International Coatings Company has launched a new version of its Ultimate Black 717 ink that is designed to produce an even better print.
The “trusted” black screen-printing ink has been upgraded with a formulation that promises an easier set-up, consistent runs and a more matte appearance.
According to International Coatings, the new Ultimate Black is creamier with a smoother texture and a “more forgiving” print window on press. Printers benefit from faster set-up, fewer adjustments and more consistent results across long production runs.
With improved flow and recovery, the ink is designed to deliver cleaner prints, sharper edge definition and stable performance across a wide range of mesh counts.
Visually, the reformulated ink produces a deeper, richer black with a controlled satin finish. Reduced gloss gives a more professional appearance under all lighting conditions, enhancing the perceived quality of the final garment.
International Coatings also highlighted that the new version of Ultimate Black should work out to be lower cost and higher value for screen printers as it would result in improved coverage. This would help to reduce ink usage per run, reducing ink costs without sacrificing quality or requiring changes to existing workflows.
Mark Brouillard, International Coatings’ product manager, said: “We focused on what printers actually experience on press. This update makes Ultimate Black easier to work with, more consistent across jobs and visually more pleasing on the garment while also delivering better value.
“It’s not just a new formula: it’s a ‘smarter’ and more professional black ink for modern production runs.”
Ultimate Black 717 is part of International Coatings’ FlexCure which means it can be cured across a range of temperatures. For Ultimate Black, that range is 135C to 163C.
The ink’s low-cure, low-bleed properties help stem dye migration on cotton/poly blends as well as on most polyester substrates.
