Jun 05,2026
In the industries of digital imaging, large-format advertising and photo printing, and high-end fine art reproduction, the most 2 concerning issues from creators and printing service providers are: ultimate fidelity in color reproduction and the long-term fade resistance. With the rapid iteration of printhead technologies, the market has been flooded with a ceaseless stream of compatible inks; however, only a select few brands can truly achieve protecting printheads while simultaneously meeting museum-grade standards for color preservation.
Zhengzhou Hongsam Digital Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as HONGSAM), As one of China’s earliest state-level high-tech enterprises and a company listed on the NEEQ (Stock Code: 430616), has been deeply committed to the digital imaging ink since its foundation in 2001. Guided by a philosophy of "Science, Integrity, Excellence, and Environmental", HONGSAM has cultivated a wealth of core industry expertise in the research and development of digital imaging inks.
This article offers a comprehensive introduction for:
What are the core advantages of HONGSAM digital imaging inks?
How do they compatible with inkjet printing equipment from leading manufacturers such as Epson, Canon, and HP?
What are the specific applications of HONGSAM digital imaging inks?
HONGSAM Digital imaging inks are primarily categorized into water-based pigment inks and water-based dye inks. HONGSAM holds independent intellectual property rights for the research and development of both Pigment Inks and Dye Inks.
1. HONGSAM Water-based Pigment Ink: Superior Waterproof and Weather Resistance
Pigment ink comes as tiny solid particles suspended in a liquid. HONGSAM Hongcai 6®️ pigment ink has extremely high UV resistance, light resistance, scratch resistance and water resistance, and won’t fade for 80 years indoors. HONGSAM Hongcai 6®️ pigment ink is the best choice for high-end artwork reproduction, rice paper and traditional Chinese painting printing, wedding photography printing, and outdoor advertising printing.
Ultra-fine nano-scale grinding: HONGSAM launched the first generation of water-based nano pigment ink in 2003, which uses advanced nano-scale resin wrapping technology, the pigment particles are extremely uniformly distributed, with excellent gloss and fastness. There will be no delamination or precipitation during the shelf life, eliminating the problem of clogging the nozzle from the source. Hongcai 6®️ pigment ink has more delicate color transitions and no jumps in color levels, which can restore the real picture effect. It performs more realistically and naturally when printing human picture. It has been well received after repeated testing by users.
2. HONGSAM Water-based Dye Ink: Extremely High Light Resistance
Dye ink dissolves at the molecular level and has high light transmittance. HONGSAM EverNew®️ high lightfast dye ink prints images with true color reproduction, high color saturation, more three-dimensional tones, and longer store time. HONGSAM EverNew®️ high lightfast dye ink also meets the needs of industries with high requirements on light fastness in advertising, light boxes, decoration, medical imaging, etc.
Preferred raw materials, light resistance increased by 5-10 times: HONGSAM EverNew®️ high lightfast dye ink is made of dyes and additives with high light resistance, the chemical reaction of the colorants slows down under light, extending the light resistance of the pattern. The UV resistance is 5 to 10 times that of ordinary dye inks. EverNew®️ dye ink greatly improves the light-fastness level of the red system (M, PM), making the red and orange parts that are easily faded more lightfast.
High edge sharpness, clear and detailed images: This ink has precisely adjusted penetration, drying and moisturizing properties. When printed on the media, it can be quickly dried, therefore, the printed image clarity is extremely high, the edges of text and patterns are extremely sharp, the lines are neat, and there is no ink bleeding.
Comparison Test on Light-fastness:
HONGSAM holds 19 national invention patents and is one of the drafters of 9 national industry standards in China’s ink sector. Its imaging inks are fully compatible with micro-piezo printheads and were among the first to overcome the industry challenge of pigment inks easily coking and clogging thermal bubble printheads, making it one of the world’s earliest manufacturers to launch highly stable thermal bubble pigment inks.
HONGSAM imaging inks enjoy a strong reputation in China’s imaging industry. In the international large-format digital imaging field, our outstanding quality has also received public technical recognition from global authoritative institutions. As early as 2011, Mr. Nicholas and his team from FLAAR Reports, the internationally renowned independent large-format inkjet evaluation organization, conducted an in-depth on-site inspection of HONGSAM’s factory for Canon imagePROGRAF IPF large-format imaging replacement inks. They highly praised HONGSAM’s precise control over the underlying chemical formulations for thermal bubble printheads. The evaluation confirmed that HONGSAM’s inks for Canon’s large-format imaging effectively solve the industry pain points of thermal bubble printheads’ tendency to coke and clog. They demonstrated excellent ink flow and extremely high startup stability while maintaining high-quality image output, significantly reducing overall consumable costs for large-format users.
Click to view the original introduction by Mr. Nicholas on HONGSAM imaging inks:
Click to view the original FLAAR Reports on HONGSAM imaging inks:
https://www.HONGSAM.cn/news/alternative-ink-for-canon-ipf-printers.html
1. Broad Media Adaptability
In today’s digital printing market, excellent imaging inks must not only perform well on traditional paper but also possess strong cross-media adaptability. HONGSAM imaging inks are rigorously formulated to account for surface tension, capillary absorption, and drying/flow leveling properties of different substrates, completely breaking through traditional imaging output material boundaries and perfectly spanning the three core fields of professional imaging, digital graphic arts, and medical imaging.
