Water based inks are defined as inks that use water as the main solvent for carrying pigment. This does not mean that water is the only solvent; most have a co-solvent which may be petroleum based. These co-solvents may be used for a variety of reasons but primarily to decrease time and heat necessary to cure the ink. Water based inks are the best choice for flexible packaging, shoes, fabrics and yard goods. It is also eco-friendly.
Water based inks are mostly made up of acrylic resins or hybrid blends of acrylic resins and polyurethane. In comparison to other inks, because aqueous ink does not include volatile hazardous organic solvents, it has no negative impact on the operator’s health during the printing process. It does not pollute the atmosphere or the printed content, instead it comprises of naturally occurring substances, and thus water based inks are more environment friendly than conventional inks.