What characteristics of paper affect color difference!
Time:2025-07-24
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We all know that paper is one of the essential key materials in printing operations, and the type and quality of paper also affect the color state displayed in printing. In this article, we focus on explaining which characteristics of paper affect color difference.
1、 The whiteness of paper
Different whiteness levels and paper with certain colors (such as some papers that are blue or yellow) have different effects on the color presentation of the printing ink layer. Therefore, in actual production, it is advisable to use paper with the same whiteness for printing to reduce the impact of paper whiteness on printing color.
In addition, the whiteness (ISO brightness value) of the paper determines the overlay effect of the base color on the printed color. Low whiteness paper (such as recycled paper) with a yellow or gray background color can cause the overall printing color to be dark and the hue to shift. For example, when printing blue on yellowish paper, the combination of blue and yellow may present a green tone; When printing red, it may appear orange toned.
2、 The smoothness and glossiness of paper
From the perspective of the impact on the quality of printed materials, there is a very direct relationship between the glossiness of paper and the glossiness of printed materials. Regardless of the type of ink, the glossiness of printed materials increases with the increase of the glossiness of the paper itself. The glossiness of paper is directly related to the ink efficiency of paper. Paper with high glossiness can achieve higher printing density than paper with low glossiness when printed with the same ink film thickness on the paper surface. Therefore, there is a close correlation between the gloss of printed materials and the gloss of the paper itself.
3、 Ink absorption and permeability of paper
Paper with strong ink absorption properties (such as laminated paper) will quickly absorb ink binders, resulting in insufficient pigment retention on the surface, lighter color, and decreased glossiness. For example, when printing the same ink on paper with different ink absorption properties, the difference in solid density can reach 0.2-0.3.
In addition, ink acceptance performance refers to the ability of the paper surface to receive and transfer ink at the moment of imprinting on the printing machine during the printing process. It is closely related to three aspects of paper performance: the ability of the paper surface to be wetted by printing ink; The ability of paper surface to absorb certain ink components; The ability to fix and retain a uniform ink film on the surface of paper. The ink absorption performance of paper occurs over a long period of time from the contact between ink and paper to complete solidification on the paper surface, which is related to the absorption of low viscosity components in the ink by the paper capillary pores and the permeation of certain components in the ink into the paper.
Printing pressure, printing time, ink viscosity, and paper capillary radius all affect the paper‘s ability to absorb ink. When the same ink is printed on paper with different absorbency under the same conditions, there will be different printing densities. There are pore structures formed by anisotropic multiphase complex structural elements on the surface of paper. In order to achieve good uniformity and smoothness on the paper surface, coatings of different thicknesses are generally applied to the paper surface. The properties and thickness of the coating determine the ability of the paper surface to absorb ink. Different absorption abilities result in differences in the color of the printing ink layer.
4、 The PH value and chemical stability of paper
Acidic paper (pH<5.5) will react with alkaline components in ink, causing color changes over time. For example, blue ink on acidic paper may gradually turn green due to oxidation. Neutral paper (pH 7 ± 1) can better maintain color stability.
The "implicit characteristics" of paper are important variables for printing color difference. From whiteness, ink absorption to chemical stability, each characteristic requires precise control through quantitative testing and process adaptation. Only by incorporating paper into the closed-loop color management system can we truly achieve the "what you see is what you get" printing quality.
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