A printing failure that occurs when the tackiness of the ink exceeds the surface strength of the paper. As the paper separates from the inked plate or blanket, the ink rips away tiny fibers, coating particles, or chunks of the paper surface. These loose particles then stick to the blanket or plate, causing white spots on subsequent prints.
Heard on the job
We're getting severe plucking on the solid black areas, so we need to add some tack reducer to the ink fountain.
Insider tip
Plucking is most common in cold pressrooms where ink becomes stiffer, or when running cheap coated stock.
Also heard as
- picking