Printing Defects : Ink Smearing/Smudging

Printing Defect: Smudging/Ink Smearing

When printing ink fails to stay within its intended boundaries, it can result in the defect of smudging or ink smearing. This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, each of which has specific remedies.

Causes: Remedies

1. Excess ink used: This can be addressed by reducing the ink viscosity, adding a fast-drying agent to the ink, or decreasing the machine speed.

2. Dirty printing plate: Ensuring that the printing plate is clean and free from any debris or ink buildup is essential to prevent smudging.

3. Ink throwing at high speed on the printing cylinder: To tackle this issue, it's important to cut down the ink flow to maintain control and prevent smudging.

By addressing these causes with their respective remedies, the quality of the printing process can be significantly improved, leading to better overall output.