A defect of gravure printing characterized by a non-uniform distribution of voids, or unprinted areas, commonly found in the printing of paper or paperboards with a hard, uneven surface of low compressibility, caused by the incomplete transfer of ink from the engraved cells of the gravure cylinder to the substrate. A harder impression roller, a lower-viscosity ink, and/or a slower-drying ink may help alleviate the problem. The use of an Electrostatic Assist unit will also help prevent snowflaking. Snowflaking that occurs in middle-tone areas of the print is also referred to as mealiness. Snowflaking is also a defect of offset lithography characerized by tiny white, unprinted specks in type in solids, caused when ink is excessively emulsified.
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