COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COLOUR DIFFERENCE (DELTA E) USING CONVENTIONAL, SOYA-BASED AND BIODEGRADABLE INKS ON PAPER BOARD USING OFFSET PRINTING PROCESS

The demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly printing solutions has prompted a shift from conventional petroleum-based inks to alternative options such as soya-based and biodegradable inks. This research focuses on the comparative analysis of colour difference (Delta E) resulting from the use of conventional, soya-based, and biodegradable inks on paperboard substrates through the offset printing process. As environmental concerns grow, the printing industry is increasingly exploring sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based inks. Soya-based and biodegradable inks offer potential benefits in terms of eco-friendliness, but their performance in terms of colour accuracy and consistency requires systematic evaluation. In this study, standard colour patches are printed using each ink type under identical offset printing conditions. Delta E (∆E), a widely accepted metric for measuring perceptible colour variation, is used to assess the colour differences among the samples. The research methodology involves spectrophotometric measurement of printed samples and calculation of ∆E values using standardized formulas. The study aims to provide insights into the suitability of alternative inks for high-quality printing applications, with a particular focus on colour fidelity, process compatibility, and sustainability.