Shellac for Printing Ink — Binder for Flexo, Gravure & Edible Inks

What shellac does in ink

In an ink or varnish, shellac is the binder: the resin that holds pigment on the surface and forms the dry film. It dissolves readily in ethanol and isopropanol, which suits fast-drying flexographic and gravure printing, and it gives gloss, hardness, grease resistance and good adhesion to paper and board. Dissolved in dilute ammonia, it can also be used as a water-borne binder.

Flexo and gravure inks (paper, board)	Fast-drying alcohol binder with good gloss · machine-made or dewaxed flakes
Overprint varnish	Clear, hard, grease-resistant top coat · dewaxed grades for clarity
Edible marking inks	Printing on sweets and tablets · food-grade, wax-free bleached shellac
Water-based paper inks and coatings	Ammonia-dissolved shellac as a water-borne binder

Choosing the grade

• Waxed or dewaxed: natural lac wax (about 3–5% in standard flakes) makes alcohol solutions cloudy. That matters in clear varnishes and light shades, so use a dewaxed grade there. Pigmented inks often tolerate waxed shellac flakes, which cost less.
• Colour: pale grades such as Platina or Super Blonde keep varnishes and light colours clean. Darker grades are fine under strong pigments.
• Edible inks: inks for marking confectionery and tablets need a food-grade resin. Use E904 food-grade shellac and keep it on a separate food-grade supply line.
• Natural-colour inks: makers of natural and artisan inks use water-soluble lac dye as a red colourant alongside shellac as the binder.

What to put on the specification

Specify wax content, colour (with the scale used, for example Gardner or Lovibond), acid value, alcohol-insoluble matter and flow. Flow shows how fresh the resin is: it falls as shellac ages, and aged resin dissolves slowly and can leave haze. Tell us your solvent system so we can match the grade.

How we supply ink makers

We supply shellac flakes, dewaxed grades and food-grade shellac in 25 kg packs, with a batch COA from a NABL-accredited laboratory. For offset and flexo binders and tackifiers we also supply gum rosin (colophony) in X, WW, WG and N grades. Send your current specification or a sample of the resin you use when you request a quote, and we will match the grade and send a trial sample.

Quick answers

Which shellac grade is best for printing ink? For clear varnishes and light colours, use a dewaxed grade for clarity. Pigmented inks can often use waxed machine-made grades. Edible marking inks need food-grade, wax-free bleached shellac.

Can shellac be used in water-based inks? Yes. Dissolved in dilute ammonia, shellac forms a water-borne binder used in some paper inks and varnishes. It is supplied to you as dry resin.

What should an ink buyer put on the specification? Wax content, colour, acid value, alcohol-insoluble matter and flow, plus the solvent system you use. Ask for fresh lots, since solubility falls as shellac ages.

This guide summarises publicly available regulations and industry practice as of October 2026. Verify the current rules for your market and your own quality agreement before ordering. It is not legal advice.