Substrate × Ink Compatibility Matrix
Cross-reference ink chemistry against substrate type to identify compatible combinations, partial matches, and incompatible pairings before committing to a press run.
| Ink Chemistry | Coated Paper | Uncoated Paper | Film/Plastic | Paperboard | Newsprint | Metallic Foil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV Offset Ink | ● | ◑ | ○ | ● | ○ | ● |
| Aqueous Inkjet | ● | ● | ◑ | ● | ● | ○ |
| Solvent Inkjet | ◑ | ● | ● | ◑ | ○ | ● |
| UV Flexo Ink | ● | ◑ | ● | ● | ○ | ● |
| Toner (Dry) | ● | ● | ◑ | ◑ | ○ | ○ |
| Waterbase Flexo | ◑ | ● | ◑ | ● | ● | ○ |
| Oil-based Offset | ● | ● | ○ | ● | ● | ○ |
| Gravure Ink | ● | ◑ | ● | ◑ | ○ | ● |
891
Ink chemistries catalogued
UV, aqueous, solvent, oil-based
47
Substrate surface types
Coated, uncoated, treated, specialty
4,200+
Compatibility combinations
Tested and verified
Press Calibration & Delta-E Variance
Real-world color accuracy measurements across press types and calibration standards. ΔE values below 2.0 are imperceptible to the human eye; above 3.0 require recalibration.
“Inkwell saved me three hours at 2 AM when I was troubleshooting dot gain on our web press. Found the exact substrate profile in under 30 seconds.”
Marcus Delacroix
Senior Prepress Technician · Pacific Coast Print Group
“I compared UV flexo vs digital for a 500K label run using the process matrix. The data was exactly what I needed to justify the press selection to our client.”
Priya Nair
Print Buyer · Apex Packaging Solutions
“The ICC profile library alone is worth the subscription. Having all the FOGRA and GRACoL profiles in one place with the correct press specs is invaluable.”
Tobias Kirchner
Color Management Engineer · BrandPrint GmbH
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2024 Substrate Selection Guide
148 pages. Covers coated, uncoated, film, and specialty substrates with press compatibility charts and Pantone matching data.
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