There is described a process of measuring print-to-print register of a multicolour print (A-D) provided in an effective printed area (EPA) of the surface of printed material, which multicolour print (A-D) is formed on the printed material by means of one or more printing presses and includes at least a first pattern (A) and a second pattern (B) distinguishable from the first pattern (A), the effective printed area (EPA) being provided with a matrix arrangement of individual imprints (P) which are each provided with the multicolour print (A-D) and are repeated over the surface of the effective printed area (EPA) along a pattern of rows and columns. Measurement of an actual print-to-print register between the first and second patterns (A, B), as reflected on the printed material, is derived from processing and finding a correspondence between (i) at least one sample image (SI.sub.A, SI.sub.B) of the printed material covering at least a portion of the first and second patterns (A, B), and (ii) at least one corresponding reference image (RI.sub.A, RI.sub.B) generated using prepress design data of the first and second patterns (A, B). Furthermore, the process is repeated for multiple ones of the individual imprints (P) so as to derive a set of multiple measurements of the actual print-to-print register between the first and second patterns (A, B) at various imprint locations over the effective printed area (EPA), which set of multiple measurements is mapped into a corresponding print-to-print register map (M.sub.B-A, M.sub.C-A, M.sub.D-A, . . . ) that is representative of print-to-print register deviations at the various imprint locations. Also described is a measuring device for carrying out this process and a process of measuring and correcting print-to-print register of a multicolour print.

A method for checking the maintenance of register of printing images to be printed on two opposite sides of a printing material, in which the first side of the printing material is printed in a rotary printing press by a first printing unit cylinder, and in which the second side of the printing material, which lies opposite to first cite, is printed in the printing press by a second printing unit cylinder which interacts with the first printing unit cylinder. A printed image is printed by the first printing unit cylinder under the second printing unit cylinder. Afterwards, the printing material is printed in contact with the two interacting printing unit cylinders with the printing image, which is printed under the second printing unit cylinder, being printed onto the same side of the printing material together with an identical or a different printing image which is to be printed by the second printing unit cylinder during continuous printing of the rotary printing press. The printed images, which are printed together onto the same side of the printing material, are subsequently checked, with regard to their maintenance of register.

A method for checking the maintenance of register of printing images to be printed on two opposite sides of a printing material, in which the first side of the printing material is printed in a rotary printing press by a first printing unit cylinder, and in which the second side of the printing material, which lies opposite to first cite, is printed in the printing press by a second printing unit cylinder which interacts with the first printing unit cylinder. A printed image is printed by the first printing unit cylinder under the second printing unit cylinder. Afterwards, the printing material is printed in contact with the two interacting printing unit cylinders with the printing image, which is printed under the second printing unit cylinder, being printed onto the same side of the printing material together with an identical or a different printing image which is to be printed by the second printing unit cylinder during continuous printing of the rotary printing press. The printed images, which are printed together onto the same side of the printing material, are subsequently checked, with regard to their maintenance of register.

A method for checking the maintenance of register of printing images to be printed on two opposite sides of a printing material, in which the first side of the printing material is printed in a rotary printing press by a first printing unit cylinder, and in which the second side of the printing material, which lies opposite to first cite, is printed in the printing press by a second printing unit cylinder which interacts with the first printing unit cylinder. A printed image is printed by the first printing unit cylinder under the second printing unit cylinder. Afterwards, the printing material is printed in contact with the two interacting printing unit cylinders with the printing image, which is printed under the second printing unit cylinder, being printed onto the same side of the printing material together with an identical or a different printing image which is to be printed by the second printing unit cylinder during continuous printing of the rotary printing press. The printed images, which are printed together onto the same side of the printing material, are subsequently checked, with regard to their maintenance of register.

A method for checking the maintenance of register of printing images to be printed on two opposite sides of a printing material, in which the first side of the printing material is printed in a rotary printing press by a first printing unit cylinder, and in which the second side of the printing material, which lies opposite to first cite, is printed in the printing press by a second printing unit cylinder which interacts with the first printing unit cylinder. A printed image is printed by the first printing unit cylinder under the second printing unit cylinder. Afterwards, the printing material is printed in contact with the two interacting printing unit cylinders with the printing image, which is printed under the second printing unit cylinder, being printed onto the same side of the printing material together with an identical or a different printing image which is to be printed by the second printing unit cylinder during continuous printing of the rotary printing press. The printed images, which are printed together onto the same side of the printing material, are subsequently checked, with regard to their maintenance of register.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration on a predetermined portion of a metallic container body. The decorator includes a sensor that senses decorations on metallic containers. A control system receives information related to the sensed decorations from the sensor and then determines if the decorations at least meet predetermined color, density, thickness, orientation, and consistency targets. The control system can automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically adjust ink blades associated with a plurality of inking assemblies of the decorator to adjust the color, density, orientation, positioning, and consistency of decorations transferred to the metallic containers. In another embodiment, the control system can adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.