Offset – Ink/Water problems: causes and fixes
14 Offset – Ink/Water problems in offset printing and finishing: symptoms, probable causes, step-by-step fixes and prevention.
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-030
Ink over-emulsification
Washed-out colors, short ink that won't transfer, watery haze
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-031
Tinting (ink in non-image areas)
Slight uniform tint across the whole sheet
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-032
Scumming (localized greasing)
Ink marks in non-image areas, localized and persistent
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-033
Excessive dot gain
Dark print, plugged shadows, lost detail
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-034
Color variation during the run
Sheet 5,000 doesn't match the approved start-up sheet
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-035
Slow drying
The pile won't dry; can't back up or finish
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-036
Set-off in the pile
Ink marks the back of the next sheet
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-041
Ink won't adhere on metallized/plastic stock
Ink scratches off with a fingernail after drying
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-037
Ink misting
Ink fog soiling press and sheets; ink smell in the air
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-038
Hickeys
Ink dots surrounded by a white halo in solids
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-039
Mechanical ghosting
Ghost image repeating at roller circumference distance
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-040
Poor trapping (ink on ink)
Second color won't take over the first; dirty overprint colors
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-043
Chalking
Dry ink rubs off as powder
Offset – Ink/Water · TPG-042
Foam in the fountain solution
Foam in the circuit; irregular dampening