Cylinder Gap

The cylinder gap is the space between the printing cylinder and the plate or blanket in a printing press. This gap is crucial for achieving accurate ink transfer and maintaining print quality.

Synonym

Cylinder Clearance

Examples

• In offset printing, the cylinder gap must be precisely adjusted to ensure proper contact between the plate and the blanket for clean and crisp prints.
• A misadjusted cylinder gap can lead to issues like smudging or inconsistent ink distribution, affecting the overall quality of the printed material.

Recommendations

• Regularly check and adjust the cylinder gap to maintain optimal print quality and prevent issues related to ink transfer.
• Use precision tools or gauges to measure and set the cylinder gap accurately, ensuring consistent results across print runs.
• Consult the press manufacturer’s guidelines for specific recommendations on cylinder gap settings to match the type of printing job and ink being used.

To learn more about this or other print aspects, contact AP&B!