Blanket

In the printing industry, a blanket refers to a rubber-covered cylinder or surface used in offset printing presses. It plays a crucial role in transferring ink from the printing plate onto the printing substrate, such as paper or cardboard.

Synonym

Printing Blanket

Examples

1. Offset Printing: In offset lithography, a printing blanket is positioned on the blanket cylinder of the printing press. It receives ink from the ink rollers and then transfers the ink onto the printing plate, which in turn transfers the image onto the substrate.
2. Multicolor Printing: Printing blankets are used in multicolor printing processes to ensure precise registration and consistent ink transfer across different color plates, resulting in high-quality printed materials with vibrant colors and sharp details.
3. Variable Substrates: Printing blankets accommodate various substrates, including different paper thicknesses, textures, and finishes, making them versatile for a wide range of printing applications.

Recommendations

• Quality and Durability: Choose high-quality printing blankets that are durable, resistant to wear, and capable of maintaining consistent ink transfer over long print runs.
• Proper Installation: Ensure proper installation and alignment of printing blankets on the blanket cylinder to achieve accurate registration and uniform ink coverage on the substrate.
• Maintenance: Regularly clean and maintain printing blankets to remove ink buildup, debris, and contaminants that can affect print quality and cause printing defects.
• Compatibility: Use printing blankets that are compatible with the type of ink, printing plates, and substrates used in the printing process to optimize performance and minimize issues such as ink smudging or offsetting.

To learn more about printing blankets or other print industry tools, contact AP&B today.