- High-End Imaging and Art Reproduction (Photo Paper / Canvas / Art Paper):
High-grade glossy/matte photo paper: The ink absorbs extremely quickly on resin-coated surfaces, with sharp color boundaries and smooth highlights, without any feathering.
Canvas and art paper: For decorative paintings and exhibition-grade art reproductions, the ink perfectly conforms to the media’s unique texture and fabric grain. The ink layer adheres evenly without buildup, ensuring the image does not crack at the edges or exhibit ink cracking.
Traditional rice paper: It solves the industry pain point of uncoated or weakly coated art media easily absorbing ink, causing sinking and darkening. The ink maintains extremely high color saturation and precise grayscale transitions on rice paper, perfectly reproducing the ethereal layering and bleeding artistic conception of “five shades of ink” (thick, light, scorched, dry, wet) in traditional Chinese ink paintings.
- High-End Advertising Printing and Premium Commercial Displays (Light Box Films):
Fully/ semi-transparent light box films: In backlit environments, HONGSAM inks deliver extremely high light transmittance and vibrant colors. When backlit, the images appear bright, transparent, and grain-free. The unique additive formulation also provides excellent UV resistance and scratch resistance, greatly extending the service life of high-end indoor and outdoor advertising displays.
- Engineering Graphics and Government/Enterprise Digitization (Surveying Blueprints):
White-to-blueprint / CAD engineering drawings: In surveying and engineering drawing output, HONGSAM inks are precisely compatible with high-speed large-format inkjet equipment. On ordinary bond paper or drafting paper, they provide extremely high line sharpness. Printed surveying blueprints have neat line edges without burrs. Their outstanding waterproof and moisture-resistant performance ensures that core geographic and technical data remain clear and unfaded even in harsh construction sites and field surveying environments.
- Smart Medical and Imaging Diagnosis (Medical Films):
Medical high-precision films (medical film): Medical imaging prints (such as CT, DR, MRI reports) have stringent medical diagnostic requirements for black density (Dmax) and grayscale contrast. HONGSAM imaging inks can perfectly image on medical blue and transparent PET medical films. Their molecular-level particle distribution ensures extremely high optical density and uniform light transmittance. Even the slightest lesion details and faint tissue shadows are clearly visible, providing doctors with high-precision, long-lasting, non-degrading medical image support for clinical diagnosis.
2. Color Management
The imaging industry has strict color requirements. HONGSAM inks adopt a scientific color system, with spectral photometric indicators highly consistent with original inks. Users only need to apply simple ICC profile calibration to achieve near-perfect color transitions, greatly reducing waste caused by color deviation.
3. Green Printing Under the “Environmental Protection” Value System
HONGSAM has always adhered to the core values of “Science, Integrity, Transcendence, and Environmental Protection.” As an industry benchmark, it is one of the drafters of the national industry standard “Limits of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Content in Inkjet Inks.” Its water-based imaging inks contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are odorless. This source-level environmental control ensures that prints and photo albums made with HONGSAM imaging inks fully meet high indoor decoration environmental standards. Even in enclosed, high-temperature lighted exhibition environments, the images remain fresh and odor-free. This commitment to health bottom line allows artists and curators to pursue ultimate visual impact while providing audiences and end clients with a safe, healthy green art space.
Choosing HONGSAM means selecting not just a consumable, but a mature “complete inkjet printing solution.”
25 Years of R&D Heritage: Founded in 2001 and focused exclusively on the inkjet ink track for 25 years, it has withstood multiple printhead technology revolutions, with technical stability proven through long-term market validation.
Strong Global Service Network: HONGSAM has three wholly-owned subsidiaries and four offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou domestically. It has built a three-dimensional marketing network consisting of more than 1,000 dealers, with products exported to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide.
More Than Just Ink — Cutting-Edge Inkjet Technology: HONGSAM adheres to the “HONGSAM+” business philosophy, building a complete ecosystem covering formulation, process, and application development centered on ink. It provides one-stop solutions. The four-party technology ecosystem of ink suppliers, equipment manufacturers, end users, and software developers creates network effects. In addition to imaging inks, HONGSAM is at the forefront in digital textile printing, industrial digital printing (corrugated paper, coated paper printing), OA office (Epson business inkjet machines), and water-based latex solutions, providing continuous technological dividends for enterprise transformation and upgrading.
Conclusion
The charm of digital imaging lies in capturing moments and creating lasting legacies. Choosing a high-quality imaging ink is not only protection for printing equipment and printheads, but also respect for the artistic efforts of creators. With its ultra-wide color gamut, ultra-strong lightfastness, excellent printhead compatibility, and green environmental standards, HONGSAM imaging ink is becoming the choice of more and more high-end digital imaging institutions.
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+86 19036977269
