Commercial & Packaging Offset sheetfed printing typically uses conventional inks which are either water based, soy based or solvent based. For these inks to properly dry additional drying time is required. The additional time required varies tremendously based upon such factors as ink coverage, ink type, substrate type and press room conditions. In addition, during this drying time chemicals are released into the environment and absorbed into the substrate resulting in dot gain and potentially distorting the image and the text. 

However, UV inks, when exposed to UV energy, dry immediately. The photo-initiators in the UV ink react to cause the crosslinking (polymerization) of reactive monomers, oligomers and ink pigments  located within the UV ink. The liquid UV ink turns solid when cured and produces zero emissions.