A defect of gravure printing characterized by printed areas possessing hairlike tendrils of ink sticking out into non-image areas, caused by the buildup of static charges on the moving web which attract oppositely-charged drops of ink from the gravure cylinder cells as the substrate is leaving the impression zone. Such buildup can be caused by low humidity in the pressroom, fast press speed, or wet ink solvent on the substrate, and can be reduced by moistening the paper web, or by using static brushes or tinsel, or by dusting the impression roller with talcum powder.
|