Ink Coverage Calculator — Printing Ink Needed

Light images with lots of white space are 10-25% coverage. Medium images with mixed tones are 30-50%. Heavy, dark images are 60-80%. Full-coverage solid prints are 100%. Look at your design and estimate the inked area.

Each technique lays down a different film thickness. Screen printing pushes the most ink through the mesh (~0.01 ml/cm²). Intaglio fills deep grooves (~0.008 ml/cm²). Relief printing uses a moderate amount (~0.005 ml/cm²). Lithographic printing uses the thinnest film (~0.003 ml/cm²). These ml/cm² figures are practical printmaker estimates, not manufacturer datasheet values — the relative ordering (litho thinnest, screen thickest) is well established, but absolute use varies with roller loading, paper and pressure. Use the Custom option to enter your own measured rate.

No — they are conservative working estimates, not published manufacturer figures (no maker publishes a single ml/cm² rate because it depends on your roller, paper, pressure and ink body). They lean slightly generous so a purchasing estimate errs on the side of buying enough. For accuracy, weigh or measure the ink you use on a test edition and divide by the covered area, then enter that as a custom rate.

Printmaking loses ink through mixing, test prints, cleaning rollers/squeegees, ink left on the slab, and adjusting consistency. The default 1.3 factor adds 30% — a practical allowance for a single colour. Complex multi-colour or registration-heavy work wastes more, so raise the Waste Factor in Advanced Options (up to 2.0 = double).

Most printmaking ink tubes are 75 ml (e.g., Caligo Safe Wash, Cranfield). Large tins are typically 250 ml or 500 ml. Screen printing ink is sold in larger quantities, often 250 ml to 1 litre.

Yes — leftover printing ink can be saved in airtight containers. Oil-based inks last months if stored properly. Water-based inks may dry out faster. Mix leftovers into neutral colours for future use.