In offset lithography, the removal of ink from the metallic ink rollers due to the presence of too much fountain solution, which has been transferred by the ink itself, and which makes the ink rollers ink-repellent. Decreasing the strength or the flow of the fountain solution may help alleviate the problem, as will the addition of emulsifying agents such as laketine. Copper rollers are also an effective solution. Roller stripping can also be caused by glazed rollers, or by the use of a fountain solution with too low a pH. Generally speaking, roller stripping that occurs at the beginning of a press run is typically caused by a glazed roller, while stripping that occurs in the middle of a run is caused by excessive or excessively acidic fountain solution.
The term roller stripping also refers to the act of removing excess ink from ink rollers by running a sheet of heavy paper through them.