21 Step Gray Scale

A 21-step grayscale film positive used in pad printing to calibrate UV exposure times for polymer clichés. This test strip ranges from 100% solid black to 0% clear and helps ensure accurate cliché exposure during plate making.

Keywords: gray scale, cliché exposure, pad printing calibration, polymer plates

Abrasion Resistance

A measure of how well a printed surface withstands wear and friction. High abrasion resistance is critical for industrial pad printing applications where durability is required.

Keywords: abrasion resistance, print durability, surface toughness, industrial pad printing

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

A popular thermoplastic substrate used in pad printing. ABS offers good dimensional stability and is commonly found in automotive parts, consumer electronics, and appliance housings.

Keywords: ABS plastic, pad printing on ABS, thermoplastic substrate, print adhesion on ABS

Accelerator

A fast-evaporating ink thinner used to speed up drying time in pad printing inks. Typically added in small amounts to adjust the ink’s viscosity and tack time.

Keywords: ink accelerator, fast solvent, pad printing thinner, drying time adjustment

Adhesion Test

A method used to evaluate how well pad printing ink adheres to the substrate. The cross-hatch tape test is the most common technique for checking ink bonding strength.

Keywords: ink adhesion test, cross hatch tape test, pad printing ink bonding, surface testing

Basecoat

A preliminary layer of ink applied before the primary color in multi-pass pad printing. Basecoats improve opacity, color vibrancy, and adhesion—especially when printing light colors on dark substrates or textured surfaces. Common in cosmetics, medical devices, and branding applications.

Keywords: basecoat ink, multi-layer printing, ink adhesion, pad printing underlayer

Cliché (Pad Printing Plate)

A pad printing plate that carries the etched image to be transferred. Clichés can be made from steel or photopolymer and are essential for accurate ink transfer in the pad printing process.

Keywords: pad printing cliché, printing plate, etched image, photopolymer plate, steel cliché

Cliché Depth

The engraved depth of the image in a cliché, typically 20–30 microns. Correct depth is essential for proper ink transfer, especially with UV and high-viscosity inks.

Keywords: cliché etch depth, pad printing plate depth, image transfer quality, engraving depth

Cliché Making Equipment

Specialized machines and systems used to create pad printing plates, including exposure units, washout stations, and etching systems. Available for both photopolymer and steel cliché production.

Keywords: cliché making equipment, plate making machine, pad printing plate exposure, cliché production

Cleanroom Printing

Pad printing performed in a controlled cleanroom environment, often required for medical, biotech, and semiconductor components. Prevents contamination of sterile parts, especially when using Class VI inks on surgical instruments, tubing, or implantables.

Keywords: cleanroom pad printing, medical device printing, ISO cleanroom printing, sterile decoration

Color Matching

The process of creating a custom ink formulation to match a specific color standard (e.g., Pantone). Common in branding, cosmetics, and medical marking where color consistency is critical.

Keywords: color matching, Pantone match ink, custom ink formulation, branded color printing

Combustible Liquid

A flammable chemical with a flash point between 100°F (37.8°C) and 200°F (93.3°C). Combustible liquids are often present in pad printing thinners, solvents, and cleaning agents. Always handle with care in compliance with safety regulations.

Keywords: combustible solvent, flash point, pad printing safety, ink thinner hazards

Conventional Inks

Solvent-based pad printing inks that dry through evaporation. These inks are widely used for their fast processing times and strong adhesion to a variety of substrates, especially in high-speed and industrial print applications.

Keywords: solvent-based ink, conventional pad printing ink, fast drying ink, evaporation-cured ink

Corona Treatment

A surface pretreatment method using high-voltage electrical discharge to increase the surface energy of a substrate, allowing better ink adhesion during the pad printing process. Commonly used for printing on polyolefin plastics like PE and PP.

Keywords: corona treatment, surface energy, ink adhesion improvement, pad printing pretreatment

Cure (Curing)

The final stage of the ink drying process when all solvents or reactive components have fully evaporated or crosslinked, leaving a durable printed film. Curing times vary by ink type, ranging from seconds (UV) to 24–72 hours (solvent-based).

