Are ink eaters really needed?

[D.M.]

Hi,
Could someone provide me some info about ink eaters placed on step&repeats?
Pro and cons? Love to see some examples.
Only what I know is the ink eaters are helpful for setting ink keys on press.
For some time our pressmen say that they are not able to print without extremely usage of ink eaters (sometimes overprinted).

best regards,
Damian

 

[gordo]

Can you provide a pic of your "ink eaters"?

Gordo

 

[Asures]

Just curious, do you mean "Ink Agitators?"

 

[mutti8000]

Throw in a bucket of halftone dots, and everthing will be fine!

 

[Deleted member 16349]

Hi,
Could someone provide me some info about ink eaters placed on step&repeats?
Pro and cons? Love to see some examples.
Only what I know is the ink eaters are helpful for setting ink keys on press.
For some time our pressmen say that they are not able to print without extremely usage of ink eaters (sometimes overprinted).

best regards,
Damian

Do you mean "take off bars" which take ink out of the system by printing the ink to the paper?

 

[Cornishpastythighs]

I think that's exactly what he means Erik

 

[D Ink Man]

The variable ink strength system, based on form coverage, would be ideal for this problem. Still being conceived by the great minds of inkology!?! D

 

[rich apollo]

Damian, I believe what you are calling "ink eaters" are known as "take-off bars", or "ghosting bars" in this part of the world. The need for take-off bars depends entirely on the layout. Printing presses are built to mill out, and lay down, a uniform ink film. When a layout has sudden changes in ink coverage, it can lead to unwanted changes in density. Ink that is kept from laying down in white areas has to go somewhere. Take-off bars provide somewhere for that ink to go.

 

[bean66]

We use take off bars and ghost bars quite regularly. Take off bars are usually for using ink across the print unit when there is very little ink used in image. Ghost bars are used to to more evenly use ink on a heavy coverage plate when there are blank spots in the print. For example, a spot color background with a 4c photo in the middle. We would add an equal amount of spot in line with the 4c image so it doesn't print the spot darker in that area.

 

[ajr]

We had to use them all the time when the ink ducts couldnt be set to zero on our Komori. I would look at the press first as in an ideal world you shouldnt need them as it causes too much variation across the sheet (but obviously thats why you need them!) Check your press first.