Ghosting in flexo printing

A brief video about the different types of the annoying problem described as "ghosting" in flexographic printing.

[@jalaleddinecharkawi]

Nice video. Ghosting is the most difficult issue in flexographie process. Sometimes it's impossible to avoid.

[@markrobey-lount8992]

Great video. I always try to explain to people about anilox depth to opening ratio's.

[@TKelther]

Thanks Stefano! Interesting video

[@flexodesign2722]

Thanks for the interesting video Show we try our best to do everything But in some cases it does not help and forced We have to print it over and over again Thanks and good luck 🙂👍

[@flexoexpert]

Mr. Deming used to say: "It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best." I try to help users in improving their "know what to do" level.

[@lordzontor]

thanks for the info......love the precisely printed beard.🙂

[@davidj161]

What’s your thoughts on ghosting blades, we’re using one right now. Does a 3rd ghosting blade sit on the anilox to help wipe off more ink or does it not touch the anilox at all and just create a vortex in the chamber blade to slow down the volume to the anilox?? I’m debating with a coworker

[@flexoexpert]

I agree there are different approaches. I think that a 3rd blade should provide an extra "push" of ink-flow towards the cells, so it would be positive and not touching, or with minimum pressure with the surface of the anilox. I also think that a well-configured chamber and a good balance in anilox engraving would not require any additional blade.

[@davidj161]

@@flexoexpert thanks! We use ghosting blades not only to avoid ghosting but it helps stop peppering or ink bridging from one dot to another. But usually if there’s peppering putting new blades in usually stop this. We do a lot of fine screen work but our bosses don’t wanna use anything finer then a 900 anilox as they see them ware over time so they end up printing like a 1000 or so

[@flexoexpert]

@@davidj161 dot bridging is more likely caused by excessive ink quantity... if a 3rd blade cleans better, it means that the normal metering is not well configured, maybe excessive blade pressure/bending causing hydroplaning and too much ink passing under the blade (easy to detect with tip angle measurement). Cannot comment about 900 or 1000 anilox: it is meaningless without volume information.

[@davidj161]

@@flexoexpert the press I operate is a 10 colour Bobst F&K 20SIX machine. We run high speed food packaging so usually without extra chamber pressure we get bouncing and chamber leaks all the time. But yes I agree I have seen that issue with blades. Our 900s are 2.7bcm I believe. I’ve suggested to management getting some 1000s 1100s 1.2-1.7bcm for our fine screen work but they’re happy with the 900x2.7 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@garbo7779]

We call it the ghosts in the machine. You just don’t believe in them and they go away 😊

[@flexoexpert]

Something like “close your eyes and they’ll disappear” 😅 not sure if it works tho’

[@jayramsawant2825]

Good afternoon sir, hope all is well .... I have the cut line problems in solid color printing, can you give me some solution

[@flexoexpert]

Hello, you can contact me directly from flexo.expert/about/contact/ so you can explain in more details possibly with some scans of the issue or maybe with some samples shipped for analysis. Best regards

[@marioarizmendiduarte8399]

I am the prepress man on the DryOfsset Industry and this happens also here, I go laughing when the press operator comes to me telling me that do something on the art or the prepress to correct this problem. There is nothing I can do.

[@flexoexpert]

well, in offset sometimes you can add a "discharge" area if layout permits

[@ustassdrake8857]

sorry but you are a monster of flexografie... thanks about each video you made