Poor rub resistance
Medium severitySymptoms
Ink marks or smears when the finished piece is rubbed
Probable causes
- Ink without enough wax
- very absorbent paper leaving pigment at the surface
- incomplete drying
The Print Guy · 2026-10-05
Other problems in this category
Ink (material) · TPG-054
Skinning in the fountain
Dry crust on the fountain ink; generates hickeys
Ink (material) · TPG-055
Ink hanging in the fountain (won't flow)
Ductor turns but ink doesn't feed; density drops
Ink (material) · TPG-061
Wrong shade in mixed Pantone ink
The spot color doesn't match the Pantone guide
Ink (material) · TPG-062
Thickened or expired ink (livering)
Gummy, lumpy or gelled ink in the can
Ink (material) · TPG-063
Loss of color strength
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Ink (material) · TPG-064
Ink too long or too short for the press
Long: stringing and misting. Short: poor transfer and distribution