Keywords: ink curing, pad printing dry time, UV cure, solvent cure, post-print hardening

Delrin

A brand name for acetal homopolymer, a durable thermoplastic used in fixture making for pad printing. Known for its low friction, high stiffness, and excellent dimensional stability.

Keywords: Delrin plastic, acetal homopolymer, pad printing fixture material, nesting block material

Densitometer

A measurement device that evaluates the optical density of printed or film-based images. Used in print quality control to ensure consistent ink laydown and halftone reproduction.

Keywords: densitometer, optical density measurement, pad printing QC, halftone control

Doctor Blade

A metal or plastic blade used in open ink well pad printing systems to remove excess ink from the cliché, leaving ink only in the etched area. It’s a critical component for ensuring clean image transfer.

Keywords: doctor blade, open ink well, pad printing blade, ink metering tool

Doctoring Ring Wear

The gradual degradation of the ceramic or steel ring in a closed ink cup system, which can lead to inconsistent ink wiping and premature cliché wear.

Keywords: doctoring ring wear, ink cup maintenance, pad printing ring replacement, wiping edge

Dot Gain

The unintended expansion of halftone dots during the ink transfer process, which affects the final image sharpness and tonal range. Dot gain is a key variable in halftone pad printing quality control.

Keywords: dot gain, halftone distortion, image sharpness, pad printing resolution

Double Hit

A printing technique where the same image is applied twice to the substrate to improve ink coverage, especially useful on textured surfaces or when hiding pinholes. Often used in decorative and medical pad printing.

Keywords: double hit printing, print twice, pad printing coverage, pinhole correction

Dyne Level

A measurement of surface energy, expressed in dynes/cm, used to evaluate how well a surface will accept ink. A higher dyne level means better ink wetting and adhesion. Tools like dyne pens or test inks are used to measure this.

Keywords: dyne level, surface energy, ink wetting, pad printing adhesion test, dyne test

Epoxy Ink

A two-component ink system used in pad printing that cures through chemical crosslinking. Epoxy inks are known for their exceptional adhesion, chemical resistance, and durability on difficult substrates like glass, metal, and ceramics. Pot life typically ranges from 4–8 hours after mixing.

Keywords: epoxy ink, two-part ink, durable pad printing ink, chemical-resistant ink

Etch Depth

The precise depth of the engraved image in a cliché (typically 20–30 microns), directly influencing ink pickup and transfer quality. Deeper etches hold more ink but may affect image sharpness; shallower etches are ideal for high-resolution graphics.

Keywords: cliché etch depth, pad printing plate engraving, ink volume control, etching precision

Exposure

The process of using ultraviolet (UV) light to harden photopolymer clichés during plate making. Proper exposure is essential for developing clear, high-resolution images in pad printing plate production.

Keywords: cliché exposure, UV exposure, plate making, photopolymer curing

Fish Eye

A circular defect in the printed image caused by surface contamination or ink repelling. Common in pad printing when the substrate has silicone residue, oil, or static-related issues.

Keywords: fish eye defect, pad printing flaw, ink repelling, circular print blemish

Fixture (Nesting Fixture)

A custom-built tool used to secure the part in position during the pad printing cycle. Fixtures ensure precise registration and repeatability. They can be made from materials like Delrin, aluminum, or resin.

Keywords: pad printing fixture, nesting block, part holding tool, print registration tool

Flammable Liquid

A volatile liquid with a flash point below 100°F (37.8°C). These substances are common in ink solvents and must be handled with proper ventilation and safety precautions.

Keywords: flammable solvent, low flash point, pad printing safety, ink flammability

Flame Treat (Flame Treatment)

A surface preparation method where a gas flame is passed over the substrate to raise surface energy and improve ink adhesion. Often used on polypropylene, nylon, and other low-surface-energy plastics.

