Conventional Inks
Conventional inks are the offset printing inks used across Nanografi’s paper-based security printing systems. They are formulated for traditional offset presses and optimised for paper and porous substrates, where the printed ink film develops through oxidation and absorption.
Within the Nanografi security ink portfolio, conventional inks form the printing layer that carries the design, and they are available with IR, invisible and visible components for use alongside other security ink technologies.
Key Characteristics
Optimised for paper and porous substrates.
Compatible with traditional offset printing setups already in use at printing facilities.
The printed film develops through oxidation and absorption, without a UV curing unit on press.
Provides precise definition and resistance against environmental stress.
Available with IR, invisible and visible components for use within multi-layer security printing.
What Are Conventional Inks?
Conventional inks are printing inks designed for traditional offset printing systems. Unlike UV curing security offset inks, which set under UV lamps on press, conventional inks develop their printed film after printing.
Depending on the formulation, conventional inks may use oxidative drying mechanisms, in which the ink film develops through reaction with atmospheric oxygen together with absorption into the substrate. This makes them well suited to paper and porous materials.
In the Nanografi portfolio, conventional inks are one of two main security ink systems: conventional inks for paper-based materials, and UV curing inks for plastic and polymer substrates. Both systems can carry IR, invisible, visible and thermochromic components, so that multi-layer printed security features can be built within a single printing workflow.
Conventional inks can be formulated for different printing and security applications depending on the substrate, printing process and required functional properties.
How Conventional Inks Work
After the ink is transferred to the substrate, the printed film develops in two ways that work together: part of the ink vehicle is absorbed into the porous structure of the paper, while the remaining film develops through reaction with atmospheric oxygen.
Because this takes place after printing rather than instantly on press, printed sheets are handled and stacked according to the printing facility’s own practice. The time required depends on the substrate, the printed ink film and the conditions in the facility.
The result is a printed film with precise definition and resistance against environmental stress, which is why conventional inks remain the established system for paper-based security documents.
Ink transfer: the ink is applied to the substrate through the conventional offset printing process.
Absorption: part of the ink vehicle is absorbed into the porous structure of the paper.
Oxidation: the remaining ink film develops through reaction with atmospheric oxygen.
Applications
Conventional inks are used as the printing layer on banknote substrates, where paper-based offset printing and precise definition are required. They can be combined with other security ink technologies within the same printed document.
Certificates and comparable printed documents are produced on paper substrates using traditional offset printing systems, where conventional inks provide the printed design layer.
Legal and security documents printed on paper can be produced with conventional inks, either on their own or together with functional security ink components.
Security seals printed on paper-based materials can be produced with conventional inks as part of a printed security element.
Conventional Inks in Security Printing
In security printing, conventional inks are used as the base printing layer of a document: they carry the design, the colour areas and the printed detail on paper-based substrates.
Security features are then built by combining this printing layer with functional ink technologies. Within the Nanografi portfolio, conventional inks are available with IR, invisible and visible components, so that verification features can be printed as part of the same production workflow rather than added as a separate process.
Conventional inks are therefore best understood as a component of a printed security system rather than as an authentication feature on their own. The protection level of a finished document depends on the combination of ink technologies, substrate and document design selected for that project.
Integration with Other Security Ink Technologies
Conventional inks are used together with the other ink technologies in the Nanografi security ink portfolio. The combination is selected according to the substrate, the printing process and the verification features required for the document.
UV Offset Security Inks
IR Security Inks
Thermochromic Inks
Screen Printing Inks
Printing Considerations
Printing method: conventional inks are formulated for traditional offset printing systems.
Substrate: paper and porous substrates. For plastic and polymer substrates, UV curing security inks are the corresponding system in the portfolio.
Drying: the printed film develops after printing; handling and stacking follow the printing facility’s own practice.
Formulation selection: colour, functional components and printing behaviour are selected together according to the substrate, printing process and required properties.
Why Nanografi
Nanografi was founded in METU Technopolis and operates as a subsidiary of Ahlatcı Holding, with international operations across more than 100 countries.
Nanografi Inks develops formulations through a defined process: assessment of requirements and application scope, formulation design according to substrate and curing behaviour, testing and validation under application-specific conditions, and production with continuing technical support.
The security ink portfolio covers two main systems: conventional inks for paper-based materials, and UV curing inks for plastic and polymer substrates. Both can carry IR, invisible, visible and thermochromic components. This allows a printing project to be matched to its substrate and printing process within a single ink portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conventional inks are printing inks formulated for traditional offset printing systems. They are optimised for paper and porous substrates, and the printed ink film develops after printing rather than instantly on press.
The printed film develops in two ways that work together: part of the ink vehicle is absorbed into the porous structure of the substrate, and the remaining film develops through reaction with atmospheric oxygen.
Oxidative drying describes a mechanism in which the ink film develops through reaction with atmospheric oxygen. It is one of the mechanisms used in conventional printing inks, and it is what makes them suitable for paper and porous materials.
Within security printing, conventional inks are used on banknotes, certificates, legal and security documents, and security seals, all of which are printed applications produced on paper-based substrates.
Yes. In security printing, conventional inks form the base printing layer of a document and can be supplied with IR, invisible and visible components, so that printed verification features are produced within the same printing workflow.
Conventional inks are formulated for traditional offset presses and paper-based substrates, and the film develops after printing. UV curing inks set under UV lamps on press and are used for plastic and polymer substrates. Both are part of the Nanografi security ink portfolio and are selected according to the substrate and printing process.
Related Applications
Nanografi conventional inks are used across the following security printing applications:
Not sure which security ink suits your substrate and printing system? Talk to our technical team, or explore the full offset security ink portfolio.