Solvent coatings do not suit every ink and substrate. Media coatings vary between manufacturers, ink sets behave differently, and even the same media can change between batches. A short test on your own materials is the most reliable way to avoid an expensive reprint. It takes little time and gives you a record you can refer back to.
Make a proper test print
Print a test strip on the actual media you intend to use, with the same printer, ink, profile and settings as the real job. Include a range of content:
- Solid patches of each ink colour, including a rich black.
- Heavy ink areas, such as dark shadows and dense colour builds.
- Light tints and skin tones, where colour shift is easiest to see.
- Fine text or line detail, to spot any bleeding.
- An unprinted area of media.
Running the test
- Let the test print dry and outgas for the same time you would allow a production print.
- Cut the strip in two. Keep one half uncoated as a reference.
- Coat the other half using the same method you will use for the job: roller, spray or coating machine.
- Note the date, media, ink, coating, method and number of coats on the back.
- Allow the coating to dry and cure fully, following the technical data sheet.
- Compare the coated and uncoated halves side by side under good, neutral light.
What to check
- Colour: any shift in hue or density, particularly in neutrals and skin tones.
- Detail: any feathering or bleeding along fine lines.
- Surface: clarity, evenness of sheen, bubbles, hazing or texture change.
- Feel: the coating should be dry and not tacky once cured.
- Media: any cockling, curling, yellowing or change in the unprinted area.
Simple durability checks
Once fully cured, you can carry out some basic in-house checks. Wipe an area with a damp cloth and look for marking. Rub gently with a dry cloth to see how it handles abrasion. If the print will be rolled or flexed, bend the coated sample and check for cracking. These are practical comparisons, not formal tests, so treat them as a guide to suitability rather than a guarantee of performance.
Keep a record
Store your test strips in a folder with notes. Over time you build a library of combinations that work, which speeds up quoting and helps new staff. Re-test when you change media supplier, ink set or printer, or after any batch that behaves unexpectedly.
Our compatibility page gives a starting point for which inks suit our coatings, and the products are listed on the coatings page.
If a test result leaves you unsure, we are happy to look at it with you. Ring 01252 624 411 or write to us with the details.