Keywords: flame treatment, ink adhesion enhancement, surface activation, pretreatment for printing

Flash Cure (Tack Cure)

A brief, partial UV or IR cure between print passes in multi-color pad printing. Flash curing sets the ink surface to prevent smearing while allowing downstream adhesion in the final cure. Common in medical and electronics printing.

Keywords: flash cure, UV tack cure, intermediate ink drying, pad printing between colors

Flood Bar

A mechanical component in open inkwell pad printing systems that pushes ink across the cliché, covering the etched image before doctoring. Helps ensure uniform ink coverage for consistent prints.

Keywords: flood bar, ink flooding tool, pad printing inkwell, open ink system

Flood Brush

A brush-based alternative to the flood bar, used in manual or semi-automatic open ink well setups to spread ink over the cliché image area. Offers greater flexibility in small batch runs.

Keywords: flood brush, manual ink flooding, pad printing brush, cliché ink distribution

Flow Agent

A pad printing ink additive that reduces surface tension and improves ink leveling during transfer. It helps prevent issues like orange peel, streaking, and poor ink laydown.

Keywords: flow additive, ink leveling agent, surface tension reducer, pad printing modifier

Four Color Process

A CMYK printing method used to reproduce full-color images by combining cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In pad printing, four color process is used for photographic-quality decoration on 3D parts and curved surfaces.

Keywords: four color process, CMYK pad printing, full-color decoration, photographic pad printing

Ghost Image

An unwanted duplicate or shadow image that appears faintly behind the intended print. Often caused by static buildup, improper pad cleaning, or residual ink on the pad surface.

Keywords: ghosting, pad printing defect, shadow image, static print flaw

Halftone (Dot Pattern)

A printing technique that uses varying dot sizes to simulate gradients and tonal depth. Halftones are common in decorative and promotional pad printing to reproduce artwork and shading effects.

Keywords: halftone printing, dot pattern, tonal reproduction, pad printing gradients

Halogen Dryer

A compact UV/IR hybrid curing unit often used in pad printing to cure inks on heat-sensitive or high-speed substrates. Ideal for medical tubing, flexible plastics, and small molded parts.

Keywords: halogen dryer, UV-IR dryer, pad printing curing, medical-grade ink curing

Hardener

The catalyst in two-part pad printing inks (such as epoxy systems) that initiates chemical curing. Once mixed, the ink begins crosslinking, leading to stronger adhesion and chemical resistance.

Keywords: pad printing hardener, epoxy catalyst, two-part ink curing, crosslinking agent

Image Distortion

An issue where the printed image is warped or stretched, often due to incorrect pad durometer, over-compression, or improper pad shape selection.

Keywords: image distortion, warped print, pad printing image stretch, defect troubleshooting

Loop (Loupe)

A printer's magnifying glass used to inspect fine details, dot structure, and print defects. It’s an essential tool for quality control and print evaluation in high-precision applications.

Keywords: print loupe, magnifier for printing, pad printing inspection, QC tool

Matte Finish

A printed surface with low or no gloss, offering a soft, non-reflective appearance. Matte finishes are preferred in applications like medical device printing or cosmetics packaging for a refined look.

Keywords: matte finish, low gloss print, soft sheen, pad printing surface finish

Melamine

A heat-resistant thermoset plastic used in kitchenware, electrical components, and industrial parts. Melamine can be difficult to print on without proper pretreatment and ink selection.

Keywords: melamine printing, thermoset substrate, ink adhesion on melamine, difficult materials

Moire

An optical interference pattern that appears when halftone screens overlap incorrectly. Moiré patterns distort image clarity and are a key concern in multi-color pad printing setups.

Keywords: moire effect, halftone distortion, CMYK printing error, pad printing defect

Mottle

A blotchy or uneven appearance in large solid printed areas. Mottling is often caused by inconsistent ink flow, poor surface tension, or pad compression issues.

Keywords: mottle defect, uneven ink coverage, blotchy print, solid fill printing issue

Multicolor Registration

The process of ensuring precise alignment between multiple colors in a multi-pad or multi-pass printing setup. Success depends on pad shape, fixture accuracy, and machine tolerance. Critical for cosmetic packaging and electronic overlays.

