Innovative Inkjet Printing Systems for Functional, Multisensory and Inclusive Design

Dear Colleagues,

Digital printing technologies have made short runs and personalization more accessible compared with traditional printing processes. Among these, inkjet printing has rapidly evolved from a conventional image reproduction method into a versatile coating and patterning technology. It is a valuable alternative to traditional coating processes that enables the precise deposition of both functional and conventional materials onto a wide range of substrates, with accurate control over droplet placement, layer thickness, and surface interaction. Thus, inkjet printing can be regarded as a digitally driven coating process that creates opportunities for advanced surfaces and functionalized products.

The ability to engineer coatings with tailored visual, tactile, optical, electrical, or reactive properties has expanded applications far beyond graphic arts, including printed electronics, biomedical devices, protective and responsive layers, cultural heritage preservation, inclusive design, and multisensory media. Advances in printhead design, ink and coating formulation and process optimization further strengthen the role of inkjet as a highly flexible surface engineering technique.

This Special Issue invites contributions that highlight the relationship between inkjet printing and coating technologies, including novel ink and coating formulations, functional materials, surface modification, adhesion and durability studies, and process control strategies. Submissions are also welcome on applications demonstrating how inkjet-enabled coatings contribute to multisensory communication, accessible design, cultural heritage reproduction, and sustainability.

By linking the scientific and technological aspects of coatings with the expanding capabilities of inkjet deposition, this Special Issue aims to foster fundamental research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Raša Urbas
Dr. Tomislav Cigula
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.