What is Alliance_UC_UV?

Alliance_UC_UV is a dataset and ICC profile released by PRINTING United Alliance for UV-curable inks printed on uncoated paper. It fills a gap in North American specifications, where CRPC3 (GRACoL2013UNC_CRPC3) covered conventional inks on uncoated stock but no equivalent existed for UV.

Why do UV inks have a wider color gamut than conventional offset inks?

UV inks cure instantly under ultraviolet light and sit on the surface of the substrate rather than being absorbed into it. Less absorption means less dulling of the pigment, and UV curing supports higher pigment loads, producing richer and more saturated color across a wider gamut.

CRPC3, also known as GRACoL2013UNC_CRPC3, is Characterized Reference Printing Condition #3 — the North American reference condition for conventional inks printed on uncoated paper.

Alliance_UC_UV: UV Ink Standard for Uncoated Paper

PRINTING United Alliance just released a new dataset and profile for UV-curable inks on uncoated paper, called Alliance_UC_UV. This is significant, because it fills a real void in the current North American specifications.

Until now we've had Characterized Reference Printing Condition #3 (CRPC3) — also known as GRACoL2013UNC_CRPC3 — which covers traditional solvent-based inks on uncoated paper. But there was no standard for UV inks on uncoated stock.

The Gamut Difference, Visualized

The difference in color gamut between traditional offset process inks and UV inks comes down to their distinct formulations, drying mechanisms, and the way they interact with the substrate.

The new, larger Alliance_UC_UV gamut compared with the older GRACoL2013UNC_CRPC3 profile.

1. Traditional Offset Process Printing Inks

Drying mechanism: These inks dry through absorption into the substrate and oxidation, which limits the materials they're compatible with.
Color gamut:
- Narrower gamut compared to UV inks.
- Absorption into porous substrates causes slight dulling or loss of vibrancy, reducing color intensity.
- The achievable range varies with ink formulation and the substrate's brightness or finish.

2. UV Printing Inks

Drying mechanism: UV inks cure instantly on exposure to ultraviolet light. There's no absorption phase — the ink sits on the surface of the substrate.
Color gamut:
- Wider gamut, precisely because the ink stays on the surface.
- Vibrancy and intensity are enhanced — minimal interaction with the substrate to dilute or alter the pigments.
- UV curing supports higher pigment loads, enabling richer, more saturated color.
- Results stay consistent across a variety of substrates, including non-porous materials.

Key Takeaway

	Traditional offset inks	UV inks
Gamut	Narrower	Wider
Drying	Absorption + oxidation	Instant UV cure on the surface
Best suited to	Paper substrates	Non-porous and coated substrates
Vibrancy	Some loss from absorption	More vibrant and consistent

If maximizing color gamut is a critical concern, UV printing often offers superior performance — and now, on uncoated stock, there's finally a characterized reference condition to print and verify against.

Download the Dataset

You can download the dataset and profile from PRINTING United Alliance: Uncoated UV Dataset and Profile.

Schedule a Consultation

Our sister company, Great Western Ink, makes both conventional and UV inks — and we can help you profile and verify to the right standard for either. Contact us for more information.
info@aldertech.com