Hi,

You should really talk to the guys from the print shop, they are the best guys to answer.

Probably not. More likely toner. But only your printer would know.

I'd be willing to bet it's toner as well. Toner is wax-based, so it appears shiny even on uncoated paper.

If it's really shiny, it's probably not a wax-based (or micro) but an oil toner like a Xerox. All digital production machines have some level of "sheen" to them but the Xerox ones are generally more prone to glossiness (and a stubborn refusal to accept UV coats) than most of the others.

Ask your printer about your concerns. They might have another machine to use if the results are not what you wanted. But be prepared to accept that they do not.

Good luck

Thanks for your replies, guys!

Ya, I've asked them about it, I got a short answer "it's oil based ink". Never been to their place, so I can't take a peek. It's far, I always contact them via phone, email or their messenger. Someone that used to work at a digital printing shop mentioned they use solvent ink, so I thought it's solvent ink. So, solvent ink it's not glossy then?

How about this oil based ink printers? Any of you have reference of brands or anything? I like the glossy result from the printing shop. I'd like to know whether it's a wise investment to own a printer like theirs...

Oh, one more thing...is this oil based ink as dangerous as the solvent one?

Thanks again!

What do you think you might use to remove oil base inks?
Solvents...
Your printer may be pulling a fast one and is actually using an oil based toner...
Just sayin.

Ink of any kind won't be glossy on uncoated paper, so they are probably running it on a copier using oil based toner.

If it was a short run (<500 pieces) it's probably a digital production copier that ran your job. Of those, the oil-fused Xerox system sounds most likely but without seeing a sample it's impossible for us to say. Also let's not forget, not many digital copier operators are necessarily printing industry experts or have a wide range of experience. They might just not know how to more clearly answer your question.

If it was a longer run, yes, you may have gotten oil-based offset ink (often soy based). Offset inks are indeed cleaned with solvents. Your friend may have just not understood the system well enough. But these are often coated with Aqueous or UV clear coats (or varnishes) which could definitely give you a very shiny finished piece.

True solvent-based inks are relegated to specialized applications in some plotter / wide format (not my area of expertise), and screen printing (old-fashioned and have mostly been replaced by UV cured inks).

None of the above would be cost-effective for a freelancer to purchase much less learn how to operate. Well, aside from simple screen printing I suppose but that's a whole other can of ink =)