Gravure Printing -Fogging Issues and Solutions
Gravure printing, abbreviated as gravure, features thick ink layers, vibrant colors, high saturation, high print durability, stable print quality, and fast printing speed. Therefore, gravure printing has always been the primary printing method in the domestic flexible packaging printing industry.
In the gravure printing process, the quality of printed products is affected by various factors, including printing equipment, ink performance, environment, and human operation. Below is a brief introduction to common printing faults in gravure printing and their solutions.
Gravure Printing: Fogging Issues and Solutions
Fogging refers to the phenomenon where ink transferred from the doctor blade ends up on non-printing areas of the substrate, a common issue encountered in gravure printing. If the polish of the printing cylinder is not fine enough and is rough, it can cause ink to adhere, leading to fogging. Using excessive amounts of old ink can also cause fogging, as an imbalance in the ratio of resin to pigment in the ink can occur. For instance, if the resin content is too high, it may tightly envelop the cylinder, forming a wax-like fog layer that is difficult for the doctor blade to clear. Additionally, if the old ink does not have good leveling properties during normal operation, it can reduce ink adaptability, resulting in fogging.
Solutions for Fogging:
Polish the printing cylinder.
Adjust the doctor blade and reduce the printing speed.
Replace with new ink, minimize the use of old ink, and improve the lubrication of the ink to mitigate fogging.
