Understanding Eco Solvent Ink for Epson® Printers

Eco solvent ink for Epson® printers remains one of the most popular solutions for wide-format printing applications. Businesses choose eco solvent printing because it delivers durable graphics, vibrant color output, and reliable outdoor performance across multiple media types.

Additionally, eco solvent printing technology supports banners, vehicle wraps, signage, labels, and promotional graphics while reducing odor and improving workplace comfort compared to traditional aggressive solvent inks.

Defining solvent-based ink

Solvent-based ink is any ink dissolved in another substance, which can be glycol ether esters or glycol esters and their derivatives. Water is not used to dissolve the ink. The printing industry categorizes this type of ink based on the amount of heat that is necessary to dry the solvent once it is applied on the medium. These are distinguished as aggressive and mild.

About mild solvent inks

Mild solvent is also known as ‘eco-solvent,’ and it uses a generous amount of heat because of the slow-drying solvent. Printers that use eco solvent-based inks have plenty of heaters to make sure that the ink dries appropriately. The cartridges are designed for fast printers. Keep in mind that the faster the printer is, the more heat is needed to dry ink.

Eco solvent ink suppliers carry products with ink formulations that typically have gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) or diethylene glycol diethyl ether as the primary solvent, which is the byproduct of petroleum production. Most of the supply comes from Germany. Eco solvent ink for Epson® is preferred by discerning businesses who want to make their printing eco-friendly, as the products are mostly odorless and do not have volatile organic compounds.

What to look for in eco solvent or mild solvent ink

Price is usually the determining factor that can make you choose a particular ink. However, you should also consider eco solvent ink suppliers with products that are GBL-free and EN71-3 and Prop 65 compliant. These qualifications matter when it comes to ensuring the safety of the product

What about aggressive solvent inks?

Aggressive solvent ink dries quickly and requires minimal heat during production. As a result, businesses commonly use this ink for outdoor graphics requiring scratch resistance, weather durability, and long-term performance.

In solvent-based printing, the liquid solvent carries pigment before application. After printing, the solvent evaporates while the pigment remains bonded to the material surface

Safety precautions

Eco solvent inks for Epson® are used for a multitude of applications in the printing industry. But when determining which ink to use, don’t just rely on the terms ‘aggressive’ and ‘mild,’ as these cannot tell how safe (or unsafe) the solvents can be.

To ensure safety in your print shop, read the ink’s safety data sheet. It will show how the cartridge should be used, handled, disposed of, and cleaned. It should also provide information on the long-term and short-term effects of exposure to the solvent.

Where to buy solvent-based inks

STS Inks offers professional eco solvent ink for Epson® printers designed for dependable print quality, weather resistance, and long-term production performance. Our eco solvent ink solutions support vibrant color output while maintaining compatibility with leading Epson® wide-format printing systems.

With more than 20 years of ink manufacturing experience in the United States, STS Inks continues providing professional printing solutions trusted by commercial print shops worldwide. Additionally, our eco solvent ink products help businesses maintain efficient workflows and durable outdoor graphics.