The invention concerns a method and a device for the measurement of the volumetric capacity of a textured surface, especially a ceramic-coated laser-engraved metering roll, also called anilox roll, which is mainly used in the flexographic printing process, said metering roll comprising a plurality of cells designed to receive a predetermined quantity of a liquid, preferably ink, glue, varnish or a similar product to be transferred on the surface of a support. A ferrofluid is applied in the cells that compose the anilox roll surface, a magnetic field is generated close to the roll surface, the intensity of the magnetic field, increased by the ferrofluid, is measured and the volumetric capacity of the anilox roll is determined by measuring the increase in the magnetic field due to the presence of the ferrofluid.

A printing mechanism (10) has a plate cylinder (12) that supports a printing plate (18). A printing plate reference field (100) has a lowest reference field surface (101) lower than the printing plate (18) and a highest reference field surface (105) higher the printing plate in the printing motif region. A control unit can vary a distance between an impression cylinder (28) and the plate cylinder (12) for pressing a printing substrate against the printing plate (18) and can very a distance between an inking roller (20) and the printing plate (18). A first sensor (34) connected to the control unit determines a quality of a printed image of the printing plate reference field (100) on the printing substrate (30) and a second sensor (36) connected to the control unit determines a quality of a negative image of the printing plate reference field (100) on the inking roller (20).

A method is provided of charging an inker in a lithographic printing press. The method comprises placing all of the printing units of the printing press in an off impression position, with a continuous substrate passing through the printing units, each printing unit including a blanket cylinder; and in one or more printing units of the plurality of printing units, moving the takeaway roller into contact with the blanket cylinder of the printing unit. Thereafter, the method includes driving the ink train, plate cylinder, blanket cylinder and the take away roller at a first surface speed, whereby the ink from the ink train transmitted to the plate cylinder from the ink train, from the plate cylinder to the blanket cylinder, and from the blanket cylinder to the take away roller; and during said driving step, keeping the continuous substrate stationary or moving the continuous substrate at a second surface speed less than 50% of the first surface speed. Also provided is a closed loop control system for controlling the ink film thickness applied to a printed substrate in a lithographic printing press.