Keywords: multi-color registration, pad printing alignment, print-to-print accuracy, color overlay matching

Nesting Fixture

Also known as a fixture, this is a custom holder used to precisely position the part during printing. A nesting fixture ensures consistent alignment, especially in automated and multi-color pad printing.

Keywords: nesting fixture, part holder, pad printing tooling, registration support

Open Ink Well

A traditional pad printing ink system where the ink is exposed to air in an open reservoir. While simple and accessible, open ink wells allow faster solvent evaporation and require frequent ink adjustments, making them less efficient than closed ink cup systems.

Keywords: open ink well system, pad printing inkwell, solvent evaporation, traditional pad printer

Over Compress

Occurs when the printing pad is pressed down too hard—either on the cliché or the substrate. Over-compression can cause blurred edges, image distortion, and ink displacement from etched corners.

Keywords: pad over compression, image distortion, pad printing pressure issue, print defect

Pad Delay

A programmable time setting on pad printing machines that introduces a brief pause after ink pickup. This delay allows the ink to become tackier, improving transfer and reducing defects like pinholes or incomplete prints.

Keywords: pad delay, tack time control, pad printing machine setting, ink transfer optimization

Pad Durometer

Refers to the hardness level of the silicone transfer pad, measured on the Shore 00 scale. Softer pads conform better to uneven surfaces; harder pads offer higher precision and longer life.

Keywords: pad durometer, silicone pad hardness, pad printing pad selection, Shore 00 scale

Pad Life

The expected lifespan of a silicone printing pad, affected by pad hardness, shape, ink type, and cleaning methods. Optimizing pad life reduces downtime and consumable costs.

Keywords: pad life, silicone pad durability, pad printing maintenance, consumable lifespan

Pad Shape

The geometry of the silicone pad, including round, rectangular, or oval, which affects ink pickup, transfer angle, and image distortion. Proper pad shape selection improves coverage and print sharpness.

Keywords: pad shape, silicone pad geometry, image distortion control, ink transfer optimization

Pin Hole

A tiny void or bubble in the printed image, typically caused by air trapped between the pad and a textured or non-wettable surface. Pinholes are common on rough substrates or low-dyne materials.

Keywords: pinhole defect, trapped air, pad printing flaw, image void

Pad Printing Automation

The use of automated part handling, ink management, and cleaning systems to streamline production, improve repeatability, and reduce labor in high-volume pad printing environments.

Keywords: automated pad printing, robotic pad printing, high-speed pad printing, production automation

Pad Printing Cycle

The full motion sequence in pad printing: ink pickup from the cliché, pad delay, transfer to the part, and pad reset. Each step must be precisely timed for optimal print quality and repeatability.

Keywords: pad printing cycle, ink transfer sequence, pad stroke, print motion timing

Polymer (Cliché)

A photosensitive plastic plate used to create pad printing clichés. After UV exposure and development, polymer plates are ready for short to medium print runs and offer an affordable alternative to steel clichés.

Keywords: polymer cliché, photopolymer plate, UV plate making, pad printing plate

Post Treat

A secondary surface treatment, such as flame or corona discharge, applied after printing to enhance ink adhesion on difficult substrates like nylon or polyamide.

Keywords: post treatment, surface activation, adhesion enhancement, flame post-treat

Pot Life

The usable working time after mixing a two-component ink and hardener. After the pot life expires (usually 4–8 hours), the ink begins to cure and is no longer printable.

Keywords: ink pot life, two-part ink system, epoxy ink working time, crosslinking period

Pretreatment

Any process (chemical wipe, flame, or corona treatment) performed before printing to improve surface energy and ink adhesion on low-dyne substrates like PP, PE, and PET.

Keywords: surface pretreatment, adhesion promoter, ink adhesion prep, corona and flame treatment

Polyethylene (PE)

A widely used thermoplastic with low surface energy, often requiring corona or flame pretreatment for ink to adhere. Found in bottles, packaging, and containers across many industries.

