Neon Inks: Uses and Considerations

Whether used to make color more real or "Woah, unreal!", neon offers opportunities.

An ongoing trend in the wide-format space is the move toward expanded color sets and specialty ink channels. These options enable wide-format print services providers to achieve colors that were previously almost impossible with the standard CMYK color set. One of the options available is the addition of fluorescent or neon inks (the terms can be used interchangeably. And while most may first think of the groovy black light posters of an earlier decade (the 1970s!), fluorescent inks can be used to do much more.

According to Juergen Roesch, vice president of operations at ProofNation, neon inks can be used in two ways – as defined spot channels or for gamut-expanding process colors. As defined spot channels, these colors will provide the striking pop that neon colors are known for. As a tool for gamut expansion, they can provide the capability for printers to hit certain colors or to add strong, additional vibrancy. They can add a striking "something extra" to some prints, whether for dye-sublimated products, vehicle wraps, window graphics, or other applications.

Expanding gamut through the inclusion of neon colors is not a capability everyone can currently access. And when they have the capability, they may find it difficult to control. To take advantage, Roesch says printing devices must possess additional ink channels. And if the device has the channels needed, it must then be driven by RIP software that can appropriately process the files that include them. “In gamut expanding,” he says, “it all depends on RIP used and how many color channels it can match.”

Asked whether he sees the use of neon inks as a growing opportunity or simply an interesting novelty, Roesch says, “If done right, there can be a growth potential.” He adds that the ability to print with neon inks successfully must also mean it is easy to execute. Because of this, he is working on color profiles for use with neon inks. He describes neon “black light” graphics as a throwback that has limited practical applications and says their deeper value may come from their ability to add vibrancy and, as already mentioned, expand gamut.

What Makes Neon Inks Fluoresce?

In the PRINTING United Alliance glossary of printing terms, fluorescence is described as the emission of electromagnetic radiation, especially in the form of visible light by certain substances called phosphors, because of absorption of other radiations such as electric discharge and ultraviolet light.

To take full advantage of neon inks, they are best displayed under an appropriate light source. Daylight possesses UV light components that strongly promote fluorescence; hence, Roesch says neon inks may perform best in outdoor settings. Certainly, neon inks also fluoresce strongly under so-called black light, which emits long-wave (UV-A) ultraviolet light to which phosphors respond. So groovy!

Managing Neon Colors

How are neon colors most effectively managed for production? Roesch describes three key considerations for doing so. The first is to know both what color measurement device and measurement condition to use (M1, which specifies that the light source should match the CIE standard illuminant D50, including its UV content, is appropriate; M2 is not). Next, producers need to have profiling software that can handle multiple print channels. Understanding which ink channels are needed is essential. He adds, for example, that neon yellow can replace standard process yellow, but neon pink cannot replace standard process magenta. Finally, to gain proficiency using neon, he says producers need to either "play around with using the color or hire someone to help them manage it."

While neon colors are manageable in theory, the lack of a color standard that includes them is a complicating factor. Germany-based Fogra, a PRINTING United Alliance member, he says, has addressed expanded color gamut printing in color standards, but that neon inks are, at this point, “too far out.” Roesch clarifies that neon colors “real” are colors that exist in what is known as L*A*B color space – a measurable depiction of all visible color. While they are unusual, they are not a different species.

Regarding the durability of neon colors, Roesch urges awareness that their fluorescent effect may not last as long as other colors. Some direct-to-film, he shares, can show reduced fluorescence in as little as six to nine months. That said, he reports seeing vehicle wraps up to three years old that still possess their desired, unusual glow.

Uses and Applications

Roesch says a common misconception about neon inks is that they are best used for super-wide-gamut printing, which he refers to as "thermonuclear" color. They are best used, he says, in ways that enable color to look more “real” and lead to better color matching. He adds that while thermonuclear color has its place, and certainly has an impact, it is “harder to control for a useful environment and commercial applications.”

Regardless of the ways the inks are used, Roesch says it is important to remember that neon inks are generally more expensive than standard process colors. Therefore, they should be used where and when they are needed and not wasted on work where their effect has no impact. In an environment where margins are tight, this is good advice for any specialty ink or finish: use only where needed.

An additional use of fluorescent inks, he says, is for applications where their effect can be seen only under black light. One example is using it to create watermarks for counterfeit deterrence, whether for currency, clothing, or other product lines. Another is using the inks so that different images show under normal light and black light.

Are Neon Inks in Your Future?

As to whether neon ink capability is something a wide-format producer needs, that is, in truth, up to the plans of that individual producer. Much like opaque white ink, which enables producers to expand their offerings, there must be a business case for neon's use. Can you sell the output? Can your price point cover the additional production cost?

When asked to rate whether he views neon inks as a “must-have,” a “nice-to-have,” or whether PSPS should have a specific use in mind, Roesch answers that it’s "between the last two." His primary approach to adopting neon is essentially simple: “Know what you want to do, know what you’re doing.”