A form of piling, characterized by the accumulation of paper debris on the non-image areas of the printing blanket. Milking differs from powdering in that milking tends to comprise particles of non-moisture-resistant coatings that are loosened by the wet areas of the blanket and are transfered to the blanket. Milking becomes severe typically only when being run through multi-color presses, as the loose coating particles are continually pulled off by successive impressions. Milking is accelerated by water on the blanket. Powdering, on the other hand, is accelerated by the lack of water on the blanket. If milking and powdering become severe enough, they can interfere with ink transfer at the edges of image areas, and accelerate plate or blanket wear. See Piling.
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