A repeater is a specific design motif or pattern block that duplicates at mathematically equal intervals across a continuous substrate. In textile and wallpaper printing, the circumference of the printing cylinder determines the exact vertical length of this repeating unit. Press operators must align the cylinder registration perfectly so the edges of each unit join without visible breaks or misaligned overlaps.
Heard on the job
Check the registration on the third cylinder because the repeater is shifting a fraction of an inch on every rotation.
Insider tip
A poorly calculated repeater size will result in a visible seam line every time the cylinder completes a full revolution.