Weak-solvent inks, through enhancements in environmental friendliness, optimization of technical performance, and expanded media compatibility, have achieved substitution for conventional solvent-based inks while retaining the advantages of solvent-based inks. The specific analysis is as follows:

### **I. Environmental Upgrading: From High Pollution to Low VOC Emissions**

Traditional solvent-based inks primarily use ester- and ketone-based organic solvents (accounting for up to 90%), resulting in high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This necessitates forced ventilation in production workshops, and prolonged exposure may pose health risks to operators. Low-solvent inks achieve an environmental breakthrough through the following improvements:

1. **Reduced VOC Content**: The VOC content of the low-solvent ink is ≤250 g/L, significantly lower than the environmental limits for conventional solvent-based inks, eliminating the need for additional ventilation systems in the production workshop.

2. **Substitution of Toxic Solvents**: Abandoning highly toxic solvents such as cyclohexanone and methyl ethyl ketone, and instead adopting mildly toxic, environmentally friendly solvents with an oral median lethal dose (LD50) exceeding 3,000 ml/kg, thereby significantly enhancing safety.

3. **High Flashpoint Design**: The closed-cup flashpoint is above 65°C, reducing the risk of fire and meeting green printing standards.

### **II. Technical Performance Optimization: Dual Enhancement of Precision and Weather Resistance**

On the basis of retaining the characteristics of solvent-based inks—such as rapid drying and no need for coating—weak-solvent inks have achieved higher printing precision and improved outdoor weather resistance through technological upgrades.

1. **Dot Spread Control Technology**: By optimizing the solvent formulation and filtration process, dot gain is kept to an extremely low level, enabling print resolutions of up to 1440 dpi—matching the fine detail quality of water-based inks.

2. **UV Fade Resistance**: By incorporating UV-resistant additives, the outdoor display’s weather resistance is improved by more than 30%, and the color retention period is extended to 2–3 years.

3. **Fast Drying and Abrasion Resistance**: The ink dries faster and exhibits enhanced surface scratch resistance, making it ideal for outdoor billboards that are used frequently.

### **III. Expanded Media Compatibility: From Limited Substrates to Full-Scenario Coverage**

Although traditional solvent-based inks can adhere to non-porous materials such as metals and plastics without the need for a coating, their applicability is limited to specific media types. Weak-solvent inks have achieved broader media compatibility through the following improvements:

1. **Coating-free printing**: Can be directly applied to outdoor materials such as lightbox fabric, PVC, and self-adhesive labels, reducing coating costs.

2. **Heating-Assisted Technology**: A built-in heater in the printer accelerates ink curing, further expanding the range of printable media and even enabling coating-free printing on certain smooth surfaces.

3. **Special-color Ink Development**: Introduce special-color inks such as black and gray to expand color gamut coverage and enhance the accuracy of black-and-white photo reproduction.

### **4. Expansion of Application Scenarios: From Outdoor Advertising to Full-Spectrum Coverage**

Thanks to their comprehensive advantages, low-solvent inks have expanded from the outdoor advertising sector to cover all indoor and outdoor scenarios.

1. **Outdoor Advertising**: Its high precision, weather resistance, and coating-free properties make it the mainstream choice for lightbox fabrics and PVC printing.

2. **Interior Decoration**: Low odor and eco-friendly properties meet the requirements of indoor environments such as shopping malls and exhibition halls.

3. **Personalized Customization**: Compatible with high-precision print heads from Epson, Roland, and other brands, supporting niche markets such as personalized photo printing and artistic printing.

### **V. Industry Adaptation and Standardization Development**

Weak-solvent inks have established a multi-model compatibility system, driving the development of industry standards.

1. **Device Compatibility**: Supports mainstream inkjet printers such as Mimaki JV3 and Roland VersaArt RS-640, covering multi-color configurations including dual 4-color and single 6-color systems plus cleaning solutions.

2. **Brand Ecosystem**: International brands such as Agfa and Gerber have joined, fostering technological exchange and standardization.

3. **Performance Metrics**: Establish industry benchmarks in areas such as water resistance, quick-drying properties, and color performance, making it the mainstream choice in the outdoor advertising sector.