Influence of different printing pressure levels on sheet-fed offset print quality

Abstract

In the sheet-fed offset printing technique, an adequate high contact pressure between the blanket and the impression cylinders has to be appliedfor the proper ink transfer onto the printing substrate. The aim of this research is to investigate the influence ofthree printingpressure levels between blanket and impression cylinders, on various print quality parameters, during a four color sheet-fed offset printing process on gloss-coated paper. This was examined by measuring different control elements of both the printing plates and prints, in order to obtain quantitative information about the standard print quality parameters. Through the evaluation of this important printing factor and relating it to print quality, it would be possible to find out in what ways and to what extent different printing pressue levels affect sheet-fed offset print quality, and if the necessary normal printing pressue level produces the best print reproduction for all print quality parameters.