On the Causality of Physical Properties on the Printability of Wood Containing Printing Papers, 1996 Process & Product Quality Conference Proceedings

R.E. Popil, Ph.D.

MacMillan Bloedel Research

This paper reviews the current understanding of various paper physical properties on printability. Printing is a dynamic chemical/physical process involving the interplay of several forces: ink/paper chemistry, compression and deformation of the paper surface, springback after press nip exit, ink to paper transfer. Many conventional testing instruments attempt to link some measurable physical property with a paper’s printing characteristics primarily such as solid area print mottle or fraction of missing to printed dots in rotogravure half tones. The contention is upheld that new techniques are required to characterize a paper’s suitability for printing. This survey examines the parallels between the physics of the printing process and those physical properties of paper that are thought to influence printing. Particular focus is made of the effects of formation, surface characteristics such as smoothness or topography on printability and the measurement of these quantities. Illustrative examples are drawn from the author’s experience.