Keywords: polyethylene substrate, pad printing on PE, ink adhesion to polyethylene, plastic pretreatment

Polypropylene (PP)

A low-density thermoplastic with excellent chemical resistance and rigidity. Like PE, it typically requires pretreatment to increase surface energy before printing.

Keywords: polypropylene pad printing, low dyne plastic, ink adhesion to PP, surface treatment

Polystyrene

A rigid, glossy plastic with good printability and dimensional stability. Common in retail packaging, displays, and appliance housings. Generally easy to print with standard pad printing inks.

Keywords: polystyrene printing, PS substrate, pad printing on plastic, high-gloss thermoplastic

Registration

The precise alignment of multiple colors or prints during pad printing. Critical for multi-color jobs where tight color-to-color accuracy is required. Achieved through proper fixture design and machine calibration.

Keywords: registration alignment, multi-color printing, pad printing accuracy, color-to-color match

Resin

A film-forming binder in printing inks that helps pigment adhere to the substrate. Different resins provide varying levels of adhesion, flexibility, and chemical resistance.

Keywords: ink resin, pigment binder, pad printing vehicle, film formation

Retarder

A slow-evaporating solvent added to pad printing ink to extend open time, reduce drying speed, and prevent issues like screen clogging or premature tack. Especially useful in warm environments or for large images.

Keywords: retarder solvent, slow thinner, ink open time, pad printing drying control

Scooping

An issue where the doctor blade or ink cup removes too much ink from the cliché’s etched image, typically due to incorrect blade pressure or cliché wear. Results in weak or missing prints.

Keywords: scooping defect, ink removal issue, cliché image loss, pad printing flaw

Silicone Shore Hardness

The durometer rating (typically Shore 00 scale) that measures pad softness or rigidity. Softer pads conform to textured parts; harder pads offer greater precision and durability. Shore values typically range from 20–70 depending on application.

Keywords: silicone pad hardness, Shore 00 durometer, pad printing pad selection, soft vs. hard pad

Solvent

A chemical carrier used to thin pad printing inks and adjust viscosity, tack time, and drying speed. Solvent choice affects print quality, adhesion, and environmental safety.

Keywords: pad printing solvent, ink thinner, viscosity control, evaporation agent

Spider Webbing

A defect where thin strands or filaments of ink appear around the edges of a printed image. Often caused by static electricity, low humidity, or improper ink viscosity. Can be corrected with antistatic measures and ink adjustment.

Keywords: spider webbing, ink stringing, static-related defect, pad printing flaw

Static Elimination

A process or tool (such as ionizing bars or grounding pads) used to reduce static electricity that can interfere with ink transfer, causing defects like ghosting, spider webbing, or dust attraction.

Keywords: static control, static removal in printing, pad printing defects, anti-static tools

Steel Doctoring Ring

A hardened steel or carbide ring used in closed ink cup systems to doctor (wipe) ink from the cliché surface. Offers long life and precision wiping, especially in high-volume or abrasive ink applications.

Keywords: steel doctoring ring, ink cup blade, pad printing steel ring, carbide wiping edge

Streaks

Unwanted lines or bands in the printed image, typically caused by dirty clichés, worn pads, static, or improper ink viscosity. A common defect in high-speed or multicolor pad printing.

Keywords: print streaks, pad printing defect, image inconsistency, ink flow problem

Substrate

The material or part being printed. Common substrates in pad printing include plastics (ABS, PP, PE), glass, metal, and coated surfaces. Each substrate may require specialized inks or surface treatment.

Keywords: pad printing substrate, plastic printing, printable materials, ink adhesion surface

Surface Tension

The measure of a substrate's ability to accept ink. Higher surface tension improves ink wetting and adhesion, while low surface tension materials (like PP or PE) may need pretreatment.

Keywords: surface tension, ink wetting, dyne level, adhesion property

Tack Free

A state where the ink is dry to the touch but not yet fully cured. Tack-free time is influenced by ink type, thinner ratio, and environmental conditions. Important for handling between print passes.

