Blankets problems: causes and fixes

7 Blankets problems in offset printing and finishing: symptoms, probable causes, step-by-step fixes and prevention.

Blankets · TPG-079

Blanket swelling

Swollen area printing with more pressure; local gain, registration affected

High severity

Blankets · TPG-078

Glazed blanket

Smooth shiny surface; poor transfer, washed-out solids, slurring

Medium severity

Blankets · TPG-080

Height loss / fatigue-flattened blanket

Overall insufficient pressure; weak image despite correct packing

Medium severity

Blankets · TPG-081

Blanket delamination

Blister or bubble under the surface; locally distorted image

Medium severity

Blankets · TPG-082

Wrong blanket tension

Loose: doubling, wrinkles. Overtensioned: crushed carcass, short life

Medium severity

Blankets · TPG-083

Blanket edge marks on the print

Lines or shadows at the format edges

Low severity

Blankets · TPG-084

New blanket repelling ink

First sheets come out washed-out after a blanket change

Low severity

Other categories

Binding (hotmelt/PUR) (8)Die-cutting/Cracking (12)Feeder/Delivery (9)Folder-gluer (18)Folding (12)Fountain solution (10)Gathering/Stitching/Gluing (10)Grippers/Sheet travel (8)Guillotine/Cutting (6)High rulings/Stochastic (12)Hot foil (7)Ink (material) (12)Inking calibration (6)Lamination (5)Metallized (9)Offset – Ink/Water (14)Offset – Mechanical/Paper (12)Paper/Board (10)Plates (CTP) (7)Polyboard/Corona (14)Prepress (10)Pressroom climate (5)Rollers (7)Stripping (8)Substrates GC/Bond/Coated (11)Three-knife trimmer (8)UV coating (7)Water-based coating (8)Wire/Spiral binding (7)