  Printing of metallic films has been preferred for roll-to-roll processes over
vacuum technologies due to faster processing times and lower processing costs.
Films can be produced by depositing inks containing suspended metallic
particles within a solvent and then heating the films to both remove the
solvent and sinter the particles. The resulting printed structure, electrical
and mechanical behavior of the printed films has been studied to better
understand their electro-mechanical response to loading and eventual brittle
fracture. This study evaluated the electro-mechanical behavior of 1.25 {\mu}m
printed Ag films using in-situ resistance and in-situ imaging methods. Digital
image correlation was utilized with confocal laser scanning microscope images
to better visualize crack initiation during tensile straining. This technique
showed that cracks initiated earlier in the thicker areas of the film (crests)
than in lower areas (troughs) because of a higher density of printing defects
and the increased thickness.
