Fountain Solution

Fountain solution for offset printing press

Nothing affects an offset run more than the fountain solution. Get the water-ink balance right and the print stays clean, the colour steady from the first sheet to the last. At Printbar, we treat it as part of the press. Our sheet-fed, coldset and heatset solutions let you cut the IPA dose or go alcohol-free, backed by years of plate and film making, so we cover every press, plate and water type.

Fountain solution catalogue

Stable water-ink balance.

Keeps ink transfer steady and image areas separate from non-image areas. Get it right and the run stays clean, the colour holding firm from first sheet to last.

Process control

Lower VOC, more plate output

Printbar Fountain Solutions

Surface tension is the whole game. This chemistry knocks it down on the plate so non-image areas stay clean and ink lands where it should. pH buffer holds 4.5 to 5.5 on any water, hard or soft. Less ink. Sharper dots. For all offset presses.

Sheetfed Fountain Solution	Anti‑Calcification Fountain Solution
Heatset Fountain Solution	Coldset Fountain Solution
UV Fountain Solution	Alcohol-free Fountain Solution

Please contact our sales for detailed model specifications.

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Fountain solution list

Alcohol-free Fountain Solution

Coldset Fountain Solution

UV Fountain Solution

Heatset Fountain Solution

Anti Calcification Fountain Solution

PrintBar Fountain Solutions — product specifications

Product	Dilution	IPA	pH	Hardness °dH	Cond. µS/cm	Surf. tens. dyne/cm	Water temp	Packing
Sheet-fed Single-sheet presses, soft & hard water; stable pH buffer, uniform plate water film, resists scumming; PS & CTP.	2–3%	6–8%	4.8–5.2	0–25*	800–1200^	32–45^	8–12 °C^	20 / 25 L
UV UV & standard sheet-fed; formaldehyde-free (longer plate life), best ink-water balance (less ink pile), controls emulsification & calcium, no foam, antimicrobial.	1.5–3%	5–8%	4.8–5.8	0–20*	800–1200^	32–45^	8–12 °C^	25 kg
Heat-set High-speed web heatset (books, magazines, catalogues, paper packaging); stable water system, quick start, strong buffer, low/zero alcohol, antimicrobial.	3–4%	6–8%	4.2–4.7	5–15*	800–1200^	32–45^	8–12 °C^	20 / 25 L
Cold-set Coldset inks, brush/traditional/turbine/spray dampening, newspaper web; stable at speed, strong buffer, reduces alcohol. (no separate TDS — values mirror Newspaper series)	3–4%	6–8%	4.2–4.7	5–20*	800–1200^	32–45^	8–12 °C^	25 L
Alcohol-free Zero alcohol & zero VOC (DIN 55649-2000), SGS & HJ2503-2011 certified; every flat press, any PS/CTP plate, soft & hard water; anti-scale, anti-corrosion, non-toxic, non-foam, flame-retardant. Versions C3001 (Komori), universal, C5500 (Heidelberg/KBA), quick-dry.	3–4%	0%	4.8–5.6	0–15*	800–1200	32–38	8–10 °C	20 kg
Anti-Calcification Hard water & calcium-prone rollers (>12 °dH); prevents roller stripping & glazing, keeps ink rollers clean.	2–3%	6–8%	4.8–5.8	>12 target	800–1200^	32–45^	8–12 °C^	20 L
Fountain Solution Powder Powder concentrate that replaces alcohol, dosed 1:1000 (10 g in 10 kg water); PS & quick-dry versions, quick drying (stops set-off), cleans plate surface, no chromium, non-toxic.	1:1000	8–12%	4.8–5.6	0–15*	800–1300	32–45^	8–10 °C	300/500/800 g

What does fountain solution do in offset printing?

Fountain solution is the thin liquid that keeps the non-image (blank) areas of the plate wet so ink doesn't grab there. When it's set right you get clean prints with sharp dots. When it drifts, you see scumming or the image goes weak.

Dampening water vs fountain solution — what's the difference?

Why does the water-ink balance matter so much?

What's the upside of cutting the isopropyl alcohol?

Should I be using an IPA-free / low-VOC fountain solution?

Why does UV printing need a different fountain solution?

What should a fountain solution do for processless (chemistry-free) plates?

Does water hardness (calcium) really matter — and how do I control it?

Fountain Solution