti fleksografichnoho druku [Factors of forecasting the quality of flexographic printing]. Polihrafiia i vydavnycha sprava, (3), 53–58. [In Ukrainian].
  4. Koniukhova, I. I., & Rybka, R. V. (2016). Otsiniuvannia yakosti vidbytkiv fleksografichnoho sposobu druku na plivkovykh materialakh [Evaluation of print quality in flexographic printing on film materials]. Kvalilohiia knyhy, (2), 55–59. [In Ukrainian].
  5. Chebotarova, I. B., Vovk, O. V., & Chebotarov, R. I. (2024). Avtomatyzatsiia protsesu vyznachennia rivnia yakosti fleksografichnoho druku pakovannia [Automation of determining the quality level of flexographic package printing]. Informatsiini tekhnolohii u suchasnomu sviti, 186–187. [In Ukrainian].
  6. Havenko, S., et al. (2020). Determining the factors that affect the quality of test prints at flexographic printing. Eastern­European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 2(5), 104.
  7. Keawkul, P., Pachonklaew, P., & Waleetorncheepsawat, B. (2022). Optimization of printing conditions to achieve effective ink transfer in flexographic printing. Journal of Printing Science and Technology, 59(6), 298–302.
  8. Barauskiene, O., Chepurna, K., & Vykhrystiuk, O. (2021). Vidtvorennia pantoniv pry vyho- tovlenni etyketkovoi produktsii fleksografichnym drukom [Reproduction of Pantone colors in label production by flexographic printing]. Tekhnolohiia i tekhnika drukarstva, 3(73), 31–41. [In Ukrainian].
  9. De Micheli, P. (2000). Flexographic inks: The compromise. Surface Coatings International, 83(12), 588–591.
  10. Zambrzycki, M., et al. (2025). Study on the composition of inks for UV-curable printing. In Smart Materials for Opto­Electronic Applications 2025 (Vol. 13528, pp. 156–161). SPIE.
  11. Salisu, A. A., & Inuwa, M. S. (2013). Preparation and characterization of water-based UV curable flexographic printing ink. ChemSearch Journal, 4(2), 37–43.
  12. INX International. (2025, September 5). Flexographic printing inks. Retrieved from https:// www.inxinternational.com/products/inks-and-coatings/process/flexographic.
  13. DSTU ISO 12647-6:2007. (2007). Polihrafiia. Keruvannia protsesamy vyhotovliannia rast- rovykh koloropodilennykh fotoform, probnykh i tyrazhnykh vidbytkiv. Chastyna 6. Flekso- grafichne drukuvannia (ISO 12647-6:2006, IDT) [Printing. Process control for the production of half-tone colour separations, proof and production prints. Part 6. Flexographic printing (ISO 12647-6:2006, IDT)]. Kyiv. [In Ukrainian].