Primer coats often play a critical role in digital printing. They are used on a wide variety of substrates, to enhance the adhesion and appearance of both UV and water-based digital printing inks. Examples of these substrates which benefit from primer coats include most polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl, polyester and other synthetics, as well as most foils, coated and uncoated paper stocks and direct thermal paper substrates.

Primer Coats and Over Print Varnishes (OPVs) each play different roles in the digital production environment. However, when used together they can provide printed material with water resistance, chemical resistance, scratch resistance, and thermal resistance. They also increase gamut, prevent colors from fading, and enable greater product customization.

High-performance primer coats for inkjet printers are designed to improve print quality and ink adhesion on both film and paper substrates. Certain primer coat formulators provide solutions for both pigmented water-based and UV inkjet printing applications. Primer coats are available for use for coated offset substrates ideal for high-speed commercial printing with pigmented water-based inks such as folding cartons and corrugated packaging.

However, drying water-based Primer Coats and OPVs can be extremely difficult. Often Primer Coats and OPV’s are applied in-line during the digital printing process. The production process can not print any faster than the speed at which the Primer Coats are dried. 

Prime UV-IR engineered Prime’s DIGI-ACTION Dryer to ensure that printers are able to dry these difficult Primer Coats at top press speed.