Keywords: tack free ink, pad printing dry time, partial cure, surface dryness

Tack Time

The time it takes for the printed ink to reach a tack-free state after transfer. Shorter tack times improve throughput but may affect ink flow; longer times allow for better adhesion and smoother prints.

Keywords: tack time, drying window, ink setting time, pad printing dwell

Tampon (Pad)

Another name for the silicone transfer pad used in pad printing, especially in European markets. The tampon lifts ink from the cliché and transfers it to the substrate with precision and flexibility.

Thick Steel Cliché

A hardened steel printing plate, typically 10 mm thick, chemically etched to create durable, long-life clichés. Ideal for high-volume and precision printing, with excellent resistance to wear.

Keywords: thick steel cliché, long-life plate, etched steel plate, industrial pad printing cliché

Thin Steel Cliché

A 0.5 mm thick steel printing plate chemically etched to hold the image in pad printing. Thin steel clichés offer a balance between durability and affordability, suitable for medium-volume production runs.

Keywords: thin steel cliché, steel pad printing plate, etched plate, medium-run cliché

Thinner

A volatile solvent used to reduce ink viscosity and adjust drying speed and tack time. The choice of thinner directly affects print quality, adhesion, and ink flow.

Keywords: ink thinner, solvent for pad printing, viscosity control, ink adjustment

Thixotropy

The property of a material (like ink) to become less viscous when agitated and return to its thicker state when at rest. Thixotropic inks ensure smooth transfer without flooding the image area.

Keywords: thixotropic ink, ink rheology, viscosity under shear, pad printing ink flow

Transfer Pad

The silicone pad that picks up ink from the cliché and transfers it to the substrate. Transfer pads vary in shape, size, and durometer, depending on part geometry and print requirements.

Keywords: transfer pad, silicone printing pad, ink pickup pad, pad printing accessory

Trapping

An artwork technique where overlapping colors are adjusted to account for minor misregistration during multi-color printing. Trapping improves image quality and color alignment.

Keywords: color trapping, artwork preparation, multi-color print alignment, pad printing registration

UV Cured Pad Printing Inks

Inks that flash cure instantly when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, providing fast turnaround and high chemical resistance. UV pad printing inks are ideal for non-porous substrates and high-speed applications.

Keywords: UV pad printing ink, ultraviolet curing, fast cure ink, instant dry pad ink

Viscometer

A measurement device used to check ink viscosity for consistent print performance. Automated viscometers on some pad printing machines (e.g., microPrint) enable real-time ink control.

Keywords: viscometer, ink viscosity meter, pad printing ink control, automated viscosity measurement

Viscosity

The thickness or flow rate of ink, which affects transfer quality and drying time. Proper viscosity is critical for print sharpness, pad release, and substrate adhesion.

Keywords: ink viscosity, pad printing flow, ink thickness, viscosity adjustment

Vinyl

A versatile thermoplastic available in both rigid and flexible forms. Common in labels, signs, and coated surfaces. Requires compatible inks for long-lasting adhesion and durability.

Keywords: vinyl substrate, pad printing on vinyl, flexible plastic printing, printable thermoplastic

Volatile

Describes a substance (typically a solvent) that evaporates quickly at room temperature. Volatile solvents are used in pad printing inks to aid in drying and ink transfer, but must be managed to avoid over-drying or safety risks.

Keywords: volatile solvent, fast-evaporating chemical, ink drying agent, pad printing volatility

Wet on Wet

A pad printing technique where multiple colors are printed in sequence without drying between passes. Ideal for high-speed multi-color printing when using inks that have sufficient tack control and registration accuracy.

Keywords: wet on wet printing, multi-color pad printing, sequential color printing, tack timing

White Ink Opacity

Refers to the coverage strength of white ink when printed over dark or colored substrates. High-opacity white ink is critical for base coats, medical marking, and industrial branding applications.

Keywords: white ink opacity, opaque white ink, ink coverage strength, pad printing white