A property of printing ink that describes its ability to flow, and to form threads when stretched. Long inks flow well, and form long filaments when stretched. Although long inks have desirable flow characteristics, excessively long inks have a tendency to produce problems such as ink misting or flying when used on high-speed presses. Short inks form short filaments, have a butter-like consistency, and poor flow characteristics. Excessively short inks can cause piling or caking on the blanket, plate, or rollers. The best inks, therefore, are those that are not excessively long or short. The extent to which an ink will form threads is also called stringiness.
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