A printing problem of offset lithography characterized by an excessive amount of ink on the printing plate, caused by too much ink flow from the ink fountain, too little water flow from the water fountain, or an inadequate amount of etching material in the fountain solution.
The term flooding also refers to a printing ink defect characterized by the separation on the surface of the ink of one type of pigment from others with which it has been mixed.
Flooding also refers to a printing problem in flexography in which more ink is transferred to the plate in the center than the sides, commonly caused by deflection of the fountain roller.
In screen printing, flooding is an alternate term for air pull, or coating the top of the screen fabric with ink without making an impression. Also called flood coating.