Gravure Printing Issues

In gravure printing, several common issues can impact print quality and production efficiency, particularly when using water-based gravure printing ink.

For example, hazing can cause a dull or milky appearance on solid areas, while missing dots lead to incomplete image reproduction due to poor ink transfer.

Other frequent defects include chattermarks, which appear as repeating streaks caused by vibrations, mottle where ink lies unevenly, and blocking, when the printed layer sticks to the backside of the substrate during winding or stacking. These issues not only reduce the visual quality but may also lead to waste and rework. 

The usual causes of such problems often come from a mix of ink formulation, substrate condition, and machine setup. Proper troubleshooting focuses on matching the root cause with the right corrective action to restore stable, high-quality gravure printing.

The following are some common causes and solutions for defects in gravure printing.