There are several key materials and procedures that laboratories can use to measure or better predict ink gloss:
Sheet-fed: For regular sheet-fed printing, we use a standard red ink with a mid-range level of volatile oil. This means the ink is fast curing and not an oil based oxidizing ink. Paper gloss was measured on each test print before printing. The ink is printed onto the paper to be tested. We use TestPress' standard ink film thickness of 0.05 mils. It was then air dried for 24 hours and the gloss was measured at the desired angle. (20°, 60° or 75°)
Thermoset Web Offset: For web printing, the gloss of a paper sample is measured. The test samples are then printed using a heat-set special red ink whose ink film thickness is the same as that of the paper fed the test. The print is then run through our heat set Tester (see photo on equipment page) at 269-275 degrees
F paper surface temperature, cooled to room temperature, and then measure ink gloss. (20°, 60° or 75°) (You will not get accurate heatset ink gloss readings if using a regular lab oven or hot air).
