Photochromic Color Change Pigment for Printing

A light-reactive pigment powder engineered for printing applications where fine dispersion matters. The effect is reversible and repeatable: the printed area appears colorless or muted indoors, then develops full color outdoors under UV. Two behavior types are available — "clear to color" (starts colorless, develops to a shade) and "color to color" (starts in one shade, shifts to a second under UV).

All listed models sit in the 1–10μm range, selected specifically for ink systems and fine-line printing where larger particles would compromise print resolution or screen passage.

Product Series

Key Characteristics

• Reacts to changes in light level — activated by UV, reversible when removed from sunlight.
• Fast switching: pale to deep, rich color within roughly one second under direct sunlight.
• Does not fade under UV during the active state.
• Two effect families: clear-to-color and color-to-color.
• Fine 1–10μm sizing suited to ink dispersion and fine-detail printing.

Applications

Built for printing. The fine particle size lets the powder disperse cleanly through ink vehicles without clogging screens or blurring fine detail. Typical uses include screen-printed graphics, security and novelty prints, and surface decoration where an outdoor color reveal is the point of the design.

Practical Considerations

In practice, loading level drives intensity — photochromic systems generally need a higher pigment-to-binder ratio than conventional colorants to read clearly. Test in your actual ink base first; carrier chemistry and curing temperature affect both switch speed and longevity.

Worth noting: a uv reactive pigment powder of this kind responds to UV, not visible brightness, so indoor lighting that lacks UV will not trigger the change. Heat and aggressive solvents shorten functional life, so keep cure temperatures controlled and avoid prolonged high-heat processing.

That said, color-to-color grades are useful when you want a visible base shade indoors that transforms outdoors, while clear-to-color grades give a hidden-then-revealed effect on light substrates.

FAQ

How fast does the color change?
The shift from pale to full color happens within about one second of direct sunlight exposure. The reverse fade indoors takes longer and depends on ambient temperature.

Will the effect fade over time?
The pigment will not fade during UV activation. Functional lifespan over many cycles depends on processing conditions and total UV exposure — controlled curing and avoiding overheating extend service life.

Can I get a base color that also changes?
Yes. Color-to-color grades such as KT-PMC-01-YG or KT-PMC-05-BP start in one shade and shift to a second under UV, unlike clear-to-color grades that begin colorless.

Does it work under indoor light?
Activation requires UV. Standard indoor lighting without a UV component generally won't trigger a full color shift.

Request TDS, MSDS, and COA documentation or a sample set to match the right grade to your ink system and contact our technical team for formulation guidance.