A folding apparatus of an offset web-fed printing press includes a first transport means formed as belt conveyor system for a web-shaped printing material and configured such that belts thereof can be driven at a speed, which corresponds to the speed of the printing material, and a first cutting means arranged in the region of the first transport means configured such that it severs the printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections not covered by the belts of the first transport means, and a second transport means arranged downstream from the first transport means and formed as belt conveyor system, the belts of which are offset relative to the belts of the first transport means transversely to the transport direction of the printing material, configured such that the belts thereof can be driven at a speed larger than the speed of the belts of the first transport means.

Examples are directed toward anticounterfeit markings printed on a substrate. A method includes determining with a microprocessor running computer executable code non-transitorily stored on tangible computer readable media that: a first microprinting appears on a front side of the substrate as front side markings of first portions of a plurality of characters having dimensions in a micrometer range when viewed from the front side with reflected light, a second microprinting appears on a back side of the substrate as back side markings of second portions of the plurality of characters having dimensions in the micrometer range when viewed from the back side with reflected light, and the first microprinting and the second microprinting in combination appear as microprinting of whole characters of the plurality of characters when viewed with transmitted light.

Examples are directed toward anticounterfeit markings printed on a substrate. A method includes determining with a microprocessor running computer executable code non-transitorily stored on tangible computer readable media that: a first microprinting appears on a front side of the substrate as front side markings of first portions of a plurality of characters having dimensions in a micrometer range when viewed from the front side with reflected light, a second microprinting appears on a back side of the substrate as back side markings of second portions of the plurality of characters having dimensions in the micrometer range when viewed from the back side with reflected light, and the first microprinting and the second microprinting in combination appear as microprinting of whole characters of the plurality of characters when viewed with transmitted light.

A method includes the steps of: a) printing a first print job on a printing machine using a printing fluid, a substrate, a specified ICC profile, and a first machine setting; b) preparing the printing operation of a second print job involving a change of the printing fluid and/or of the substrate; and c) printing the second print job using a second combination of printing fluid and substrate. Step b) includes: b1) printing a test print having a plurality of test fields; b2) recording the test fields; b3) computationally determining and saving a quality value based on the test fields; b4) determining and saving an adjustment value for a machine setting; and b5) selectively changing a printing machine setting from the first machine setting to a second machine setting using the adjustment value or keeping the first printing machine setting, and the making a choice based on a quality value.

A method includes the steps of: a) printing a first print job on a printing machine using a printing fluid, a substrate, a specified ICC profile, and a first machine setting; b) preparing the printing operation of a second print job involving a change of the printing fluid and/or of the substrate; and c) printing the second print job using a second combination of printing fluid and substrate. Step b) includes: b1) printing a test print having a plurality of test fields; b2) recording the test fields; b3) computationally determining and saving a quality value based on the test fields; b4) determining and saving an adjustment value for a machine setting; and b5) selectively changing a printing machine setting from the first machine setting to a second machine setting using the adjustment value or keeping the first printing machine setting, and the making a choice based on a quality value.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

An active energy ray-curable ink composition for offset printing that contains a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a photopolymerization initiator is combined with: a rosin-modified alkyd resin being a condensation polymer of a polyhydric alcohol with an acid component containing a resin acid, a fatty acid, and a polybasic acid, and having a predetermined solubility parameter (SP value) and a predetermined acid value; and a specific liquid component having a predetermined SP value.

An active energy ray-curable ink composition for offset printing that contains a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a photopolymerization initiator is combined with: a rosin-modified alkyd resin being a condensation polymer of a polyhydric alcohol with an acid component containing a resin acid, a fatty acid, and a polybasic acid, and having a predetermined solubility parameter (SP value) and a predetermined acid value; and a specific liquid component having a predetermined SP value.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes: a first marking printed with a first gradient of two colors; a second marking printed with a second gradient of two colors; a first symbol printed with a third gradient of two colors; a second symbol printed with a fourth gradient of two colors; a third symbol printed with a fifth gradient of two colors; and a fourth symbol printed with a sixth gradient of two colors. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a third marking printed with the fourth gradient; a fourth marking printed with the third gradient; a fifth symbol printed with the second gradient; a sixth symbol printed with the first gradient; a seventh symbol printed with the sixth gradient; and an eighth symbol printed with the fifth gradient.