26 October 2026
Understanding Rotogravure Inks for Flexible Packaging
What rotogravure ink is, the difference between surface and reverse printing, and how to choose the ink series for your packaging substrate.
Almost all the plastic packaging you see in the supermarket, from noodle wrappers to bottle labels, is printed on rotogravure presses. The quality of the print depends heavily on the ink.
Surface printing vs reverse printing
- Surface printing: the ink is printed on the outside of the film, so it must resist scratching and rubbing. Examples: plastic bags (IKM series) and woven sacks (IKW series).
- Reverse printing: the ink is printed on the inside of the film and then laminated, so it needs good bond strength. Examples: detergent packaging (WIS series) and laminated food packaging (IKU series).
Match the ink to the substrate
| Substrate | Ichiban Ink series |
|---|---|
| Treated PP, PE, OPP | IKM, IKW |
| OPP (reverse) | WIS |
| PET, nylon, K-OPP (laminates) | IKU |
| PVC film / bottle labels | PVC |
| Paper, aluminium, board | IKN |
| PVC synthetic leather | IPG |
Test with samples
Every press and film is different. The Ichiban Ink team does colour matching and makes samples before production.
See all Ichiban Ink series or request samples on WhatsApp.
