How this works

The ink estimator uses the standard offset-printing formula: per-channel ink consumption equals sheet area (m²) × average coverage × sheet count × wet ink film thickness × ink density, with a +10% waste buffer for press setup and start-up sheets.

Default constants: 1.2 µm wet ink film thickness, 1.0 g/cm³ process ink density, 10% waste. Actual consumption varies with press condition, paper absorbency, ink rheology, and operator practice — treat the estimate as a starting point and refine against your own historical job data.

Common questions

Does this include spot/Pantone inks?

Switch the “Ink set” field to “CMYK + spot” and the estimate adds a fifth channel at the same coverage. For runs where the spot color has dramatically different coverage from the process colors, run the estimator twice and add the results.

Why is my actual consumption higher than the estimate?

The biggest sources of variance are paper absorbency (uncoated stock absorbs more ink than coated), make-ready sheets, ink mileage differences between manufacturers, and density adjustments during the run. Flexum's sales team can help you calibrate the formula to your specific press and inks.